Chapter 1

1: 1

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

"Asher Gilbert, aren't you going to the bid today?"

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

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

She nodded and pushed the glass of milk toward me, telling me to hurry and drink it.

That was when a line of comments drifted across my vision.

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

【Your wife wants you to miss this bid, because her childhood friend Sebastian Barnes is competing in it too.】

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

【After the bankruptcy, you'll be driven to jump off a building.】

1

My hand tightened on the glass, and I stared down at the milk.

Was there really something in it?

"Asher, why aren't you drinking?"

My wife, Regina Pruitt, pressed me again, an edge of urgency in her eyes.

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

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

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

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

I'd been doubtful about whether those comments were real.

But the way she was acting this morning only made me believe them more.

On any normal day she couldn't have cared less whether I ate breakfast or touched the milk.

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

She shot up from her chair, her whole face pinched with displeasure.

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

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

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

With that she headed for the kitchen, and I followed.

She took a fresh carton of milk from the fridge, then pulled a blister pack of pills from a drawer.

She turned around and saw me standing in the doorway.

The pack slipped from her hand to the floor. Her face went white, her eyes darting.

I took two steps forward, but she got to the pills first, snatching them up and stuffing them into her pocket.

"Those are my vitamins."

Her voice shook, just slightly.

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

She didn't tell me to drink the milk again for the rest of breakfast.

It was still early, so I sat on the couch for a while with my briefcase beside me.

"Asher, run down to the pharmacy and get me a box of painkillers."

"My head hurts a little."

She frowned, rubbing her temples.

"Sure. I'll go now."

I took my phone and reached the door, and the comments appeared again.

【Your wife sent you off on purpose. She's going to swap out the documents in your briefcase.】

【Look, quick. Your wife's got her eyes locked on your briefcase.】

【Plan A didn't work, so now she's onto Plan B.】

I pulled my hand back from the doorknob and turned around.

She was bent over my briefcase, and she didn't look like a woman with a headache at all.

I walked over quickly and picked it up.

"Asher, you're going downstairs for medicine. Why take the bag?"

"Regina, this bid matters too much to the company. I can't afford a single slip."

"I'll go get your medicine."

I'd barely shut the door when I heard her phone ring.

I lingered outside a moment.

"Sebastian, don't worry. You're definitely going to win it."