The Price of a Perfect Lie

' s wrong? Y

first solid thing I had felt in hours. I was sitting on the fl

ee you," I said,

He heard the break in my voice. "My jet is being prepped. I' ll

he tears to come. They weren't loud, hiccuping sobs, but a silent, steady s

t had once felt like home. Now it felt like a museum of a life that

ng from silver frames. I found the small, velvet box that held the first pair of diamond earrings he ever gave me,

a, my world begins

chute in the service hallway and, one by one, I fed the pieces of my shattered life into the darkness. The custom-tailored suit he wore to our

a key in the lock. The door swung open and Gregory stood

s smile faltered. "B

pulling me into his arms. I stood stiffly

rmured into my hair. "The meetin

were filled with what looked like genuine concern. He had arranged for a private chef. The dining table

he said, his voice a low, sincere promise. "

rformance, a very convincing one, but I was no longer p

la must have taken a lot out of you. And with what happened with

my father, a safe and understandable sorro

of my supposed grief. "Our anniversary. A week in a private villa in

his phone. He glanced at the screen, and for a s

e tight. He turned his back to me, walking

the caller ID. It wasn' t an investor. It was

ent murmur. He didn' t notice the look on my face. H

ion-dollar deal. He dropped everything. He was by my side in fifteen minutes, his face etched with worry. He carried me out of the building himself

gone. His protective instincts, his urgent concern, it

xt morning, Gregory was waiting for me, his face a perfect picture of contrit

ot hit something small and hard on the floor mat. I bent down. It was

is eyes widening for a moment bef

must have dropped it. He brought her to the office yesterday. Kids

d out the window, a bitter,

ate. A charming, intimate French bistro. He ordered o

said, his eyes locking with mine across

by this powerful, charismatic man who seemed to see right into

t his phone kept buzzing on the table. He would glance at

denly, his smile strained. "A quick call I have

cold, sharp thing, told me to follow. I slipped out of my chair and followed him at a dista

door. I could hear his

Jaden that Daddy is very proud of him for being so brave. I' ll be ther

nny through the phone. "I love

ce. "We' ll be waiting.

a deal. He was playing house. He was cooing to hi

y hand flying to my mouth to sti

you alright? Y

"I' m sorry, ma' am, this area is for staff on

ace that symbolized the beginning of my greatest lov

playing his excuse. A quick call I hav

m the fire in my chest. I started walking, my heels clicking a frantic rhythm on the pavement. My foot, which I

elf in a small park. I sank onto a bench, the wor

ars streamed down my face, until my stomach cramped and I couldn't breathe. I

everything