"From start to finish, my conscience is clear. What right do you have to treat me like this?"
The last sentence wasn't just for Valerie. I was screaming it at Matthew James.
But he would never hear it.
The adrenaline crashed. Low blood sugar flared, and the room spun. I swayed, nearly collapsing, but Bonnie caught me just in time.
That night, the company fired Valerie on the spot and demanded $20,000 in damages for the work delay.
I dragged my exhausted body back to the villa, packed the very last of my belongings, and walked out the door.
I left the key on the table.
At the airport, while waiting to board, I opened my blocked list and pulled Matthew out. My feed instantly refreshed. Several new travel videos popped up on his Moments.
He had accompanied Julia Fox across three different countries.
Although the videos only showed him, the background audio told the real story. A gentle female voice was always there, speaking to him softly.
He called her Julia. She called him Matthew.
The realization hit me like a physical blow.