In his head, Miles knows that Hugo isn’t responsible for what’s happened to Esther. She’s been going through a lot lately, and Miles half expected to have her returned to him in this state when he saw her off before this meeting. Still, seeing Hugo with his arm around Esther’s waist, while she loo
He doesn’t want Hugo to know what happened in here. He might have heard the shower running, but everything else is none of his business. Dressed to perfection, Miles heads to the door of the bedroom. He turns out the light and steps out into the hallway. He finds Hugo waiting in the living room.
At Miles’s insistence, I stay home for another two days before inactivity drives me to actual madness and I insist on returning to work. As soon as I step foot in the headquarters, the other workers and volunteers bombard me with questions and well wishes. I’ve been missed, it seems, even though I
“You didn’t hear it from me,” she says. “I swear,” I tell her and cross my heart. I wait for her to leave, then I gather my thoughts. The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get, until I’m so frustrated that I stand from my desk and march into Miles’s office. Miles is on the phone when
Hearing Edward’s voice in my ear sends me back to the orphanage, when I would hide, while Edward would search through me throughout the house. “Esther! Esther, where are you? Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, princess. This man will treat you nicely, you’ll see. It won’t be like the last
God, I hate him. “I want to talk to Daphne,” I say. “Daphne?” “His wife,” I say. “You think she knows something?” “She knows the same that I do,” I tell him. Miles understands right away. “She was there too. God on earth, why would she marry him?” “That’s one of the questions I want to
The next night, I sit around my dining room table with Hugo and Miles. Hugo has a notepad and a manila folder filled with his own research. Miles has his chair moved closer to mine, his hand within reach at any time. We’ve already talked about what to expect from tonight. Mentally, I’ve tried to p
“It’s alright,” Miles says. “You are doing well.” He reaches his hand out across the table, but he doesn’t grab for mine. I’m not ready to be touched just yet, not while I’m telling this story. I don’t want any memories of touching Miles to intersect with the memories of the orphanage. “Would you
“We should watch the rest,” I tell him, though my voice is shaky. “No,” Miles says, more firmly. I breathe a sigh of relief. For my job, I know we have to hear it. But personally, I would like to go the rest of my life without even thinking about Edward Zimmer again. “The numbers are already u
Edward’s response comes in the form of a video message. Crystal set it up on the television on the wall, while Miles and I huddle closer to the screen. Miles holds tightly onto my hand. “Whatever happens. Whatever he says. We will stand against him and we will win,” he says. I believe him. Last
How could I say anything but yes? A thousand times over, yes, yes, yes. I’ve tried so hard since that first night, sleeping with Miles while thinking him a call boy, to not fall in love with him. Yet, as hard as I tried not to, my heart kept pulling me straight back to him. My love for Miles is so
We hold the press conference in front of the headquarters, setting up a podium outside the double doors. The news media organizations have been notified, so they send reporters and cameramen, who have set up around the podium. The release we sent out already told them that the conference would be
Later, I’m going to have to have a meeting and call in all the employees to discuss this. Their care is appreciated, but I need to be able to do my job. For now, though, it seems as if Crystal gets the hint. With a shallow nod, she continues her report. “Mr. Zimmer has been quiet since the inter
Garnar, knowing I was giving a difficult interview tonight, offered to watch the kids. Since they are at Garnar’s house, I expected the house to be empty when I finally returned. Instead, I see Miles’s car parked in my driveway and the additional security staked out around the premises. It’s a rel
Jean was warned about the story, but she still gasped. My eyes went a little wide. We came here to talk about this, but Daphne’s direct wording leaves me speechless. Daphne didn’t come here just to tell a story. She was ready to reveal her truth, once and for all. “Esther and I were victims,” Da
In the Harbinger HQ, in one of the studio sets arranged to look like a fancy living room, Daphne and I sit side by side on a white couch, facing an interviewer, a woman interviewer named Jean, who sits on an arm chair facing us. The setting is intimate, and Jean is a kind, middle-aged woman, who i
“Miles…” Emotion overflows within my heart. There are so many things I want to say, to express – my gratitude, my own affections, explanations about why this has been so difficult for me to accept – yet in the moment, everything gets tangled up in my throat. “Miles…” My tears fall from my chee