Silence Reveals Hidden Answers’ by Michael Anderson novel Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Jennifer Marie.

…

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“Yes… both of them. Like it’s not enough what I’ve already been through, they both decided to show up at my door. And now I’m next-door neighbours with both of them. Can you… can you just—”

“Okay, take a deep breath.”

“Oh trust me, I’m breathing, but it’s absolute fire coming out of my nose right now!” I glare at my apartment door like it’s personally offended me.

“There’s no way Harvey would let her move in just to spite you. She must have done it on her own.”

“Oh, so now you’re taking his side? Is that what this is, Tinka? You’re on his side now?”

“Of course not! I’m always on your side. Where is this coming from?”

“You know what, I need to handle this on my own.” I end the call before I say something I’ll regret.

The moment I hang up, I storm into my room, trying to shut down the whirlwind in my head. Harvey… Harvey is my next-door neighbour. He went from being my best friend, to a ghost, to someone I thought was dangerous, to the guy I was crazy attracted to, to my boyfriend, to a liar… and now, to my neighbour. What am I even saying? Maybe he and his ex want to live together now, and I’m the weird third wheel in this whole

mess.

I mean, she was his first…

Ugh. I want to scream, but they’ll both hear me and know I’m losing it! The things she whispered to me are stuck in my brain, scratching at parts of me I don’t know how to soothe. I heard her, loud and clear. She said she taught him. Army hips. She said she rode him, with him being new at it. She knows him on a level I don’t, and she’s rubbing it in my face.

He said he loved her?

Who the hell is Harvey?

He mentioned it was a fling, but it sounds like more than that… she was his first. She was his first. I repeat it, pacing from the kitchen to the living room, staring out the penthouse windows at the sleeping city, then back to my bedroom where I can’t even take a shower because that’s where Harvey and I had sex. You think all the ways he made me feel were because he learned them from someone else.

I couldn’t eat before. Now I can barely stand on my own two feet. Somehow, I end up crawling into bed because at least I have a busy day tomorrow with a new client that Alexa briefed me about. I can’t remember the details, but at least I’ll be busy. Just me and my coffee. I’ll make sure to leave here as early as I can and come back as late as I must.

******

The moment the sun cracks and my alarm blares at 6 a.m., I get up. De Clair opens at 10, but I don’t care. I put actual effort into my look for the first time in days…curling my hair, putting on a little makeup. It’s chilly

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Chapter 64

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out, so I pull on leggings, thick socks, sneakers, a fitted top, and a soft cashmere sweater over it. After grabbing my design book, I snatch my keys and take a deep breath before opening the door.

The first step out puts me face-to-face with Harvey, who’s just coming back in.

I freeze and a breath immediately gets stuck in my throat. He must have been out for a jog. His hair is damp and sticking to his forehead… it’s what, 6:30 in the morning? He tears the earbud from his car, and my eyes are instantly drawn to the rapid rise and fall of his chest. He’s wearing a ribbed black tank and shorts. His muscles are bulky lean and defined, the kind that looks strong and capable. His jaw looks almost starved, like he’s carrying some internal pain, but it only makes him look more devastatingly handsome in the dim morning light.

I forget that I’m not supposed to look at him for more than two seconds. Is it the way he’s looking at me? For some reason, I’m comparing his ragged breaths to a familiar rhythm that matches every time we’ve had sex. I’m comparing everything. I can’t seem to break out of the trance.

The moment I realize I should move my legs, Harvey has already closed the distance between us, stopping right in front of my door.

He uses his head to gesture toward something on the floor beside me. I look down. There’s a takeout cup of steaming coffee and a brown paper bag…probably a breakfast sandwich, resting on a small box. My gaze flicks back to his face. He’s just standing there, waiting for me to take it.

I take the first step to walk away, and Harvey takes the next step to block me. Our bodies meet, my chest softly grazes his. His skin is warm from his run.

“Jen, please.”

I bring my hand up and push against the solid muscle of his shoulder and bicep to get past him. As I do, I take note of Jenna’s door down the hall before I hurry into the elevator. I tap frantically for the door to close. I don’t know who I’m more afraid of running into.

Once inside, I lean back against the wall. How did I even sleep with last night? Because all the information Jenna whispered to me is now burned into my brain. How am I going to survive this? Do I move out? They’re making my life a living hell. But if I run, that means I’ve lost, and they just get to take over my life.

After driving to the shop for over twenty-five minutes, I open De Clair. It’s already past 7. The place is empty, obviously. Flora, Brooke, or Max wouldn’t be here this early. I don’t technically open; I just switch on the dimmer lights in the main area and flood my office with bright light. I need to get ready for the new client.

A soiree event. I’ve already planned two outfits in my head. I’ve been to these “garden soiree” events before with my mom. It’s where all the society moms bring their daughters for some kind of high-society playdate. The first event is usually tea and overly polite conversation. The next, they all gather flowers, and there’s always this snobbish guy who calls himself a flower expert who sniffs the bouquets and then crowns one woman the “Lady of the Garden.”

I’ve never cared for the events, and trust me, I’ve never been crowned. I also hate Romeo, the snobbish dude. So, whoever this client is, this must be her first garden event, because she’s asked for everything…hats, details, down to the socks. It’s alright. I can get a head start. I need anything that can keep me busy.

I start making color combinations. It’s this Saturday. I’ve been so consumed by my personal life that I haven’t started on it. But I can. I just have to put my mind to it. Plus, Flora has started the base already.

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Chapter 64

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As the sun comes up properly, I turn on the main boutique lights and go outside to flip the sign to ‘Open.’ I step onto the sidewalk, looking up and down the street before crossing to the coffee shop. I grab my usual large black coffee but for some reason, I remember the smell of the sandwich Harvey tried to give me.

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