Karl
As I pull Gianna into the dimly lit study, the atmosphere is filled with a tension that’s been brewing for weeks now, maybe even longer. The door clicks shut behind us, sealing us off from the guests, the judgment, and the murmurs.
For a moment, we are suspended in a bubble of silence, and I finally address what’s been gnawing at me.
“A pathetic housemaid?” I ask.
Gianna shoots me a quizzical look, but I can see the gears turning in her head. She’s trying not to display emotion, which is just a dead giveaway. “A… what?” she asks, taking a step back.
I take another step toward her, closing the gap once again. “Don’t play dumb,” I growl. “Is that really what you called her?”
“Called who?” Gianna’s voice begins to rise ever so slightly.
“Abby, of course,” I say, folding my arms a
