Vince’s Feeble Defense
Vince’s attempt at a confident smile faltered as the murmured suspicions echoed louder around the table. He cleared his throat, trying to maintain composure, and said, “I have no clue what’s behind these supposed discrepancies, honestly.” But the words rang hollow, his bravado noticeably thinning. A hush settled over the room, and all eyes shifted to me, silently urging the story forward. Vince’s deflection was as see-through as the frame I held—his feigned ignorance now flimsy and threadbare in the face of rising doubt.
Vince’s Feeble Defense
Tim’s Growing Concern
Tim, who typically nodded along with Vince’s stories, now wore a furrowed brow, his usual amusement giving way to unease. He leaned forward, studying us both like two leads in a play that had suddenly gone off-script. “Is everything okay between you two?” he asked carefully, eyes darting between my steady stance and Vince’s forced, uneasy grin. The energy in the room was electric, heavy with unspoken questions. Tim’s concern gave voice to the shift everyone was sensing—joyful camaraderie replaced by a deepening air of tension, curiosity, and doubt.
Tim’s Growing Concern
