Chapter 119
Andrew's POV
"I never said I hated you," she replied, her voice steadier than I'd expected. "Maybe I was... too hasty in my judgment."
This woman never does anything without reason. I released her wrist but didn't step back. "You're full of surprises, Julie. What brought on this change of heart?"
"I owe you. Because you saved me. I figure dinner is the least I can do to... return the favor."
"Return the favor?" I smiled, though suspicion gnawed at me. "How generous of you."
"Just one dinner," she clarified quickly. "Then we're even."
I studied her face, searching for tells, for cracks in whatever facade she was presenting. But Julie revealed nothing beyond nervousness. Finally, I grabbed my jacket. "Alright, Julie. I'll bite. But if we're doing this, we're doing it properly."
Let's see what game you're really playing.
---
I chose the most expensive French restaurant in the city – the kind of place where a single meal could drain someone's monthly salary. If Julie was playing some angle, I wanted to see how far she'd commit to the charade.
Despite her attempts to hide it, I could still see the calculation in her eyes. She kept staring at me, completely out of her element.
"You keep staring at me," I observed, watching her fumble with her fork. "Something on your mind?"
"Just... thinking about work stuff." The lie came too quickly.
"Work stuff." I leaned back, amused. "Tell me, Julie – do you think I'm attractive?"
The question caught her off guard, and she nearly choked on her water. Perfect. Keep her unbalanced.
"I... what?"
"Simple question. Do you find me attractive?"
She forced a nod, though something flickered in her eyes – distaste, maybe, or fear.
"So," she said once we were alone again, "I heard about your... situation at work."
"Temporary setback. Nothing more," I replied.
But when I mentioned being sidelined, I could see the relief in her eyes. You think you've won something, don't you?
"Must be frustrating," she continued probing. "Being sidelined like that."
"These things happen in business." I kept my voice neutral, though anger simmered beneath the surface. "The important thing is learning from your mistakes."
And I've learned plenty. About you, about Grace, about how to play this game better.
As the evening progressed and the sake flowed, I found myself relaxing despite my suspicions. Julie was asking all the right questions, showing just enough interest to seem genuine. But there was something underneath – purposeful.
---
Julie's POV
The alcohol was definitely working. Andrew's usual razor-sharp composure had softened around the edges, his words coming slower, his gestures more relaxed. This was exactly what I'd been hoping for.
"Tell me about your personal life," I said, refilling his sake cup with practiced casualness. "You always seem so... focused on work. Don't you have anyone special?"
Andrew's expression darkened for a moment, and I thought I'd pushed too hard. But then he drained his cup and looked at me with something that might have been vulnerability.
"Love is a luxury I can't afford," he said with a bitter laugh. "Too dangerous."
Dangerous. The word sent a chill down my spine. "Dangerous how?"
He stared into his empty cup, and for a moment, his mask slipped completely. "When you love someone, you give them power over you. The power to destroy you."
My heart hammered against my ribs. Is that what happened? And then...?
"That night I accidentally saw the photo of a girl in your wallet... was it her?" I said softly, fighting to keep my voice steady.
That girl was my best friend. She came from a similar background as me, but she was braver and more optimistic. She would fight against all injustice. She stayed with me during my most helpless times, giving me encouragement.
But she jumped off a building and committed suicide because of a broken heart – this was something I couldn't accept. I didn't believe she would give up her life for this reason.
Andrew looked at me then, and I saw pain there – raw and unhealed. But underneath it, something else. Something that made my blood run cold.
"She was just an old friend," he said quietly. "A long time ago. She's... gone now."
This is it. This is what I came here for. I leaned forward slightly, my pulse racing. "Gone? What happened to her?"
"She died." The words came out flat, emotionless, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.
The confirmation hit me like a physical blow again, even though I knew it was coming. Tell me how. Tell me why.
"I'm sorry," I managed, surprised that I meant it despite everything. "That must have been terrible."
Andrew shrugged, but the gesture looked forced. "She made her choices. Put her trust in the wrong people. In the end, she got exactly what she deserved."
The casual cruelty of his words made me want to reach across the table and claw his eyes out. How dare you? How dare you talk about her like that?
"Sounds like someone hurt her," I probed carefully. "That person... really is damned."
Andrew responded lightly: "Damned? Everyone is not innocent. We're all just coming from different positions and perspectives."
I looked at his wind-light attitude, hatred gathering in my eyes. But someone who means nothing to you was the most precious existence in someone else's eyes.
"What do you want most?" I asked, trying to understand this man's inner world.
Andrew considered for a moment. "Fame, fortune, freedom, happiness."
"Happiness?" I pressed.
"Family and lovers and friends, like Grace has, having the Morgan family as support." His voice was much more serious than usual, and I felt he was telling the truth.
Even someone like you longs to be loved, to be accepted. But why do you hurt those who love you?
I looked at him, this man who showed his vulnerable side under the influence of alcohol, complex emotions churning inside me. He might know the truth about her death, might even be the killer. But at this moment, he looked more like a lost child, longing for warmth and belonging.