Chapter 3

The condo I shared with Eleanor felt cold, alien, as I unlocked the door.

Music was playing, something classical and pretentious, Eleanor' s usual choice.

I walked into the living room.

And stopped.

Eleanor was on the sofa, curled up against David Miller.

His arm was around her. Her head rested on his shoulder.

They looked cozy. Domestic.

Like they belonged there. And I didn't.

Eleanor looked up, her expression unreadable. No surprise, no guilt. Just a cool assessment.

David Miller, the "protégé," smirked at me. He looked young, but his eyes were old, calculating.

"Michael," Eleanor said, her voice smooth as glass. "You're back."

"Evidently," I said, my voice tight. "I came to get my things."

"Of course," she said, waving a dismissive hand. "Don't let us stop you."

She didn't move. David didn't move.

They just watched me, like I was an unwelcome interruption.

The rage I' d felt earlier simmered, threatening to boil over.

"Actually, Michael," Eleanor said, her tone shifting to that imperious one she used on junior staff. "Before you start, David' s parched. Could you get him one of those craft IPAs he likes from the fridge? And I' m starving. There' s that leftover brisket from Franklin' s. He adores their brisket. Be a dear and heat some up for us."

I stared at her, speechless.

She wanted me to serve them? Her and her lover? In my home?

"My hands," she continued, examining her perfectly manicured nails, "are far too valuable for menial tasks like that when I have design deadlines looming. You understand."

David chuckled, a low, unpleasant sound.

"Yeah, Mike," he said, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "Eleanor's a genius. Gotta protect the assets."

My fists clenched. I wanted to hit him. I wanted to scream at her.

But a cold, hard knot of something else was forming inside me.

Disgust. And a chilling clarity.

This wasn't just a mistake, a moment of weakness.

This was who she was.

"Get it yourself," I said, my voice flat.

Eleanor's eyes narrowed. "Don't be difficult, Michael."

"I'm not your butler, Eleanor. And I'm definitely not his." I jerked my head towards David.

I turned and walked towards the bedroom, their surprised silence following me.

This was going to be harder than I thought.