Read Things Liars Fake (#ThreeLittleLies #3) for Free Online Page B

the message, scanning it absentmindedly.
    Noting that it’s just a follow up on an account I just picked up from a competitor’s firm, I flag it as priority, but close the window.
    I can’t focus.
    Frustrated, I raise both hands and run my fingers through my thick brown hair, shake my head and let out a loud groan.
    “Dammit!” I curse loudly.
    Loud enough that my secretary Vanessa sticks her head in my office door.
    Shit.
    “Is everything okay in here, Sir?” Worry is etched across her face, but that’s nothing new. A few weeks ago, Vanessa fucked up some client files and almost lost us a major account; these days her paranoia with the risk of being fired is at an all-time high—despite my constant reassurances that her job is secure.
    For the moment, anyway.
    “No. Sorry about that. Everything is fine.”
    Vanessa stands idly for a few seconds, her heavily mascaraed lashes sticking together briefly as she blinks rapidly at me from the doorway. Tapping the steel doorframe with the palm her hand, so nods slowly. “Sir, do you need anything while I’m up?”
    My lips compress in a thin line; I hate when she calls me Sir. It makes me feel like an old man. “Nope. I’m good.”
    Her coal rimmed eyes narrow. “Alright, if you say so…”
    Grabbing my phone, I click open the NEW MESSAGE tab and hit COMPOSE. Then I stare at the small screen, thumbs hovering above the touch screen keypad far too long.
     
    Me: Daphne, this is Dexter. This might seem really random, but I was hoping you’d be available this week at some point for a quick lunch or coffee?
     
    Before second-guessing myself, I hit SEND, tap out more messages to random co-workers, switch the ringer to ‘vibrate,’ and push the phone to the corner of my desk in an attempt to forget about it. It lays there, unmoving for the next six minutes.
    I flip it over to check the display screen.
    Nothing.
    Three seconds later, I check it again.
    Still nothing.
    This is ridiculous—what the hell am I doing? Not only is this sudden onslaught of nerves uncharacteristic, I have shit tons of work to do with little time to waste. Stacks of paperwork with millions of dollars at stake, and here I sit, staring at my goddamn cell phone as if I’m expecting it to sprout wings and fly.
    Frustrated by my own insecurities, I pull the top drawer of my desk open and toss the phone in, slamming it shut with resounding bang.
    Another four minutes go by and I’ve accomplished nothing but listening in the silence for my phone’s telltale rumble.
    Another three, and I’ve manage to wad up eight pieces of printer paper and basketball toss them to the corner trash can.
    Five of them land on the carpet.
    I’m about to stand and toss them in the garbage when a low buzzing inside the drawer halts my actions, the vibrating sends my phone thumping spastically inside the hollow wooden interior.
    Dammit. I forgot to silence it.
    My pulse accelerates.
    I lean back in my desk chair, looking into the hall for Vanessa, paranoid— like I’m about to do something criminal and don’t want to get caught—before pulling the drawer open and retrieving my sleek phone.
    One new message.
    It’s her.
    A bead of sweat actually forms on my brow, and I wipe it with the sleeve of my white dress shirt before swiping open the message center.
     
    Daphne: Will today work?
     
    My eyes damn near bug out of my skull. Today?
    She wants to meet today ?
    I recall a lecture given to me by my twin, fifteen-year old sisters about the hazards of responding to a text message immediately: you just, like, don’t do it unless you’re a loser .
    I disregard their instructions.
    It’s stupid advice.
     
    Me: Yeah, today is great. What time and place work best for you?
     
    Her reply, too, is almost immediate.
    I grin stupidly.
     
    Daphne: I can probably cut out of work early and bring some things home. So how does two o’clock sound? Do you know where Blooming Grounds is ?
     
    Blooming Grounds is the coffee shop