ROBERT

This was an expensive joke. A lie.

But it wasn't, and yet again, another agonizing realization hit me like a punch to the stomach.

My mind raced as I remembered the last time I'd seen Amanda.

She'd just visited my office a few days before and noticed the invitation to the masked ball party on the table.

So she’d followed through with her words—of attending the non-invitation access party— and brought Dylan along with her. How convenient. Fuck!

"It might also interest you to ...