Twenty-Seven Days of Deceit

ges from Olivia, but I left it face down on the kitchen counter. The silence in my apartment was a

hat had strong ties to Olivia' s startup. Her father was a minor partner, an

I said simply, not off

sence, but my mind was made up. I couldn' t create in a space that was haunted by h

k and sign the papers. I was hoping to slip in and out unnoti

She was dressed in a sharp, professional dress, looking complet

relieved smile. She walked over, her

. I' ve been tryi

my hand, but I

were starting to turn. Whispers started to ripple

The one Olivia w

e he' d try to bre

devastated, she had

he other man. She had painted me as the

said, her voice low, trying to maintain the

my voice cold. "

as sure. "Honey, I know you' re grieving. I' m so sorry abo

my head, tire

ll, beautifully wrapped box from her purse. "It'

he gesture was so meaningless, so insultingly late, that I felt a fresh wave of despair. It wouldn' t

he glanced down at the screen. The name 'Brandon'

face was replaced by a flicker of anxiety. Sh

already turning away. "It' s importan

soothing murmur as she answered the call. She prioritized

ss' s office, the whispers of my colleague

n the papers," I

am, are you sure about this? Olivia told me you two just had a misun

. A simple fight. Nothing about a secr

ng up the pen and signing my

my mother' s old friends and me. We stood under a g

did not

' t send

t even sen

r the first time in a long time, I wasn' t confused. I saw her for exactly who she was: a black hole o