Silence Reveals Hidden Answers’ by Michael Anderson novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Jennifer Marie.

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Three days before Italy. So I decide to try on some bikinis. You know, for the parts of the trip where I’m supposed to “enjoy myself” and not be Harvey’s stylist.

Alexa gave me Harvey’s number before we left, since he’s technically my client. And right in the middle of telling Tinka everything that happened today, I start taking bikini pictures so she can help me choose. I was looking at the video of myself in the white one, my finger was hovering over send, when I noticed the boring, grey profile picture on the chat.

It wasn’t Tinka’s bright pink selfie. It was just a picture of… a man’s hand. I did hit send and only after a few minutes do I see the contact name.

Harvey.

HARVEY

And his profile picture? Not even a face. Just his hand. Like he’s the CEO of some Anonymous company. Meanwhile my whole butt is in that photo.

When his reply comes, my soul leaves my body.

“Both.”

Both?? BOTH??

Why is he talking like he’s choosing dessert? I tried deleting and re–texting some professional work things. But I guess the humiliation wasn’t enough, he sends me his home address like I haven’t already exposed half my ass to him. His actual home address. For the “color analysis.”

I drop my phone like it’s infected. “Oh my god.”

I start pacing back and forth in my bathroom like a raccoon on caffeine.

“Am I stupid? No, wait–I AM stupid. I am the CEO of stupid. I just sent bikini pics to HARVEY. HARVEY!”

My voice cracks like I’m twelve.

“Booty cheeks OUT. OUT in the open! I basically gave him a full 360–degree tour! Why am I like this?!”

I throw my hands into my hair and pull. I can’t even look at my phone again. I scream internally. Then I scream out loud. Very loudly. And while I’m mid–meltdown, I hear a door creak somewhere in my apartment.

Tinka’s at work. I literally just texted her, there’s no way she’s visiting. So who the hell… I pause my crash out and a giant oversized T–shirt which I yank it on.

I grab the baseball bat leaning in the corner and leave the bathroom.

I swallow hard and inch forward with the bat raised over my shoulder like I’m about to fight for my life.

Moving silently in my socks, I get closer to the living room. It’s empty.

Then, the door jambs again, and this time I realize it’s the front door. Someone’s at the front door.

“Who is it?!” I yell. I know I don’t have a fighter’s bone in my body, but if it’s some creep, it’s better if I get the first hit in..

I am ready to swing the second the door opens-

15:05 Tue, Feb 3

Chapter 6

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And I see my brother. My brother whom I haven’t seen in two years.

“Hey, don’t!” He throws his hands up right before 1 accidentally dent his skull.

1 drop the bat with a gasp.

“What the hell. Jeremy!”

པར།

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He pushes his messy hair back, looking annoyingly calm. How did he even know where I live? I know Mom didn’t give him my address. She literally banned me from contacting him.

“I thought you’d be at work he says, like that explains everything.

“You thought? That means this isn’t the first time you’ve broken into my apartment!”

“Not breaking in… just getting in by playing with the lock.” He takes off his sneakers, and walks right in with a suitcase behind

him

“Did they teach you that in the army, or on the streets?” I drop the bat and follow him. “And I hope that suitcase doesn’t have your clothes in it

“No. But can I stay here for a while?”

“Does this place look like a shack to you? No. You can’t.”

Jennifer, please-

“Jeremy, no”

“I’m in a bit of a mess”

“There has never been a time you weren’t in a mess. That’s why Mom banned me from meeting you.”

“Of course, she did.” He snorts “Her new rich husband can’t have anyone knowing she’s got a gangster for a son and an ex- husband who runs a convenience store.”

His voice cracks on the last part because even though he tries to hide it. He’s still upset over the divorce. Still angry Mom left Dad because he wouldn’t stop drinking. I was eleven. I went with her. Jeremy stayed with Dad for… whatever loyalty oath he made back then.

