Chapter 2

A week later, Molly calls me, her voice tight with a fury she' s trying to suppress.

"Gabby, there must be some mistake."

I can hear the fluorescent hum of the basement office through the phone.

"What' s wrong, Molly?" I ask, my voice dripping with fake concern.

"They have me sorting mail," she hisses. "And ordering paper towels. I'm in the basement. This is the facility management office."

I make a soft, sympathetic sound. "Oh, Molly. I'm so sorry. I told them you were eager to learn the business from the very bottom. To see how the entire operation runs. I thought it showed initiative."

Silence. She' s processing it, trying to find a way to call me out without revealing her true, entitled nature. She can' t. The "grateful, humble underdog" persona she' s built is a cage of her own making.

"I see," she finally says, the two words clipped and cold. "Thank you, Gabby. For the opportunity."

"Of course," I say sweetly. "Work hard. Caleb will notice."

I know he will.

Even in the basement, a snake will find a way to slither upstairs. I' m counting on it.

I see Caleb that night for dinner. He wraps his arms around me, his handsome face a mask of concern and love. The same face that looked down at me as I died.

"You seem distant tonight, baby," he murmurs, kissing my temple.

The touch makes my skin crawl. I have to fight the urge to flinch away.

"Just tired," I lie, forcing a smile. "Thinking about my parents."

It' s the perfect excuse. It always works. He pulls me closer, playing the part of the supportive fiancé.

"I know it's hard," he says. "But I'm here. I'll always be here to take care of you."

I look into his eyes, the eyes of the man who orchestrated my parents' "yachting accident," and I feel a cold, clear purpose settle over me.

In my first life, I found out about him and Molly by accident. They got sloppy. This time, I' ll be the one setting the stage.

I start by being the perfect, grieving, slightly fragile fiancée. I let him "take care of me." I lean on him, making myself appear just as vulnerable as I was the first time.

A few weeks into her "internship," Molly starts finding excuses to be on the upper floors. Delivering packages that could have been sent through interoffice mail. Reporting a "flickering light" near Caleb' s office.

One evening, I "spontaneously" decide to surprise Caleb at work. I walk into the lobby and see them.

Molly is standing a little too close to him, her hand on his arm, her face tilted up in that practiced, adoring way. Caleb isn' t pulling away. He has a small, smug smile on his face.

They don' t see me.

I watch them for a long moment, the picture of betrayal searing itself into my mind again. This is the confirmation I needed, not that I ever doubted it.

"Caleb?" I call out, my voice intentionally shaky.

They jump apart. Molly' s face floods with panic. Caleb' s expression shifts instantly to one of warm surprise. He' s a master of this.

"Gabby! Baby, what are you doing here?" He strides over, kissing me, his body blocking my view of Molly.

"Molly was just... telling me about a plumbing issue in the basement," he says smoothly.

I glance past his shoulder. Molly is looking at the floor, the picture of a chastised employee.

"Oh," I say, playing the naive fool. "Well, I' m glad you' re taking care of it, Caleb. You always take care of everything."

I let my eyes meet Molly' s for a second. I give her a small, encouraging smile, the same one I would have given her in my first life.

Let her think she' s winning. Let her think I' m still the same idiot.

The more confident they become, the harder they will fall.