Briar’s fingernails are bloodied, it’s the first thing I notice after I sit before him.

He doesn’t know I’ve seen through his lie, so I suppose I must play along.

“Davina, darling, what is it you wanted to talk about?” He said, hiding his hands beneath his oak desk.

“I wanted to talk. You feel very…distant lately.” I paused a moment. “Is everything okay?”

I could sense Briar freeze for a moment, but in the next, he perfectly composed himself with a soft smile.

“I’m glad for your concern, darling. Everything is perfect. Work has kept me busy.”

Of course he uses work as his excuse.

I force a smile. “That’s a bit relieving. I had made up this whole thing thinking that maybe you were doing something behind my back.” I add in a nervous laugh.

Briar avoids my gaze, looking instead out the windows. “I’d never do anything to hurt you, Davina.”

“Hm,” I said beneath my breath.

Briar notices it.

He folds his hands on the desk and leans close to me. He’s smiling wide now.

“Unless,” he began, “you are doing something behind my back?”

Oh, so he’s playing this game.

I narrow my eyes and lean back in my chair. “I saw you beat that man in the alleyway.”

Briar relaxes rather than freeze. “I did,” he said, not denying his crime.

“Why?”

“You’re not afraid then?” He asks. “You’re not afraid of your reckless husband?”

“No. I trust you. But I’m curious why?”

“He was following you to work the whole week. I caught him off guard and demanded an explanation. He was hired to kill you.”

I nod approvingly.

“But,” he cuts in, “why were you following me?”

He’s got me.

I roll my eyes and let out a sigh. “I was bored and was going to surprise you.”

“Surprise me?”

I pull a golden watch from my pocket. “A gift, for our anniversary next week.”

“Thank you, Davina.”