Lionel, caughtpletely off guard, stumbled back, his head snapping to the side. He stared at Hannah, his eyes wide with disbelief.


    SMACK!


    A second p, just as sudden and just as hard.


    The sharp sounds echoed in the quiet room.


    Hannah shook her stinging hand.


    "Lionel, we''ve known each other for years, and we were married for three. I know what you''re going to say and do before you even do it."


    She pointed to theputer screen. "I heard your entire conversation in the living room. I was trying to work, but I forgot to close the security feed. Your soap opera was toopelling to turn off."


    She had almostughed watching it unfold: Lionel''s feigned impartiality, Sandra''s dramatic remorse, her final, desperate gambit of regretting ever having saved him. Every word had been a calcted blow.


    Hannah knew that Sandra''s history with Lionel-saving him, funding his education -was his weak spot. He had always felt indebted to her. Hearing those words would have felt like the world was copsing around him.


    So, she had known he woulde upstairs to talk to her. And she knew that, ultimately, he would have tried to threaten or force her to make amends with Sandra. Rather than waste her breath arguing, she had simply cut to the chase.


    "Lionel, you can drop the act. It''s disgusting. Your heart has always been with her. I was the one who shouldn''t have gotten in the way. But I''m leaving now, so for thest few days we have together, you and your sweetheart can do whatever you want."


    "You could have sex right here in front of me, and I''d hand you a condom. Just, for the love of God, stop bothering me. Now get out."


    Lionel''s face darkened, and he clenched his jaw at her crude words.


    “Hannah, what are you trying to say? That''spletely out of..."


    SMACK!


    Another p cut him off before he could finish.


    "Out of line? Search your nonexistent conscience and tell me what you really came up here to say. That you were going to threaten Sandra inte apologizing un forgave her


    Lionel, we''re not children. Let''s not


    lieto


    ourselves."


    "Or are you going to swear that''s all you wanted to say?" She sneered, grabbing his arm and dragging him toward the door.


    "Lionel, you are the most spineless man I have ever met. To call you a failure would be apliment Now go call your precious girlfriend andfort her. And don''t interrupt my work again."


    She shoved him out of the room and mmed the door, locking it behind her. She returned to her desk, closed the security feed, and went back to work, her


    emotions already back in check.


    Lionel stood in the hallway, taking deep breaths. He turned to look at the closed door, a sharp, twisting pain in his chest.


    She was right. He hade up here to convince her to forgive Sandra But the moment he saw that she had been watching, he had panicked and led, a reflex so ingrained that it frightened him.


    When had he be this person?