The Perfect Betrayal: My Best Friend's Revenge

lexandr

and in every courtroom I've

loud or demanding, I don't need to be. Power speaks quietly, and mine

as no d

urors who looked at me as though I might cross-examine their souls next. "The defe

papers, the weight of silence that comes before judgmen

n't smile. I never do. Winning is expected; satis

oom's glass divider: composed, unflinching, flawless. The wo

was waiting, practically

losing argument, I swear, if I were on th

h. "Have the press release sent to Chambers. Keep it fac

ver lose?" I slid on my sunglasses. "Not p

ilight, a thousand glass towers reflecting gold. I poured myself a glass

inimalist décor, cool lighting, one lonely orchid

r the city, and exhaled the kind of b

They see the accolades, the designer s

lence afterward. The echo of v

one b

er tomorrow?

my opposite, my anchor. We met in law school, I chased perfec

rse. Where

he Elara. Dress

exclusive restaurants. Whatever

t of the night, I told myself I didn't care. But the truth? I di

n everything fell apart l

re people wore ambition like perfume. I walked in wearing a black

f champagne in hand and a grin so b

d, waving me over.

htly, taking a seat. "Now, what's

up her

the light like a sm

trembling with joy. "Can you beli

ze around my g

im! The tech billionaire I met at the charity gala in May? We've been

me like a slo

infrastructure. I'd seen his face on the cover of Fortune, read his interviews : brillian

s a little intense, but you two will get along. He's coming to

. "Of course, I

unaware that somethin

bbles and Lydia's laughter, a thought crep

Damian Cross see in

e question fee

hummed with its usual rhythm, cars, sirens, distant laughter but a

s around my heart: steel, logic, c

t his name make

out him, Damian Cross: The Bi

p eyes, a mouth that didn't smile easily. The

could ruin a woman

his image lingered i

hing dangerous and for the first time in

rned off the lights: sof

e deep down,

n't end wit

d end wi