Page 76 of Ruined By the Enemy

Sophie doesn’t speak but her face twists. First in confusion, then in fear. On the other hand, Mark pushes up from his chair and slams both hands on the desk.

“How dare you?”

My gaze snaps to him. “Sit down.” It isn’t a request.

The weight of my voice drops heavy enough to make the blood drain from his face. He hesitates, then slowly lowers himself back into his chair, silence thick as concrete between us.

I look back at Sophie. “I knew your pitch was too good to be true,” I say, quieter now. “So I did some more digging. I found out that I couldn’t trust you after all.”

Her lips part, and her breath catches. I tap the envelope, my eyes never leaving hers. “The proof is all there, as is the evidence that you knew the truth and hid it from me.”

She looks down at it like it’s a bomb counting down. Her throat bobs, eyes glinting with something I don’t want to name, regret or shame. I wait for her to defend herself, but she doesn’t.

Well then.

“And yet…” I lean forward, voice dropping further, deliberate and personal. “I know there’s more you’re hiding from me—”

I wait until it looks like she’s about to run, and then I let the final piece drop.

“SophieBellini.”

THE END