Page 128 of Even Exchange

Charlotte’s eyes dart around the office, and she grabs my hand, dragging me toward a door. She opens it, presenting a small closet, then tugs me inside and closes it quietly.

Our hushed, rapid breaths fill the small space as our bodies press together.

“What is it with us and closets?” I tease.

“Shhh!” she says as the office door creaks open, and she grips my shirt. I snake my arms around, holding her to me.

Muffled voices fill the room.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” Georgia snaps.

An unfamiliar male voice speaks. “You didn’t take my call.”

“That was purposeful.”

“People are asking questions.”

“Well, tell them to fuck off,” Georgia spits out.

“I’d be more inclined to tell them that if I were compensated.”

The room is quiet. “You have beenmorethan compensated.”

“Need I remind you what’s at stake here?” the voice says, and although we can’t see them, the thick tension in the air is obvious.

“Need I remindyouof your involvement?” There are muffling sounds. The opening and closing of drawers. “This,” she says, slapping something on the desk. “This is all I have to show to hide my name while indicting yours.”

“How did you get this?”

“It’s not a matter of how, but why? Because I knew you were a snake. Now slither out before I do something with it.”

Whispered curses fade out and the door opens and shuts, but I don’t dare move a muscle until Charlotte tells me to. I have no clue what we heard. If it even means anything. And I’m sure her head is spinning even worse than mine.

“Shit!” Georgia shouts, and Charlotte flinches in my arms. More drawers open and close, then the office door slams shut again. After a few minutes of silence, she deems it safe and we leave the closet.

“What the hell was that about?” I ask.

“No clue,” Charlotte says. “But let’s get out of here.”

We sneak out of the office and rejoin the party, no one the wiser, and I release a breath of relief. Tabitha walks by us, and my eyes trail her till she’s out of sight, my stomach churning. Charlotte was a beautiful distraction, but I can’t deny the emotions swirling back up, seeing her again.

“How do you know Tabitha?” Charlotte asks, and I return my gaze to her, dropping my voice to a whisper.

“She was my father’s lawyer.” A shudder racks through me, remembering how she tried every trick in the book to get his sentence reduced.

Charlotte’s jaw hardens. “She helped an abuser?”

My teeth grind. “I mean, it is her job.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t recognize your name,” Charlotte says. “Although I guess lawyers deal with tons of cases.”

I gnaw on my lower lip, choosing to be vulnerable. “Mom and I reverted back to her maiden name when they got divorced.” I swallow hard. “My father’s last name, my old last name, is Lewis.”

“Oh.” She takes my hands in hers. “Thank you for sharing that with me.” I nod, unable to conjure up any other words. “Do you think my mom knows? About you, I mean?”

I shrug, stomach sinking. “I don’t know.”

Charlotte glances around. “Do you wanna leave?”

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