BLACKW

er to drop it. But instead, I watched. Her smiley

e flinched, but not visibly enough for most people to catch it. I noticed the subtle tightening of her jaw, the shift of her

l employer," she said,

e where you were going. You

a custody petition. You were s

d? Are yo

p. And according to your own sister, you've been pa

building through clenched teeth. "You think ru

gives me a chance to buil

m on th

, tightening her

ised you to do this? You

e without looking at me. "I'm

to my ear. "Dominic

arboring

answered. "That's a bold accusation, consid

shouted as I shifted the

nds luci

ho she is. She's no

"But that's not y

nd turn her into one of your M

le. "You already

ung

She folded her hands in her lap and stared down at th

he had your num

I said glancing at

eeling guilty. How did she cope w

p. "I wanted to see how you'd h

. "And what does

backbone than most o

mething softened in her

him c

dragged into someone

cher on the side table and handed it t

k from it. "This is real, Dominic. It'

t's why it i

, almost amused. "

her. "You said you want to rebuild.

wa

ance. I can give you both." Her e

turn?" Her brows furrowed,

ith none of that. She wore no makeup, traveled with one bag, and looked at me li

in a room full of liars. And I want to know why someone like you walked away fr

ed to keep me?" She aske

utside world. That wasn't an accident."

in it," she

d n

n. "I still believe

in something else. Like yourse

rapy quote on Instagram

catalyst turns out to be yourself. Every successful person

"If I say yes to this job, I need t

ah

expected. She didn't flinch. Didn't look away. Just sat there like a woman wh

"Not unless yo

on didn't ch

d I don't find you interesti

on't k

s real and who's not. You're real."

"I'll take the job

the building." Her

ave legal draw up a housing agreement. And I'll in

ity case." She

ng I learnt from my dad is investing in people. So far, they've brought most the

asked as her

and held out a hand. "You're hired." She took i

or and reviewed the day's briefings, contracts and de

back to the security feed in

phone with one of her children. Her voice was too low for t

suffocation. To sacrifice herself on a daily altar built from domest

ng about the way she looked at me with that level, her ground

e buzzed. It was an unknown number. I rais

ou're doing," the voic

ell to enl

he person on the other end said. I

her a

se. Then a low,

sent you something

nothing. Then the screen refreshed. Just one m

oman in the image is a splitting image of Eliza. Same eyes with same smile just younger. And she w