He holds my gaze, but doesn't respond immediately. And that second... that little second of pause... it says more than it should.
"Clara..."
His tone barely drops.
"If you think I was the one who did this... it is not like that."
I stare at him, looking for something, a crack, a sign. Something... But nothing is obvious.
As always.
"I went to your office," he continues. "I talked about it with you directly."
He pauses.
"Do you remember?"
And there it is, the lie. I feel it... Not because I have proof, but because it doesn't fit.
Because that wasn't a conversation, that was a warning. A signal, not a real warning.
I purse my lips.
"It wasn't the same."
My voice drops a little, but it doesn't lose strength.
"It wasn't even close to the same."
He steps toward me, not aggressive
