's

Vince being a bad man. This is what e

ryone,

that

thing and start having doubts about this thing betw

reason to

good to me. Too busy to

riosity. It directs my mind back to the first time we met. He

er his body speak

black, like some sort of cul

ey came with one. I was in a vulnerable sta

he door, interrupting my thoughts and remindin

in my hand and st

iana, the head maid, at the door

ous, because I find

r smile not fading one bit as she speaks. It makes me wonder if she k

my presence, and it makes me wonder if I a

rs to your room instead?" The sec

" I ask in

lose the door quietly and follow behind until we get to the landing,

ws hit

e they are waiting, I notice another woman, dressed in a s

o, we are here to help me cho

lieve she just called me Di'Alberto. Did Vince tell them already th

ituation. Whether it was accidental or not, I am his wife. Whether w

t I was Ms. Vasquez, but what

ince's bad side, not when I sti

if she would want to give her boss away. She might not be able t

ana swiftly appears in front o

Her eyes narrow on me, and a

apologize quickly.

othes. If I refuse to do this, these women will be curi

or now, and when he comes

avoiding me. I just want to

I want Tessa t

get to work, bringing out different

most of the time, until my eyes c

it

pa

d a party tonight, and I didn't ev

is. To ensure I get a nice dress

ke an opportunist. I don't want to create doubt in his hear

point at the dress. One of the wom

my conversation with one of the women. Christ

he mutters, opening he

ts, and I have a feeling there are

nd they converse in Italian, making the dou

e? Coming across different

ters, and I figure he is saying his good

abbing a dark, square-shaped box from the

ho darts her eyes away quickly. Suddenly, I

shion. Just give me anything you think will loo

sponses. And without checking to see the

thing seems off. Everything is st

makes me question every sin

root of this, I won'

o be sure Christiana isn't behind me. She isn't, so I turn to t

opens. I rush inside, scared that on

hing to prove that Vince is jus

If I don't do it this way, I will never find out who he real

like someone whose utterances are being cou

ry to turn the doorknob like I did with the front door, but it won't budge. I

he paintings have a gloomy tone. He uses black sh

the

th urgency, dragging each one open

h

t a tiny key at the top of the drawer. To

it opens, and

ecial about this, j

s down. Vince is not who he thinks

find a

ink about searchin

I won't doub

ully push the drawer back in anger. I narrow my gaz

ers. It looks like the papers ar

ust staring, without attempti

king for, and I have

the papers away to see a shiny

eyes dart to the d