06

6

"Rachel, I'm so sorry. I was wrong to believe Lily's lies and think you were being framed. I'm sorry, Rachel. I was wrong. Please forgive me..."

William was sobbing uncontrollably on the other end of the phone, repeating his apologies over and over.

I hovered nearby, finding it all rather amusing.

This rising star, for whom I had once given everything, had conspired with Lily to frame me and leave me for dead.

I had already told the people at the studio that I was going to write a song for William.

Everyone at the studio knew that Lily had given me that seasoning packet containing allergens.

If William had gone to the studio earlier, if he had discovered the truth sooner, perhaps none of this would have happened.

But now, this belated apology meant less to me than a blade of grass.

"Where's Rachel? Let me talk to her!" William shouted anxiously on the other end of the line.

James stood there holding the phone, at a loss for how to respond.