The Rumor Mill

The morning sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Elysia's apartment, casting a warm glow on her collection of art supplies scattered across the coffee table. She absentmindedly swirled her paintbrush in a cup of water as she replayed the previous night's events in her mind. The memory of Alaric’s smile lingered, a mix of warmth and frustration stirring within her.

Geralt burst through the door, a wide grin plastered on his face. “Good morning, superstar! Did you dream of Alaric all night?”

Elysia rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. “I might have. But I’m more concerned about Isolde and her hold on him. I can’t let her have him without a fight.”

“Ah, the fire in you is finally blazing!” Geralt teased, plopping down on the couch beside her. “What’s the plan?”

Elysia leaned back, crossing her arms thoughtfully. “We need to create some chaos. If we can get Alaric to question his relationship with Isolde, it might give us a chance.”

“Chaos, huh? You’re speaking my language!” Geralt chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “What do you have in mind?”

“Social media,” Elysia said, her voice low and conspiratorial. “We can plant rumors that suggest Alaric is secretly interested in someone else. Something like a viral post, maybe?”

Geralt raised an eyebrow, impressed. “That’s actually genius! But we need to make it believable. What’s the angle?”

Elysia’s mind raced, her creative juices flowing. “How about a photo of Alaric talking to a gorgeous girl at the gala? We can caption it with something flirty, like ‘Who’s this mystery girl?’”

“Spicy! I love it,” Geralt replied, rubbing his hands together in excitement. “And we can spread it through social media to create buzz. It’ll drive Isolde crazy!”

“Exactly! If we can get Alaric to see how Isolde’s controlling behavior is affecting him, he might start questioning their relationship,” Elysia said, her determination evident.

“Let’s get to work!” Geralt exclaimed, jumping to his feet. “We’ll need a good angle and a solid hashtag. How about #AlaricsSecretCrush?”

“Perfect!” Elysia grinned, her excitement contagious. She reached for her phone, ready to execute their plan.

The next day, the duo met at a local café, their laptops open and ready to create their social media storm. Elysia scrolled through the gala photos, her heart racing with anticipation.

“Here!” Geralt exclaimed, pointing at a candid shot of Alaric laughing with a group of friends, a stunning woman standing beside him. “This is the one. We can make her look like a love interest.”

Elysia nodded, her fingers flying over the keyboard. “Alright, I’ll edit the photo and add the caption. You can post it on your account to reach a wider audience.”

As they worked together, their laughter filled the café, drawing curious glances from other patrons. But Elysia's excitement soon turned to nervousness as she wondered about the consequences of their actions.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked, biting her lip. “What if it backfires?”

“Don’t overthink it,” Geralt reassured her, flashing his trademark grin. “Sometimes you need to shake things up a bit. Trust me, it’ll be fine.”

Elysia took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

Hours later, as they watched the post go live, the response was immediate. Notifications flooded in, likes and comments piling up.

“This is going viral!” Geralt shouted, his eyes wide with excitement. “Look at the comments!”

Elysia’s heart raced as she scrolled through the reactions. Some were supportive, while others were filled with gossip and speculation.

“‘Who’s this girl? Is Alaric cheating on Isolde?’” Elysia read aloud, her voice a mix of disbelief and glee. “This is actually working!”

“I told you!” Geralt laughed, raising his glass of iced coffee in celebration. “You’re a master manipulator!”

Elysia couldn’t help but feel a rush of power. “If only Alaric could see how much Isolde has him under her thumb, maybe he’d wake up.”

Just then, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Alaric.

“Elysia, can we talk? I saw something online.”

Elysia’s heart dropped, a wave of anxiety washing over her. “Oh no, what if he’s upset?”

“Don’t panic! Just play it cool,” Geralt advised, leaning closer. “This is your chance to steer the conversation.”

Elysia took a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she replied. “Sure, I’m free. Where do you want to meet?”

As she waited for his response, the reality of her actions settled in. Was this really the right way to win Alaric’s heart?

“Are you ready for this?” Geralt asked, sensing her tension.

Elysia looked out the café window, watching the bustling city below. “I guess I have to be. This is just the beginning, right?”

“Absolutely. Just remember, you’re not the villain in your own story. You’re the hero,” Geralt said, giving her a reassuring smile.

With a determined nod, Elysia prepared herself for whatever was to come. She was ready to face Alaric, no matter the outcome.

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