CHAPTER THREE - WHISPERS IN HOTEL LOBBIES

The pulsing lights of New York City's nightlife painted Emma's face in a kaleidoscope of colors. She sipped her cocktail, trying to lose herself in the vibrant energy of the rooftop bar. Sarah twirled beside her, fiery hair whipping through the air as she danced. "Come on, Em!" Sarah shouted over the music. "Let loose a little!" Emma forced a smile, raising her glass. "I'm trying!" As Sarah spun away, Emma's eyes drifted to her phone. She'd promised herself she wouldn't obsess, but her thumb seemed to have a mind of its own as it opened Instagram. Her heart stuttered as she scrolled past a familiar face. Victoria Pierce, radiant as ever, posing in front of a Boston landmark. The caption read: "Back in Bean Town! Sometimes you have to revisit the past to move forward." Emma's mind raced back to three years ago, when Marcus had first introduced her to Victoria at a charity gala. The statuesque blonde had been draped over Marcus's arm, her laughter tinkling like crystal as she regaled the group with stories of their college days. "Earth to Emma!" Sarah's voice snapped her back to the present. "What's got you so zoned out?" Emma quickly locked her phone. "Nothing. Just... thinking about Marcus." Sarah's expression softened. "Hey, he's probably just buried in work. Try to enjoy yourself, okay?" Emma nodded, downing the rest of her drink. "You're right. Another round?" As they made their way to the bar, Emma couldn't shake the image of Victoria's perfectly poised smile, or the nagging feeling that something was terribly wrong. Across the city, Marcus stood on the banks of the Charles River, the cool autumn breeze ruffling his dark hair. Victoria stood close beside him, her blonde locks catching the golden light of the setting sun. "Remember our first date here?" Victoria asked, her voice soft with nostalgia. Marcus nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "How could I forget? You nearly pushed me into the river trying to steal my ice cream." Victoria laughed, the sound sending a familiar shiver down Marcus's spine. "In my defense, it looked delicious." As they walked along the riverbank, Marcus felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out, quickly typing a message to Emma about a fictional dinner with colleagues. Victoria's eyes narrowed slightly. "You've been on your phone a lot." Marcus shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Just work stuff. You know how it is." "Do I?" Victoria challenged, stepping closer. "Marcus, when are we going to talk about what's really going on here?" Marcus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Vicky, I... I don't know. This is all so complicated." "It doesn't have to be," Victoria insisted, her hand finding his. "We were good together once. We could be again." Marcus felt the warmth of her touch, a stark contrast to the cool evening air. "Things are different now. I have Emma..." "But do you love her?" Victoria pressed. "The way you loved me?" Before Marcus could answer, Victoria leaned in, her lips meeting his in a passionate kiss. For a moment, Marcus was lost in the familiar sensation, memories of their past flooding back. Unbeknownst to them, a young woman across the street raised her phone, snapping a quick photo of the intimate moment. Sarah's cousin, Jess, stared at the image on her screen, her brow furrowed in concern. "Isn't that Emma's boyfriend?" she murmured to herself, debating whether to send the photo to Sarah. As Victoria pulled away, Marcus felt a wave of guilt wash over him. "Vicky, I... I can't do this." Victoria's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Why not? Marcus, I made a mistake letting you go three years ago. I've regretted it every day since." Marcus stepped back, creating distance between them. "I need time to think. This isn't fair to anyone – not you, not Emma, not me." Victoria nodded slowly, composing herself. "I understand. But Marcus, don't take too long. I won't wait forever." As they parted ways, Marcus felt his phone buzz again. Emma's name flashed on the screen, and his stomach twisted with guilt as he answered. "Hey, Em," he said, forcing cheerfulness into his voice. "How's New York?" Emma's voice came through, tinged with an emotion Marcus couldn't quite place. "It's great. Sarah's having a blast. How's your night going?" Marcus swallowed hard, the lie coming easier than he'd like. "Oh, you know. Still at the office. This project is really kicking my ass." "At the office?" Emma's tone sharpened slightly. "It's pretty late, isn't it?" Marcus scrambled for an explanation. "Yeah, we're pulling an all-nighter to meet this deadline. You know how it is." As if on cue, a burst of female laughter echoed in the background – Victoria, saying goodbye to a passing friend. Emma's voice went very quiet. "Marcus, was that... laughter?" Marcus felt panic rising in his chest. "Oh, uh, yeah. Just the cleaning staff. They're here late too." There was a long pause on the other end of the line. When Emma spoke again, her voice was strained. "Right. The cleaning staff. Listen, I should go. Sarah's calling me." "Emma, wait-" Marcus started, but the line had already gone dead. He stared at his phone, a sinking feeling in his gut. The sound of heels clicking on pavement made him look up. Victoria was walking back towards him, a determined glint in her eye. "I forgot something," she said, closing the distance between them. Before Marcus could react, Victoria's lips were on his again, more insistent this time. And despite the voice screaming in his head, Marcus found himself responding, his arms wrapping around her waist. Across the street, Jess raised her phone once more, capturing the damning evidence. Back in New York, Emma sat on the edge of her hotel bed, staring at her silent phone. That laugh... it had sounded so familiar. But it couldn't be. Marcus wouldn't... Her phone buzzed, startling her. A text from Sarah appeared on the screen: "We need to talk. I think you should see something."