rence center. The party was winding down, but they were still

gne for David and Emily, his posture deferential, servile.

the doorway, my cheap coat a stark contrast to th

oice dripping with amusement.

tor changing masks, his face crumpled. His shoulders slumped. His eyes widened with a familiar, f

He grabbed my arm, his grip surprisingly strong, and tried to pull m

asked, my voice

ace a mask of contempt. He looked me up and d

ught you said she was a respectable artist, n

ly registered.

abbled, playing his part to perfection. "Sh

hould be worried about the money you owe me! You told me

s so intricate, so detaile

ing his head. He turned to me, his eyes pleadi

enderson barked. "Your w

new best. The one that had always worked. It was a look of shame, of de

this. I tried to keep it from you." He reached into his pocket and pulled

ency cash I had just earned from a grueling double shift at

s. "I know you just got paid. Could you... could we ju

illions exposed, standing in a room that cost more than I

as perfect, but I could see the

r the interest doubles tomo

sighed dramatically. "This is so tir

to my empty one. He was getting despera

" he begged, hi

n said suddenly, a cr

nd I bo

" Davi

gets on her knees and kowtows to me, three times, I'll waiv

gusting act in their long-running drama,

whispered, his grip tightening on my arm. "Just do it. It's just for a

ng me. He was pushing me to my knees to

Henderson stared, his arms crossed, enjoying the show. And David, my husband, looked at me with the eyes o

David' s face, at the man I had loved and sacrificed everything for,

plush carpet felt like gravel under my knees. I

n

d touched

w

the carpet scr

re

e darkness, the last flicke

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