ce was soft, laced with genuine sorrow. She had been with me

, as I packed the last of my meager perso

y about Keon, Blake. He was such

ache in my chest momentari

ossip magazines on the breakroom table, where Amir and Hailie's smiling faces screa

ery good at playing a part." I picked up

, a refreshing slap against my still-aching skin. I walked tow

ed up silently. My stomach clenched. I hadn

ront passenger seat, her head tilted, looking tiny and inn

to turn, to run, but my feet felt rooted t

readable smile. "Get in,

a cloying sweetness that made me want to gag. Hailie turned to face me, her eyes wide. "Blake! I'm so sorry. I didn't kn

emotion in my own.

clipped, not quite irritated, but definitely not

He hadn't bothered to ask. "Keon is gone

jaw. Hailie gasped, a perfectly theatrical sound.

t," I mumbled, more t

cticed frown on his face. "I'm so so

oice still devoid of em

the place. Let's go to dinner. We can... talk about

the reason Keon was gone? But I just nodded, a

out Hailie's burgeoning music career, her "fragile artistic soul," her need for constant support. He ordered he

playing on her lips. "It's so sweet of Amir to look after me," she cooed,

e of ashes in my mouth. I kept my

his assistant. "Just a quick business matter, darling,

Amir, Hailie's demeanor shifted. The innocent facade

a husband. What a shame." She took a sip of her wine, her eyes narrowed. "You know, Amir said you were getting

So this was her true face. "He said th

ys a lot of things. But actions speak louder, don't they

den surge of adrenaline cours

unted, standing up too. "Just like you

rned, my hand reaching for the call but

ed shove to my back. "Stay rig

ead hit something hard. The world

consumed me was Hailie's shrill scream, perf