How could it be?
Not after everything I witnessed happening next door.
The fire killing the Browns wasn’t an accident.
It would be too perfect.
And everyone knows that life isn’t perfect.
That’s why some people thinkI’mguilty of killing Michael and Dorothy Brown.
They think I’m a killer.
Me.
A 17-year-old high school student who loves romcoms, kittens, pastel colors, and binging TV series.
Someone who wouldn’t even hurt a fly.
I repeat, life will never be the same.
8
ROSE
Walking into the office the morning after the interview, Carol is the first person I see. When she spots me, her expression changes, she greets me with a smile while rubbing her pregnant belly.
“Morning Rose, how was your interview with Elijah Dalton? I feel so bad that I couldn’t interview him.”
“Morning, Carol. It was interesting, but I have to go through my notes and prepare for a follow-up.” I tell her and walk to my cubicle. I can hear her heels clicking on the floor behind me.
“Wait, how did you manage to get a follow-up with Dalton? It took us years to even get his team to agree to the interview. You’ve been working here for two months and already managed something that nobody else has.” She asks, doubt evident in her voice.
Fishsticks.What do I say to her?
“Well, we were neighbors and went to high school together. It’s safe to say we were shocked to see each other, but we got talking and he agreed to a follow-up.”
“Oh, you don’t say… You’re a friend of his?” Carol wonders, her voice changing once again.
“I wouldn’t say that we’re friends. He graduated a year before I did.” I reply quickly.
Liar, liar, pants on fire. Try to convince yourself that.
It seems like Carol doesn’t believe my statement either. She hums cheerily and walks past me.Great.
An hour later my boss messages me to see him. Getting up, I check my reflection in the window next to my cubicle and head to his office upstairs.
My boss, Andrew, is the grandson of Winston Bridgeway, the founder of the magazine. His brothers and several other relatives also hold positions within the company's management.
Arriving in the lobby, I can see that my boss is talking to someone in his office. As he turns around, I see her once again.Damn Carol.I knew I should have kept my mouth shut. There’s no way to deny that I know Eli beyond the interview now.
Keeping my emotions in check, I walk towards the corner office that looks like a freaking fish tank. I wonder what the point of having offices with glass walls is. It’s not even soundproof. I can hear the end of whatever those two are discussing—it sounds like they disagree on a plan for a project and need to discuss it more later.
For now, their focus is on me.
Andrew motions me to come in while Carol tries to find something in her purse. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that she’s avoiding my gaze while leaving the office.
”Rose, I wanted to discuss your interview with Mr. Dalton yesterday. It seems like everything went well”, my boss starts.
