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“Hi.” I grin. “You look happier this evening.” And thank fuck for that. I would have picked the lock and consoled her myself if she had stayed so despondent.

“Oh, yeah. Some good news, kind of.”

And she’s come bounding down to tell me.

“Kind of?”

“Well, I’m not sure it can count as good news if it means something bad happened to somebody else.”

“Depends if they deserved it or not.” I shrug.

She thinks for a moment. “I mean, yeah, they did deserve it, but I still don’t want someone to be hurt.”

I had a small doubt in my mind, but now it’s been eradicated. She really is just a good person through and through.

“Care to share your news?”

She bites her lip. “You might think I’m a terrible person.”

“Doubtful, Killer.”

“The video of Millie Gilbert and Travis, you know, my ex.”

“Ah yes, the disappointment in bed.”

Her eyes pop out a little, and she tries to hide her grin. “Yes, that’s the one...well, they’d been posting videos aboutme that aren’t true. You know the ones I told you about?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Well, they released another video. Apologizing directly to me and theirfans.” She says the words fans while making air quotes with her fingers. “They wanted to reflect on recent events that they felt were cosmic karma for what they had done to me.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Do you want to see the video?”

“Rules one and four, Killer.”

“What’s rule four?”

“Don’t hand your hostage a phone.”

She laughs. “I’ll hold far enough away. Are you gonna give me a grade at the end of all this?”

“If you like roleplay, sure. I’ll play your teacher, Olivia.”

She flushes beautifully, and I smirk, rubbing my stubble with my hand. I like the rough feel against my palm. I’ve missed seeing her like this. So relaxed and happy. We’ve been getting on so well. I thought I might have pushed too far with the flirting, sending her into a tailspin. When really it’s external factors that have caused her discontentment. A hum of energy buzzes through my chest. I’m on the right course; I know I am. She’s going to see me as more than a monster.

“Show me this video.”

She pulls out the phone, the app ready. She holds the phone in front of me, but her loose grip suggests she’s not worried about me taking it. She’s so close I can smell her shampoo. A hint of cotton, fresh linen, and citrus fills my nostrils, and I inhale deeply. Our thighs graze as she watches over my shoulder, chewing her thumbnail.

A short, slim girl with long blonde hair fills the screen. She’s in a black legging and crop top set, similar to what Olivia wears. This girl is polished, her hair styled, and her makeup perfect. However, I still notice her bloodshot eyes and puffy face. The man next to her looks to be in his mid to late twenties. With sandy blond hair pulled back with a hair band—it isn’t long, but it falls past his ears. His vest top is loose and baggy, his chest on show. They hold hands as they look somberly at the camera.

“We’ve had a little time to think over the last twenty-four hours, and we need to be honest with our followers. Our previous video, which called out ‘Train with Olivia’s,’ Olivia Daniels, was inaccurate...”

A small cough can be heard in the background as Millie’s eyes flit to someone behind the scenes.

“Actually, no, it wasn’t just inaccurate. It was an outright lie. I used to look up to Olivia, and I wanted to achieve everything she had. But in trying to build my own brand, I chose to tarnish hers instead of focusing on myself. When I met Travis, who used to date Olivia, it felt like I would always be in her shadow. So to Olivia, I’m sorry. You’re an inspiration to us all. If you haven’t seen her videos, her work is amazing, and she’ll get you fit in no time at all. Go and subscribe. I’ll be taking a hiatus while I reevaluate how I conduct myself with my channel.”