Snow on the Other Side

Hank stood there with his arms crossed, looking down on me like I was nothing.

"You must be really scared you won't find anyone to marry, coming here to apologize to me like this," he said.

I just looked at him, no expression on my face. "You're right, I should apologize."

He grinned, thinking he had won, but the bruise on his cheek stood out like a sore thumb.

I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "No, Hank. You're the one who should be saying sorry to me."

Hank just laughed harder, looking way too pleased with himself. "I don't get it. Why should I say sorry to you?"

He had all the time in the world to play dumb, but I was done playing games. "You stole my account and leaked Windsor's secrets, didn't you?"

"It doesn't matter who did it. What matters is who Nancy trusts."

"So Nancy trusts you. What's that prove? That you're a great actor?" At my words, Hank burst out laughing, his eyes full of scorn. I had had enough. I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm.

He looked around quickly, making sure we were alone, then whispered, "You know I'm the one who took the data. Do you really think I'd also mess with the surveillance? I don't have that kind of access."

His words hit me like a bolt of lightning. I was frozen. Hank could have gotten into my work computer, but the surveillance videos. They were on my personal computer, and only Nancy could get to those.

"The thing I hate most," Hank sneered, "Is people wanting what's mine. Keep it up, and I won't mind getting you locked up again.”

"Oh, and one more thing," he said, suddenly grinning like he had just thought of a great joke. "You don't know yet, do you? Your mom's dead. Died right before New Year's last year. Too bad Nancy was too busy with me to bother with that old woman. You have no idea how sad it was. I even felt bad."

He laughed like it was the funniest thing he had ever heard. I could not take it anymore. I clenched my fist.

However, Hank was quicker this time. He threw open the door, fell out onto the floor, and started screaming for help.

Nancy leaped off the couch and hurried over, helping the waiter pull me away from Hank.

"So, this is how you say sorry?"

Hank crouched down, frowning, and hid behind Nancy.

"Nancy, Samuel's lost it. I just said hi to him, and he freaked out and attacked me."

Nancy glared at me like she totally believed him. "If you're not going to say sorry, then just go away. Don't make a scene here. It's embarrassing!"

She shoved me, and I almost fell. She was so mad, she almost slapped me.

I tried to smile, feeling really let down. "My mom's gone. Why didn't you tell me?"

Nancy looked guilty for just a second, then she went all cold again. "If I told you, would that bring her back?"

It felt like my heart was ripped in half, it hurt so much.

She thought about it, then put her hand down and spoke softer. "You're wasting your time worrying about stuff you can't change. Just say sorry to Hank, and I'll still marry you, like I promised."

"Marry me?" I said to myself. Then, with everyone watching, I punched Hank, who was snickering behind Nancy.

"Samuel, have you lost your mind?" Nancy was shocked, then quickly stood up for Hank. She looked at me like she was super mad, like she wished she could just make me disappear.

I pulled back my hand, took the ring out of my bag, and threw it at Nancy's face.

"Marry me? Did I ever say I wanted to?"