Framed By My Maid

thousand deals being made, a thousand egos posturing for dominance. I moved through the crowd, a ghost in a simple, well-tailo

I saw

ew distinguished grey hairs at his temples, but he wore his power like a perfectly fitted coat. Beside him, clinging to his arm, was Bethany. She was dressed in a

ir grand narrative, a story they had spun to their advantage. I was the unstable, flighty fiancée who couldn't handle the pre

e room. For a moment, they passed over me without recognition. Then, they snapped back. A

my ground, waiting. I watched as Bethany whispered something in his ear, her eyes foll

It was a performance. David' s expression shifted to one of pleasant, mild surpr

ping with false sympathy. "Is that reall

, but I didn't move. Her hands

y to hear. "We were so worried about you when you just... disappeared. We

c behavior but willing to forgive. Every word was a carefully placed stone, building a wall of pu

, a greeting, or an explanation. My silence was a void in

. It was not a compliment. It was a simpl

houlder. He gave me the smile he reserved for difficult business

ings you back to the city? If you're looking fo

e was the magnanimous CEO, offering a handout to his pathetic ex-fiancée. He was remindin

in by the drama playing out. Bethany'

ard time. Amelia, if you need anything, anything at all, you can come to us. We for

table. Pitiful. They had cast themselves as the victims and me as the perpetrator who had returned to the scene

ces wash over me. I needed them to believe they had won this first encounter. I needed them to b