His Obsession, Her Agony

hought was a constant, h

using a different name, a different bank account. I

ia, my art agent. She had stuck by m

t a small cafe, a plac

er eyes full of concern. She was a shar

" The lie w

buying it for a second. "E

. Difficult. I didn' t have th

. "Olivia, I need a

ust that I wanted to disappear. A long, extended trip. Somewhe

owing more and more serious. "

her eyes. I jus

you." It wasn

ed down my cheek. I wiped it a

aland. It' s far. It' s beautiful. You could paint there. I' ll hand

he word felt too small for th

e said, her voice low. "Men li

she was

e of his cold moods. He didn't speak to me, ju

ldn' t eat. My movements were quiet, practiced. I had learned

tartling me. "My partners we

ze.

y my wife never comes to these dinners." He looked at me then, his eyes narrowed. "What should I t

they did. But this time, something

ld tell them, Ethan," I said

ing me against the counter. He put his

d, his face close to mine. "

k at him, my heart a block of ice. I was