Page 20 of Married to Lies

“I wrote to you because the days you clean my office are the only days I hear people laughing on my floor outside of the break room.

“I wrote to you because when I watch you clean, determination on your face, it’s like you’re doing more than a job—you’re fulfilling a calling.

“And I kept writing to you because when you found one of my notes and you smiled... I felt alive for the first time since God knows when.”

My lips parted and closed again. Speechless wasn’t a word that could describe me… well… ever, but that’s what Quentin had made me.

“One thing you should know about me,” he said slowly, as if carefully choosing each of his words, “I don’t speak often, but it’s not for lack of thought.”

Heat warmed my cheeks again as I processed his words. Dom came to our table, setting my drink in front of me. “Here you go, mama,” he said quietly, like he wanted to flirt but wasn’t as into it with Quentin watching.

Quentin gave Dom a hard look. “Her name is Rei.”

Dom raised his hands in surrender and walked away.

“You didn’t need to be mean to him,” I told Quentin, reaching for my drink and taking a cautious sip. It was perfect, as usual.

“You didn’t see the way he was looking at you in that skirt.” His gaze flicked down like he could still picture it through the table. Despite the layers of vinyl, wood, and fabric, I suddenly felt bare under his stare.

Quentin’s phone rang in his pocket, and he tugged it out, giving it an annoyed look. “I have a meeting.” He stood, reached into his pocket again, and put a plain yellow sticky note on the table with an address, date, and time. “If you’d like to see me again, this is where you’ll find me.”

“Wait,” I said, examining the handwriting. I’d studied his notes for weeks and knew the careful swoops of the letters as well as my own. “This isn’t your handwriting. I mean, it doesn’t match.” I couldn’t admit I’d saved and reviewed every sticky note without seeming just as obsessed as him.

He cleared his throat, mumbling, “Daniel has been writing them for me.”

Despite myself, I laughed. I’d checked out the paperwork on Quentin’s desk because of Conrad but hadn’t thought to check Daniel’s. “You really thought of it all, didn’t you?” I finally said.

He gave a shrug, although I thought maybe he seemed pleased.

“Why the secrecy?” I wondered out loud. “Why not just say hi in person? You know I’m around.” I gestured at the lobby for emphasis.

“Come to the date and I’ll tell you.” With that, he sauntered toward the elevators, hands tucked into his pockets.

When he disappeared behind the sliding golden doors, I looked at the address on the note, along with a date and time.

“Holy shit,” I murmured, feeling like I’d just walked a tightrope over a hundred-foot gorge. His presence was so strong it consumed me, made me feel on edge and alive at the same time. Months’ worth of mysteries had been solved and somehow expanded in five charged minutes.

With shaking fingers, I dialed Jada’s number, wishing she was still working at the daycare instead of taking maternity leave at home. It was so much easier to keep up with each other when she was only a dozen steps away.

When she accepted the call, the line was entirely quiet for a moment. “Hello?” I said.

Then, I heard a whisper, “Sorry, she’s sleeping. Finally.”

I smiled to myself, wishing I could be there for her more as she navigated this new part of life. One I may never fully relate to. “Is it a bad time? We can totally talk later.”

“No, I'm glad you called.” Her voice was closer to a normal volume, but sounded a little weak.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“It is,” she said with a little more warmth to her voice. “Bryce is already the best dad. I haven’t had to change a single diaper yet.”

“Score,” I said, happy for her.

“Definitely. How are you?”

“Well... I found out who Mystery Man is.”

She let out the quietest shriek I’d ever heard. “WHO IS IT?!” she whisper-yelled.