Page 8 of The Lies of Bryn van Doren

He didn’t plan this. He didn’t foresee his opportunity landing in his lap like a hot pile of shit he couldn’t ignore. His intelligence has long since been undeniable. His ambition is irrefutable. His track record serves as anyone’s proof he has always been striving for greater. Yet, this is a risk he didn’t know he was ready for—until five minutes ago.

“Whoa. Lohnny, what the fuck is going on?”

Khalohn manages no more than a smirk as he continues toward the elevators. Timothy abandons the small group emerging from their meeting and follows after his friend.

“Lohnny, talk to me, man. What did you do?”

“They wouldn’t listen,” he states.

He comes to a stop and presses the elevator call button before shifting his attention onto Timothy. They’ve been friends going on four years now, which is exactly how he knows the box in Khalohn’s hands isn’t evidence he’s been sacked—it’s a sign he’s quit. Nevertheless, the expression on his face speaks of his disbelief. Khalohn doesn’t blame him. He can hardly believe it himself.

“What did you do?” Timothy repeats.

“They’re going forward with the deal. It’s such a short-sided decision, it’s stupid. They think that chain of resorts will make them billions—but it will cost them more. This place is a sinking ship, Tim. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but the executives who are calling the shots can only get by on dumb luck for so long. I can feel it.”

“So, what?” Timothy shrugs his shoulders, dumbfounded, and looks at his friend helplessly. “You’re going to throw a tantrum and quit your job? Are you nuts? You’re a smart man. I know you, and I get it. You want more than this—but what you’re doing is reckless.”

The elevator chimes and Khalohn looks over as the doors slide open. Shaking his head, he boards the lift car, Timothy on his heels. “It’s risky, I’ll give you that—but it’s not reckless. I’ve got it worked out. I’m doing this, Tim.”

“Doingwhat?”he asks incredulously. He presses the button for the first floor with more force than is necessary, then grabs hold of his hips as he stares at Khalohn.

“It’s time I go my own way.”

Timothy coughs out a humorless laugh and replies, “You’re insane. You know that, right? And what are you going to tell Hollie? Happy one-year anniversary. I quit my fucking job. Bet she’ll love that.”

Khalohn grows silent as he clenches his teeth together. He knows better than to lash out at his friend—even if he believes the man has crossed a line. As they descend to the lobby, the cacophony of truths and lies neither of them have dared to broach since the night of the Morgan union permeates the veil of his silence. As far as Khalohn is concerned, Timothy had his chance to speak his piece, and he didn’t—which remainshisproblem, not Khalohn’s.

“I know how to take care of my wife.”

Timothy reaches up and presses his fingers to his temples as he pulls in a deep breath. “I just—I don’t think you’ve thought this through. You’re not impulsive. You’re—”

“I’m going to do this,” Khalohn interrupts as the elevator doors open with a chime. “Watch me. Hell, you ever get the balls to leave, you can join me.”

“Khalohn? Khalohn!” Timothy calls as Khalohn makes his exit.

His efforts are weak and futile. Khalohn’s mind is made up—and no one can stop him.

“Lohnny? Lohnny, areyou home?” Hollie speaks as she unlocks the door to their small flat and steps inside.

Their unit is hardly bigger than a shoebox, so she doesn’t have to look hard before she spots her husband as he paces back and forth in their bedroom. When he hears her, he stops in the doorway and holds up a finger, his other hand pressing his cellphone to his ear.

“Tomorrow, then? Ten o’clock?” he asks, his blue eyes locked with his wife’s gray ones. “Thank you. See you then.”

Khalohn steps out of their room as Hollie shakes her head at him in confusion. “Tim texted me—he said I should check on you as soon as I could. I—are you okay? What are you doing home so early? Our reservations aren’t until nine. I thought you’d—”

“I quit,” he announces, spreading his arms open wide. “They pulled me into the office this afternoon and fed me some bullshit about this deal I’ve been working on. They’re going against all of my advice. I tried to fight them, but in that moment, I had never felt such clarity about anything.”

“Clarity?” Hollie murmurs as she reaches up to bury her fingers in her hair. She shakes her head and scrunches her brow as she inquires, “Clarity? You just—you just quit your job without discussing it with me because you feltclarity?”

“Hey.” Khalohn’s voice is soft, and he’s quick to close the distance between them. Curving his hands around her cheeks, he stares deep into her eyes and whispers, “I know it sounds crazy, but look at me—look at me. Am I not the same man I was this morning?”

“Lohnny, it’s almost Christmas.”

“Baby,lookat me.”

He pauses as he continues to gaze into her eyes, waiting for her to see him like only she ever has. When she sighs and lets go of her hair, he knows her fear of the unknown has begun to subside. Khalohn presses a kiss to her lips, but neither of them closes their eyes. Hollie rests her hands at his sides and beseeches him for more with her silence.

“The deal I told them not to make, they’re making it. But my proposal—my deal—they’re tossing it. I’m going to take it. I’m going to do this. Start from scratch. Make a name for myself.”

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