“You said that, not me.” I fold my arms.

Jeremy just scoffs again, looking around. “Guess it’s true you’re making good money now. Seeing your expensive–looking apartment.”

“And where did you hear that from?”

“Dad. He keeps tabs on you. He’s even got a picture of you up in the store.” Jeremy goes straight for my kitchen. He opens the fridge to look in

That stops me. I go still, like someone pressed pause on my whole body.

Dad keeps a picture of me?

I haven’t seen him in years.

Mom banned him from my high school graduation because her new husband was going to be there, and she wasn’t sure if he was still a drunk. I guess I never bothered to find out. She painted him as a monster after their marriage ended.

15:05 Tue, Feb 3

Chapter 6

“Is he still-”

MW

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I want to know if dad still drinks but Jeremy cuts me off with a carton of juice in his hand. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“What?”

“Do you have a boyfriend you bring over sometimes to smash?”

“EW-”

“Exactly. Let it be ew. I don’t want any man smashing my sister just because you’ve got a glow–up. Don’t want to hear it. Don’t want to see it.”

“Can you stop!? And second, if anyone were to smash me, you wouldn’t know because you don’t live here.” I make an annoyed little circle motion with my finger.

“I’m serious, I need a place to crash. Just for a few days.” He points his chin vaguely toward the hallway. “Tinka said you have an extra room.”

“Excuse me?”

He lifts a brow.

“You’ve been talking to Tinka? Oh my god. I swear I’m going to kill her.”

Jeremy smiles.

“Did you get in trouble with the mafia? A politician? The police?” I gesture wildly. “Honestly, I don’t even understand what you do-”

“I am a private henchman.” Jeremy winks before turning to raid my fridge.

Ugh. I’m not going to kick him out. I never could. He’s my big brother. He’s always in some kind of trouble but he’s still Jeremy. And if he’s here with a suitcase and that look in his eyes…? He’s in deeper trouble than he’s letting on.

“I’m leaving for Italy in three days.” I hurry back into my bedroom and shut the door behind me. My heart is still going crazy. Some of it is part embarrassment, part…and the other, I refuse to name

I grab my phone again. And of course the first thing my eyes lock on are the pictures. Me. In bikinis. Sent to Harvey.

HARVEY.

Why does my chest get hot thinking about his reply?

He said red and white. Like he couldn’t choose. Like he liked… both. Does he really like me? Jeez, I’m losing my mind. I’ve never once thought Harvey liked me. Probably because I was too busy crushing on Baxter.

And speaking of Baxter…what the hell was that? And don’t even get me started on Nisha.

She dropped her that drink on purpose. I can already sense these next two weeks of bridal fittings will be hell on Earth with a sprinkle of lava.

But back to Harvey.

How do I even test if he’s serious? And even if he is… would I give him a chance? He’s turned to a personification of my type, but… he literally left me. I haven’t forgiven him for that hole he tore in our friendship when he vanished. Why did he hide his whole family from me? It’s like I didn’t know him at all.

Too many questions. Too many what–ifs.

15:05 Tue, Feb 3 M •

Chapter 6

Fine. I’ll just do his color analysis. I won’t test anything. I’ll do my job.

སབླ11།

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At exactly 9 p.m, I get to the address.

Blingstone Estate. As the automatic gates glide open, my jaw literally unhinges. This place looks like a billionaire’s futuristic tech kingdom.

“What does it look like?” Tinka’s voice buzzes from my phone on the dashboard.

“It looks like… a freaking urban penthouse from a tech billionaire’s dream.” I babble and flip the camera to face the windshield as I drive past the fountain that’s showing the reflection of the moon.

“Wow.” Tinka breathes. “I think you should give him a chance.”

“Really?” I roll my eyes.

A man who looks like a tells me where to park. I kill the engine, unbuckle, and slide out.

“Evening. Miss Jennifer. You can come in. Mr. Harvey will be with you shortly.”

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