Evie Tylor’s eyes meet mine. I feel trapped. I don’t want to look away. But he does and continues talking to the other people at his table. Jules sits down next to me and places his beer bottle in front of him. The rest of our colleagues are hanging out around the pool table or at the bar. Lillian’s eyes flicker to us, but she continues talking to George. Then they go to the pool table as well. “You must be Evie, “ Jules says, “Hi. ““Hey, you must be the new roommate everyone is talking about. ““Everyone?” He lifts an eyebrow and I smile. “It feels like it. “His eyes linger on me. I can’t tell if he is trying to attract my roommate’s attention and thus make her jealous, or if he is just an impossible flirt. Whatever it is, I don’t want to keep looking at Tyson. So instead I focus on Jules. “How was London?” Jules asks and I squint my eyes at him. “How do you know where I was? ““Maybe I keep hearing about you too. “ Jules leans back in the chair and picks out cigarettes. Sm

Evie I knock and no response comes. The lights are on so Tyson can’t have left. I press the handle and invite myself in. The office is empty. I close the door and come in. There’s a book left open on the desk. I approach the desk and pause before it. The book’s open on the first page and I see something’s written on it. It looks like a dedication. I outstretch my hand, I want to see what it says when I hear a noise. I turn around startled and discover Tyson is leaning against the wall, arms folded. He is watching me. Has he been there the whole time? I turn to face him fully and press myself against the desk. “I… I wasn't going to look at it. I swear. “ I stutter and he rests his head against the wall. “I don’t like lies. “Tyson keeps looking at me. “I… I am sorry. “ I mutter. I have no idea what is going on, but I will take it, whatever it is, as long as I am here. My stupid heart, however, doesn’t connect to my brain. But my brain begins to catch up on what is going on.

Evie We get in the car. Jules is driving. Lillian opens the door to sit next to me in the backseat but Jules looks up in the rearview mirror. “Hey, Evie?”He says.“What?“Why don’t you sit next to me?”I don’t look at my roommate. I just sit more comfortably in my seat and lean back.“Nah, thanks. “ I wave a hand, “But Lilian prefers sitting in the front. “She glares at me and I wink at her. “Okay, “ Jules says and Lillian goes to the front. George sits next to me in the back and we listen to music. We talk about random stuff. I don’t ask George whether Tyson is coming. I take my phone out and stare at it. I decide I won’t text him and put my phone back in my purse, switching off all sounds. We get in town shortly. The guys say they know a place so we head to a bar. It’s under the ground. “What is this place?” I ask and Lilian shrugs. “No idea. But I love the music. “It’s similar to the place we went to with Max. Once we are settled at the bar, I order a coke, while the oth

Violet One month later “Ready?” Clyde smiles and I glance around the office one last time to make sure everything’s in order and we aren’t forgetting something. “I think so, “ I say in the end. “Everything went better than expected, don't you think? ““As always when you’re involved. ““You are too nice, “ I tell Clyde, “Or you know that I'm nervous and you’re trying to give me confidence. ““You should have all the confidence in the world, “ Clyde smiles. “You did amazing. ““It was thanks to the whole team. Thank you for everything you did. The beginning is always weird but things are finally starting to run as expected. ““I am glad I could help. “We head out of the office and head to the car, waiting for us downstairs. “Do you know what the place we are going to is?” I ask Clyde as we get in. He shakes his head. “No. Philip insisted on meeting there. He said we should celebrate the successful closing of the project. “Then Clyde grins. “Your first client. ““Yes. That save

Dominic “How dare you, “ my father gets up and turns to Conor. “How dare you speak like this about your brother? Dominic is MY son! He is mine!” “I can easily prove he isn't. “ “He is!” My father and Conor yell at each other. “Are you ready to stoop so low, “ Philip grits out the words, “As to offend and badmouth Dominic. “ “I am only speaking the truth. “ “Liar!” My father keeps talking to him in a raised voice. “You are ready to do anything to be the heir. You can’t be, face it. I’ve made up my mind. “ “You can’t decide anything. “ Conor snickers. Dad threatens to attack Conor and I stop him before he does it. “Enough!” I growl and they fall silent, stunned- as if I am the one causing trouble. “Enough, “ I say more composed. Our lawyer looks terrified. “Conor, what are you talking about? “ “What you heard, “ he smirks, “I've known the truth for years but didn’t want to destroy my father's golden boy and his name. But now I see no other resolution. “ “Prove it, “ P