Chapter 2: Building Tension
He finished his last bite of pancake, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and stood up. "Speaking of predictable, I should probably get dressed. I've got a early meeting this morning."
As he walked towards the bedroom, Clara couldn't shake off the feeling that she had somehow set this all in motion. She forced herself to focus on cleaning up the kitchen, but her eyes kept darting towards the bedroom door.
Ben emerged a few minutes later, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "Clara," he called out, his voice echoing through the apartment. "Did you do something with my underwear?"
Clara poked her head out of the kitchen, her eyes widening in mock innocence. "What do you mean, Ben? Why would I do anything with your underwear?"
Ben held up a lacey red bra, his eyebrows raised.
"Clara, is this yours?"
Clara's eyes widened in feigned surprise as she quickly made her way to him. "Oh, that's not mine, Ben," she said, her voice steady despite her pounding heart. "It must have gotten mixed up with your laundry somehow. I'll sort it out later, okay?" She took the bra from him, trying to act casual as she walked back to the kitchen.
Ben watched her go, his head cocked to the side. "Clara, are you sure you didn't do something with my underwear while I was in the shower?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of suspicion.
Clara turned around, her hands on her hips. "Ben, why would I do that? I've got better things to do than mess with your underwear." She laughed, trying to brush off the question.