Chapter 20:A Convenient Lie

The words Steven had spoken echoed in my ears, and my eyes watered until the room blurred.

Or are you the kind of assistant who believes she can get her way with her boss?

My eyes moved restlessly across his face, searching for any sign that he regretted it. I stepped back, ready to leave, but Steven suddenly rushed toward me.

"Damn it, I am so sorry. I did not mean it."

I tried to break free, but he held on to my hands. When I turned my face away, he gently drew my attention back to him, pressing my hands together between his own. "I am truly sorry, Emilia. Please."

It was astonishing. The man who had spoken so cruelly only moments ago was now pleading with me.

"How could you?" I looked straight into his eyes. "Do you think that because I work for you, I am cheap? You are unbelievable."

He did not let go, even when I pulled harder.

"I was angry," he said quietly. "I had just realized that Natasha only ever loved me for my money. That is not an excuse. I know it is not."

"No, it is not." My voice shook, and I hated that it did. "And I am not Natasha. Not everyone is like her. I make my own money, and I have always stood on my own."

Steven lowered his head. For the first time since I had known him, he had no sharp reply. His grip loosened, and I took my hands back.

"You are right," he said. "I am sorry, Emilia. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

"No. Please do not try. I do not want you to think I am looking for a way to stay close to you."

"I'm so sorry"

I did not answer. If I said it is fine, I would be lying, and I was tired of lying.

"May I leave now, Mr. Steven?"

He hesitated, then stepped aside. "Yes."

At the door, I stopped without turning around. "I accept that you are sorry, sir. That does not mean I have forgotten what you said."

I left before he could reply. In the corridor, I pressed my hand against my chest and waited for my heartbeat to slow. Part of me wanted to believe him. The rest of me remembered how quickly his kindness had turned into cruelty, and how easily it could happen again.

Two days later

My boots crunched against the snow as I watched Ethan and Clara walk side by side ahead of me.

We had come to the snowfield for a walk, and the outing had been my idea. Playing in the snow was one of my favorite things in the world, and after the week I had endured, I needed it. The air was filled with laughter and the steady crunch of snowshoes against the smooth white ground.

The two of them stopped at a small shop at the edge of the field, and I had no idea what they were buying. I moved forward slowly at first, balancing my weight with care, then faster as my confidence grew. Couples strolled past with their hands joined. Each time I nearly slipped, I laughed. This time, though, my legs would not obey me. I lost my balance completely, and just before I hit the ground, someone caught me.

It was a young man dressed in black and white. I stared at his face, trying to place him, since I came here often and thought I might have seen him before.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, lifting me gently to my feet. "I am sorry you slipped." A smile spread across his face.

"I am fine, thank you. I did not hold on tight enough." I smiled back, grateful that he had been so quick to catch me before I landed on the ice.

"It is nothing. May I know your name? You look gorgeous."

Warmth crept into my cheeks. "Thank you. I am Emilia. And yours?"

"Kelvin. It is a pleasure to meet you, Emilia."

He was still smiling, and I was about to ask whether he came here often when Ethan appeared and stepped between us.

"May I know who you are?" His expression was serious as he looked at Kelvin.

Before Kelvin could answer, Ethan added, "She is my girlfriend, and we will be leaving now."

I stared at him in shock. I wondered whether he and Kelvin had some past misunderstanding.

"No, he is my best friend," I corrected quickly. "There must be a misunderstanding."

Confusion crossed Kelvin's face, but Ethan only repeated himself. "Let's go, Emilia."

I followed him a short distance away, careful to keep an arm's length between us. As far as I knew, I was not in a relationship.

"Why did you do that?" I demanded.

"We agreed to fake date," Ethan said. "But we have to make it look real. That was the reason."

I could hardly believe it. Rui was not even here, and the only reason we were pretending was because of him. "Seriously?"

"Yes." He glanced over his shoulder. "What if Rui sent him here to spy on us?" He adjusted his jacket as if he had done exactly the right thing.

When I turned around to look for Kelvin, he was gone.

"And it is not right," Ethan said. "You are making friends without Clara or me knowing."

"Seriously?" I shook my head. "I know you are joking, but it should not become real someday. You are so jealous."

He laughed, but it did not quite reach his eyes. I noticed that I had taken another step back.

Just then, Clara joined us, holding something small in her palm. A necklace glinted against her glove.

"Ethan, I found this on the ground after you left."

I stared at it. It looked exactly like mine. My hand flew to my neck, but my own necklace was still there, resting against my collarbone.

"Let me take a look," I said, reaching out.

Ethan reached for it almost at once. "Just give it to me."

He was about to slip it into his pocket when I caught his wrist. "It is identical to mine. Whose is it?"

"Um, I think it must be yours, or your sister's. The day I visited your house, I saw it on the floor."