Vivienne's POV
The pause stretched long enough that I thought he might not answer.
Then he said, "How much do you know."
Not a deflection. A genuine question. The question of a man trying to understand what version of the truth was required before he committed to giving it.
"Enough," I said. "But I need to hear it from you."
Another pause. Shorter this time.
Then, "Okay."
He took a breath.
And told me.
....
He had met Maria at the gym.
Not as a client exactly. She had come in one afternoon six months ago and asked about membership and he had shown her around and they had talked in the easy way of two people who found each other immediately comfortable and they had talked for longer than a membership tour required.
She had come back.
Not just for the gym. For him.
He said this
