Looking up from her proofreading of an annual report to. the Board of Directors, she answered the phone with a distracted air. “Hello?” “Mikaela?” asked the very familiar voice. “Yes, what is it, Matte?” She could detect a tension in his voice, even though he had only spoken her name. It was as though she could feel the nervous energy in the silence of the phone line. “I’ve got to talk to you . . .” said the male voice. “I’ve got something to tell you, so that . . . so that you won’t be too shocked when you get home tonight . . .” The man paused to suck in a desperate-sounding breath. Mikaela’s’ warning sensors immediately went off in her mind. She and Matte had not been getting along terribly well lately, and he was a high-strung, dramatic artist-type, who had several times threatened suicide since they’d met. Her heart began beating at double-time and her hands were instantly perspiring. “Matte! What’s wrong? What is it?” “I had to do it, Mikaela .
