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"I know the briefcase is around here so around the apartment

"I thought you said it was on your living room table?" Cheryl asks

"It was… or I thought it was, but I could've misremembered," I say

"It's gone, Ethan," she says "I told you Brittney couldn't be trusted Nohat are we going to do?"

My heart now sinks even further as I realize Cheryl's right I'm not sure if this is what a broken heart feels like, but itclose

The realization finally sinks in Despite the fact that I knohat she did, I have to repeat it to myself

Brittney used me She stole the prototype

There's a moment of stunned silence

"Ethan you can trust me," a voice says from behind me "Here's your prototype"

I feel a hand onmy briefcase in one hand

"I thought you stole the prototype," I say I'ht This isn't the Brittney I kissed goodbye to in my apartment

"I love you Ethan," Brittney says "I love you with every fiber of my body I've never felt this way about a man before… but now that I've ine my life without you"

"Brit, co in the corners of her eyes "What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid Ethan," she says "Very afraid"

She continues, "There's a man out there ouldn't hesitate to see me dead"