CHAPTER SEVENTY–SEVEN–A Revelation That Shakes the Soul “50,1
Laura said, trying to sound casual, “what do you think of Justin?”
Jen smiled softly. “I think he’s great, Laura. Really great. But more importantly, I think you’re happy. Happier than I’ve seen you in a long time.”
too good to be true, you know?”
Laura felt a lump form in her throat. “I am happy. It’s just… sometimes I worry it’s too
Jen set down her wine glass and took Laura’s hand. “Listen to me. After everything that happened with Leon, you deserve this. You deserve to be happy, Laura. Don’t let fear hold you back.”
“You’re right,” Laura sighed. “It’s just hard sometimes, letting myself believe in this.”
“Well, believe it,” Jen said firmly. “Because from where I’m sitting, you’ve got a good thing going. And if Justin ever hurts you, just remember I know how to hide a body. All those true crime podcasts have to be good for something, right?
Laura burst out laughing, the tension breaking “Thanks, Jen. I’m really glad you came to visit.”
“Me too, sis,” Jen smiled, raising her glass. “To new beginnings and happiness. You’ve earned it.”
As they clinked glasses, Laura felt a weight lift from her shoulders. Maybe Jen was right. Maybe it was time to fully embrace this happiness.
The following week brought a new challenge in the form of Sivarra Tech’s charity run. Laura stood at the starting line, adjusting her running shoes and trying to calm her nerves.
“Ready for this?” Alden O’Connor asked, jogging in place beside her.
Laura managed a smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Just don’t laugh when I come in dead last.”
Larry Goldstein joined them, looking surprisingly sprightly in his running gear. “Nonsense, Laura. We’re all in this together. It’s about the charity, not the competition”
As the race began, Laura fell into a steady rhythm, the sounds of feet pounding the pavement and cheerful chatter filling the air. She was about halfway through the course when a familiar voice called out to her.
“Mind if I join you?”
Laura turned to see Ryan Callis easily keeping pace beside her. “Ryan! I didn’t know you were running too.”
He grinned, barely out of breath. “Couldn’t let you all have all the fun. How are you holding up?
“Pretty good,” Laura replied, surprised to find she felt genuinely at ease in his presence “Though I might be singing a different tune in another mile or so.”
They chatted amiably as they ran, discussing work, the unseasonably warm weather, and their weekend plans. As they approached the finish line, Ryan gave her an encouraging smile.
“Race you to the end?”
Laura laughed, already picking up her pace. “You’re on!”
They crossed the finish line almost simultaneously, both breathless and laughing. As they caught their breath, Laura felt a sense of camaraderie with Ryan that she hadn’t experienced before
“Good race,” Ryan said, offering her a water bottle. “We make a pretty good team.”
Laura accepted the water gratefully. “Thanks. And yeah, I guess we do.‘
As they continued to chat, Laura felt a prickle on the back of her neck. She glanced around, her eyes landing on Kira Volkov standing a short distance away.
Laura settled into the passenger seat of Justin’s sleek sedan, the leather cool against her skin. As Justin pulled out of the parking spot, she caught a whiff of an unfamiliar scent–a mix of floral and musk that didn’t quite fit with Justin’s usual cologne.
“New air freshener?” she asked casually, glancing at him.
Justin’s hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. “Oh, uh, yeah. Picked it up yesterday. Too strong?”
Laura shook her head, filing away his slight hesitation. “No, it’s fine. Just different.”
As they drove towards the restaurant, Laura noticed Justin checking his phone more frequently than usual at red lights. She tried to
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CHAPTER SEVENTY–SEVEN–A Retion That Shakes the Seu
brush off the nagging feeling in her gut, focusing instead on their plans for the evening.
“I’ve heard great things about this new place,” she said, attempting to spark conversation. “Apparently, their seafood risotto is to die
for.”
Justin nodded, his eyes flicking to his phone again. “Sounds good. Hey, do you mind if I make a quick call before we get there? just need to check on something at work.”
“Sure, go ahead,” Laura replied, trying to keep her tone light despite the growing unease in her stomach.
Justin pulled over to the side of the road and dialed a number. Laura couldn’t help but notice he angled himself slightly away from her as he spoke.
“Hey, it’s me,” he said in a low voice. “Yeah, I’m on my way now. No, it’s fine. I’ll handle it. Okay, talk to you later.”
As he ended the call, Laura distinctly heard a woman’s voice on the other end, though she couldn’t make out the words. Justin’s expression was carefully neutral as he pocketed his phone and pulled back onto the road.
“Everything okay at work?” Laura asked, watching his face closely.
Justin’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “Yeah, just a small issue with a client. Nothing to worry about.”
Laura hesitated, then decided to press further. “The person you were talking to… was that your assistant? I thought I heard a woman’s
voice”
