Page 117 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

The driver pulled over, and I reached for my box, shoving it in the seat before I sat down and gave Max one last good glare through the open window, despite his annoying smile.

He shut the door for me and leaned in. "Let me know if I can do anything for you," he said in a soft voice. "Anything. Any time. I'm always here for you, Annalise."

I gave him a brisk nod and turned away, fighting the stupid lump in my throat at his thoughtful words and the way he'd said my name.

Maybe it was a good thing I'd be home for the foreseeable future because I was a fucking emotional mess, and I didn't know how I'd ever find my way out of it.

Thirty-One

Annalise

After much discussion with my sisters and Mona, I decided the best course of action was to tell Venus the truth also. It was a huge risk of course, and I had no idea how she would react.

She could be fine with it, maybe think it was no big deal, or she could go ballistic, fire me from her project, and perhaps even sue me.

Fuck. This was a massive mistake.

But it was too late. In a moment of bravery—or insanity— I'd reached out to her people and set up a time. There was no going back now.

Something I deeply regretted when my phone rang Monday afternoon. Venus was currently in London so it'd be around nine her time.

At first, we chatted about mundane things like where she was staying, The Savoy, and where she'd eaten recently. She then filled me in briefly about her new film, all the while my adrenaline rising with each passing second, wondering how I could get out of this.

Maybe I'd just say something about the book, make up an urgent issue that I needed to discuss with her.

"So what's up?" she asked. "It seems like you have something on your mind."

"I, uh, yeah. I do."

"Well, spit it out, girl. I can already tell it's worrying you. Best to just get these things out of the way as quickly as possible."

Shit. Venus La Fleur was the last thing my old persona was clinging to, and I didn't know if that was a good thing or bad thing if I lost that. Which I most definitely would. Obviously she would be pissed and want nothing to do with me ever again.

"Yes?" she prompted again.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry to waste your time like this. But yes, Iamnervous. Ridiculously nervous."

"About what? Pretending to be Cordelia even though you're really Annalise Stratton?"

I gasped, shock flooding through my body. "What? You know?" Veronica must have told her. That was the only possible way she could know the truth.

"Of course I know. I know who you both are. I don't trust anyone anymore, so I do an FBI-level background check on anyone I get involved with."

Still stunned, all I could manage to say was an oh so eloquent, "Oh."

"People have been underestimating me my entire life. And I've turned that into my superpower. They think because I look like this I don't have any brains. But I knew Max's mustache was fake from day one, so I looked into him, and then you, which I would have done anyway. I just did it a little faster than usual."

The only thing I could think of to say was, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I deceived you like that, along with everyone else."

"Oh, that's sweet of you. But I'm not mad. I get it. I totally understand."

"You do?"

"Yes, I do. What'd you think? I'd fire you or something?" she asked, laughing.

"Um, yeah. That's what happened at work."

Now, she was the one who gasped. "They fired you for real?"

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