Page 5 of Unmasking Secrets
I walk slowly and steadily across the hardwood floor. A few more steps and I can lock myself inside my office and call for help. Idon’t even know where the crash came from. I round the corner and sigh in relief as I spot my phone.
I turn to close the door, but a large figure in a dark ski mask blocks my way. A gun raises.
“Not a sound.” The voice sounds altered beneath the mask, distorted.
I’m two steps away from the panic button, but I have to get past the person in the mask. If I retreat farther into the room for my phone, it would be obvious what I was trying to do. Thinking fast, I dart toward my vanity. My finger runs along the edge and presses the button under the corner while I grab the sword off the wall. I know it’s going to look ridiculous, but I need to bide my time.
“A sword against a gun, really?” The man sounds amused.
I turn to face him, sword raised and ready. I don’t know what I’m doing, but he doesn’t know that. Probably. Then, I hear footsteps coming up from behind me. There’s someone else? Laughter comes up from behind me. A hand covers my mouth and nose.
My reflex is to scream, but I inhale something sweet over a cloth-covered hand.
“Too easy.” Another distorted voice sounds from somewhere.
I’m released and stumble; the sword slips from my hand. I fall to the ground, and the last thing I see is his face—my ex.
CHAPTER FOUR
ARCHIE
Delete. It’s what I should do. Delete the email without opening it, as if it’s spam. It might as well be. My ex-wife only reaches out when she wants something. I don’t. I want nothing from her. I open it anyway.
Archie,
I’m sure this will be just another message you delete instead of respond back to. I’m just asking you to forgive me, give me a second chance. It didn’t work out with Frank. We make good co-parents.
Please, I miss you. I can do better.
Vanessa
I roll my eyes.Since the divorce, this is probably the tenth time she’s reached out. It’s not like she does it often, but I have nothing left to give her. She was the one who cheated on me while I was out of the country.
It’s not unheard of or uncommon for those serving—unfortunately. Honestly, I probably could’ve moved past it if she asked. We could’ve tried therapy and worked on things. It’s the lies I couldn’t deal with. She found out she was pregnant and acted like I was the father. Nice try, but we hadn’t been together like that for nearly a year at that point. It was the last thing I needed to hear before serving her with divorce papers.
I should hit delete, but she needs to move on. So, I hit reply.
Vanessa,
Good for you for being an adult about the child you created with Frank. Lose my contact information and move on with your life like I have.
Archie
There’snothing left to say. I don’t want to talk to her, she needs to move on. It’s past time.
“Arch!” Tyler waves his hand to grab my attention.
My eyes flicker above my monitor to his face. “What?”
“Did you get the email?” He raises an eyebrow. “A new client. I think you’d be perfect for this one.”
I look back down at my screen and scan over my emails. I was too zoned in on the annoying email from my ex; I hadn’t noticed the one from Tyler.
“Opening it now.” I click on the email, and my eyes scan over the information. “This is super detailed.”
“This girl has been having issues with a controlling ex.” Tyler crosses his arms.
“Why doesn’t she ask the cops for help?”
