Tessa could feel it before she actually heard it—that tiny ripple in Jamie’s voice he only used when he felt cornered by attention he didn’t know how to refuse.
At first she tried to focus on the candlelight, the soft hum of Christmas music, the snowflakes gathering on the restaurant windows. Holiday magic. Warmth. All of it should have wrapped her in comfort.
But then Wendy laughed. Too loudly. Too easily.
And leaning just a shade too close to Jamie—close enough to brush his shoulder, close enough that Tessa noticed Jamie stiffen for half a second before giving that polite smile he saved for awkward office conversations.
Tessa’s grip tightened on her wine glass. Of course it was Wendy.
It was always Wendy—the kind of woman who flirted by instinct, always accidentally touching arms, laughing like the world’s biggest joke had been whispered just for her.
Tessa watched the scene play out from across the table: Wendy’s manicured hand on her husband’s forearm, Jamie’s uneasy glance at Tessa, Wendy tilting her head as if she had every right to his attention.
A heat spread through Tessa’s chest—not jealousy. Not exactly. More like a warning signal.
He’s mine. And you know it. Back. Off.
She tried to keep her expression neutral as the server placed the roasted turkey down in front of her, but her fork hovered mid-air as she caught Wendy leaning in again, whispering something that made Jamie clear his throat and shift in his seat.
“Tessa? You okay?” Jamie asked gently.
She forced a smile. “Perfect.”
But she wasn’t. Not even close.
She could feel the whole evening slipping sideways—the decorations blurry around the edges, the holiday warmth turning sharp and metallic. She wasn’t the kind of woman who picked fights over nothing… but this didn’t feel like nothing.
It felt like an intrusion.
A crack in the wall she and Jamie had built. And Tessa wasn’t about to let anyone slip through it.
Especially not Wendy.
—
Wendy loved holiday dinners. Free food, free wine, and everyone a little less tense than usual—even Jamie, who always looked like he carried the company’s entire Q4 report in his shoulders. So when he finally cracked a smile at something she said about the ridiculous marketing meeting last week, she felt genuinely relieved for him.
Poor guy worked too hard. Honestly, all she wanted was to make him laugh. She didn’t even notice Tessa watching her.
Or, well… she noticed Tessa, but in that wow, she has great hair way.
“Anyway,” Wendy said, playfully nudging Jamie’s arm with the back of her hand—lightly, barely a tap, just a friendly gesture—“if they expect us to launch a full holiday campaign with that budget, they’re living in a Hallmark movie.”
Jamie snorted. “Don’t say that too loudly. Someone might turn it into a Q1 initiative.”
Wendy laughed, delighted that she’d actually gotten him to relax.
That was her thing—she liked making people feel lighter, brighter. Especially the ones who were usually trapped behind spreadsheets and deadlines. She liked places where people felt at ease. People spent too much of their lives at work not to.
She reached for her wine, completely oblivious to anything off. “Honestly, I don’t know how you do it,” she added. “If I had your workload, I’d lose my mind.”
Jamie smiled faintly and dipped his head. “I’m trying not to.”
She meant every word. If anything, she was rooting for him—maybe even mother-henning him a little. Certainly not flirting. He wasn’t even her type.
Wendy turned toward Tessa with a warm smile. “By the way, your dress is stunning. That emerald color is gorgeous on you.”
Tessa blinked at her, expression unreadable.
Did I say something wrong?
Wendy’s smile faltered for half a second—not enough to matter, but enough to register like a skipped step. Then the server arrived with more food, and she shrugged it off. Tessa was probably just tired. Holiday season did that to people.
Wendy took another sip of wine, pleased with the evening’s easy rhythm, and missed entirely why the air at the table had grown two degrees colder.
© 2025 Márta Vajai
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I truly value constructive, honest feedback.
If you notice weaknesses, gaps, or opportunities to deepen the work, please say so directly. I’m here to learn, grow, and improve — your insights matter.
This is excellent. It’s like looking through crystal clear water. Everything just works! I look forward to reading the story from Jaimie’s perspective!
Your feedback—and your inspiring presence—mean more to me than I can easily put into words.
You make me want to recalibrate my standards, not only in my prose, but in my everyday English as well. Somewhere along the way, among spreadsheets, deadlines, and the efficiency-driven shorthand of corporate language, I lost that attentiveness to precision and cadence.
Reading you brings it back.
I’m deeply grateful—more than I can measure.