Silence Reveals Hidden Answers’ by Michael Anderson novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Harvey Prescott.

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“I’m sorry, you and Jennifer are pretending to date…. again?” Tinka says the moment I shut the door to my office at the Casino. I got her, Nate, and David over here because I need them all on the same page. It doesn’t make sense to discuss this anywhere else, now that Jenna has planted herself in the Ocean Springs apartment building.

“Yeah.”

“Oh, oh.” Nate touches his nose, hiding a smile.

“As you all know, Jenna is terrorizing her.”

“That fucking bitch! The next time I see her, I’m gonna-‘

“”

“You’re not going to do anything,” I cut Tinka off. “I’m still trying to protect Jennifer. I can’t be in two places at once if you get in trouble too.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect her.” Nate offers, but Tinka just rolls her eyes. She probably doesn’t know he was in the army, too. He’s more than capable.

“So, you called us here just to tell us about your new… pretend relationship?” David chuckles with a lollipop in

his hands.

“Just wanted you to know so you can play along. In case you see me and Jennifer together…”

“Wait, there’s no way Jennifer actually agreed to this.” Tinka squints her eyes at me in disbelief.

“Text her and ask. But don’t have the conversation about it in the apartment.”

“Whoa… so you guys are gonna be touchy-touchy? I fear this is going to get messy,” Tinka says, but there’s a hot, mischievous smile on her face.

Nate and David also dab each other up. They are literally chuckling in my face.

“It’s really just to get Jenna off her back. I already fucked up with Jennifer. This is what I can do for her now.”

“But you’re a dangerous-looking guy, Harvey. No offense, but why do you have to take this route? You could just threaten that bitch. I heard you beat up her brother real bad… I saw his face. Hey, I’m not asking you to beat Jennifer, but a good scare-”

“Her father is a Don,” Nate explains to Tinka but her face scrunches in confusion, just like Jennifer’s did. “It means a more dangerous person than Harvey, with connections everywhere. He has to be careful. Could put us all in danger.”

“No way. That ugly moron has family that powerful?” Tinka reconsiders the fight she was mentally picking.

“Yeah.”

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Chapter 69

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“It’s been a while since we’ve had a movie night,” David chimes in. “How about we all go to Jennifer’s place today? Get some meat. I heard she has a patio. We could all just hang out there, make this pretend thing even more believable.”

“Yeah,” Tinka looks at me and her eyes light up. “And Jennifer will actually eat, too…”

“Yup” I say, realizing it’s a solid idea.

David starts chuckling before whispering, “So… you’ll give me a raise for this idea, huh?”

I level a look at him. “Get to work, will you?”

“I hate

you, boss.”

“I’ll grab the drinks and text Jennifer that we’re all coming tonight. I’ll meet you guys there.” Tinka heads for the door, and I nod, opening it for her. Nate follows her out.

Once the door shuts, I click my tongue. It’s a plan.

After work, it’s currently 9 p.m., and I can hear Tinka’s laughter from outside my door. I took a quick shower before heading to Jennifer’s side. Now, I pull a clean shirt down over my torso. The boys are already inside. Just for good measure…even if it’s pretending, I spritz on some cologne, giving myself a quick glance in the mirror to make sure I look… decent.

I rarely do quick glances for in the mirror or anyone or anything. But for Jennifer, I want to be sure I know what she’s seeing when she looks at me.

Elio came by earlier while I was at work, brought my clothes, put everything in order… and guess what else he brought?

“Charge me. Charge me.”

The damn robot says from my room entrance. I stop looking at myself and head to the living area, crouching to plug the thing in. I grab a bag of ice from the fridge…another thing Elio stocked and head out.

When I knock, it’s Tinka who opens, still chuckling. I go straight to the kitchen to drop the ice into a silver bucket. My eyes scan the scene, looking for Jennifer. I see Nate out on the huge patio, fiddling with the grill.

I peek down the hallway, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jen. When I don’t see her, I start a casual walk past the closet, her office… and then I hear her voice, soft, coming from her bedroom.

“Lucas, right?” She says.

That sounds like a man’s name. I stop with a vein in my back. Who the hell is Lucas?

“Yeah, no… I’m… I’m getting over it.” Her voice is light, almost flirty. “Um, I know my mom told you to ask me out. I’d say coffee or just brunch is better. She’s always doing that. She’s crazy.”

My eyebrows knit together and it darkens expression. That sounds like she’s making plans. To date someone.

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Chapter 69

Already!? Is Jennifer being serious right now!?!?

“No, I don’t have a date to the Soirée yet…”

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Yeah, that’s it! I push the door open only to have her whirl around in a matching black lingerie set, her phone lying on the rumpled bed.

“H-Harvey!?”

Jennifer quickly ends the call, scrambling for something to cover up.

“Who the hell was that?”

“Excuse me, you’re in my room—”

“Nothing I haven’t seen before. Now, speak!”

She scoffs, darting past me to grab a robe, tying it tightly around herself before turning to glare. “Jennifer, say something!”

“It’s none of your business. Since when do I owe you an excuse? Have you forgotten who you are to me now?”

“It hasn’t even been a month since we broke up-”

“It wasn’t a month that we were dating, either.”

“Yeah, but I’ve loved you for years. So to me, it feels like an eternity looking at you right now!” My voice rises, and yeah, I’m pissed.

“Sounds like a you problem, Harvey.”

“A Soirée? A date? Have you forgotten we’re supposed to be pretending to be dating?”

“Yeah, to fool your obsessed, stalker ex-girlfriend. Not my whole life. Have you forgotten it’s not real?” She scoffs again, and I look at that pout little mouth she’s using to steadily dismantle me. It was one thing for her to end it with me but I didn’t give her permission to be with someone else.

I breathe hard. My chest is tight and seething.

“So, who is he? Lucas? Sounds like your mom introduced him, so is he one of those ‘good-looking guys who do no wrong.” I can’t keep the sneer out of my voice.

“Hmm, you guessed right.” She glares before walking into her walk-in closet.

I follow.

“Really, Jennifer? After dating a guy like me… after having a man like me, you’re gonna settle for some goody two-shoes? Come on, you should do better. I’m not sure there is a better dude than me in all of Manhattan, but I don’t expect you to pick some guy from a nepo polo golf club.”

She moves hangers aside, pulling out a soft t-shirt and doesn’t even respond…like she doesn’t understand how

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Chapter 69

www

wrong this is. Is this it? Is she really going to start seeing other people?

No. No, no, no.

I shove a hand through my hair as she searches for something else.

“Jennifer, I’m not dating anyone outside of you.” I state.

She finally faces me. “Your decision.”

“Jen.”

“Harvey, the enforcer.”

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