Chapter 1

1: 1

My husband, who never cooks, was up early making me breakfast.

"Queenie Fox, you're going to the bidding meeting today?"

I looked up at him. It was the first time he'd ever asked about my work.

"Yeah. This one decides where the company goes from here."

He nodded, pushed the milk toward me, and told me to hurry up and drink it.

That was when a row of bullet-comments drifted across my vision.

【Don't drink it. There are sleeping pills in the milk.】

【Your husband wants you to miss this bidding meeting, because his childhood sweetheart Maud James is competing in it too.】

【Miss this meeting, and your company goes bankrupt.】

【After the bankruptcy, you get driven to jumping off a building.】

1

My fingers tightened around the glass. I dropped my eyes to the milk.

Were there really sleeping pills in it?

"Queenie, why aren't you drinking?"

Bryan Dickerson pushed the milk on me again, something urgent in his eyes.

"My stomach's a little off. I'll skip it."

I let go of the glass and picked up the sandwich instead.

"Queenie, warm milk won't hurt. I heated it just for you."

"Just a few sips. It's good for your stomach."

I'd been doubtful about the bullet-comments before.

But the way he was acting this morning made me believe them more and more.

He'd never once cared whether I ate breakfast or drank my milk.

I lifted my hand on purpose and knocked the glass over.

He shot up out of his chair, his whole face darkening.

"Queenie, what's wrong with you? Did you do that on purpose?"

I waved a hand. "Bryan, it was an accident."

"Never mind. I'll pour you another one."

He headed for the kitchen, and I followed.

He took a carton of milk from the fridge, then pulled a blister strip of pills from a drawer.

He turned around and saw me standing in the doorway.

The strip dropped to the floor. His brow furrowed, his eyes flickering.

I took two steps forward. He beat me to it, snatched the pills off the floor, and shoved them into his pocket.

"Those are my vitamins."

There was a faint tremor in Bryan's voice.

I nodded. "I just came for a glass of hot water."

For the rest of breakfast, he didn't tell me to drink the milk again.

There was still time, so I sat on the couch for a bit, my handbag beside me.

"Queenie, go down to the pharmacy and grab me a box of painkillers."

"My head's aching a little."

Bryan frowned, rubbing his temple.

"Sure. I'll go now."

I picked up my phone, and as I reached the door, the bullet-comments came again.

【Your husband sent you away on purpose so he can switch out the documents in your handbag.】

【Look, quick. Your husband's got his eyes locked on your handbag.】

【Plan A failed, so now he's running Plan B.】

I pulled my hand back from the door handle and turned around.

He was bent over my handbag, staring at it. Nothing like a man with a headache.

I walked over fast and picked up the bag.

"Queenie, you're going downstairs for medicine. What do you need the bag for?"

"Bryan, this bidding meeting is too important to the company. Nothing can go wrong."

"I'll go get your medicine."

I'd just shut the door when I heard his phone ring.

I stopped outside for a moment.

"Maud, don't worry. You're definitely going to win the bid."