Page 32 of The Secretary Volume II

And hating that I wanted it.

I remember waking up the next day feeling raw, wrecked, erased.

Like it had happened before.

Like it would happen again.

And now, I know?—

I don’t forget because I want to.

I forget because they make me.

The words stick.

They settle into my chest, thick and cloying, like I’ve just swallowed something I shouldn’t have.

I glance around the break room, suddenly hyperaware of how quiet it is.

I fold the note and slip it into my pocket.

Because… I don’t know why.

Because putting it back in the trash doesn’t seem right.

Back at my desk, I try to focus.

I fail.

I have to know…

That woman?Who the hell is she?

I turn to Stewy who’s standing in the hall.He’s the least uptight person I’ve met here, which isn’t saying much, but still.

I keep my voice casual.“Hey.Who’s the woman with dark hair?The one who came from the break room just now?”

Stewy freezes.Just for half a second.

Then he shrugs.“I don’t know who you mean.”

Too fast.

Too dismissive.

I frown.“Tall.Pale.Black blouse.Looked like she was about to glitch out of reality.”

“Glitch out of reality?”He laughs.“That’s some imagination you have…”

“Maybe she’s just having a bad day.I don’t know.But I’ve seen her like that twice now.Who is she?”

His smile flickers—recognition, quickly masked.

“Don’t know.Maybe she’s from another department.”

Bullshit.

I should have known.He’s an attorney.If lying was a sport, he’d have corporate sponsorships.

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