The Liar Above

By Timothy DiGaetano

This book both keeps the mind and heart going as each page leads you down a path uncommon. People who think they know the ending will be left completely blindsided! The mystery of today's relationships is changed and and challenged amongst trust and friendship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BooxAi
• Release date: Jul 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9789655782721

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

I can’t believe you!

Yana paused while brushing her hair, aware of the argument brewing behind the bathroom door. She stood silent, listening intensely to hear if she needed to intervene.

I need you to get out of my business!

With a sigh, she set down the brush and hurried out to the kitchen. It seemed impossible for her to have a calm morning with her brothers around. It seemed against their very DNA.

It’s not just your business when it comes to him!

However, she did wish that they could at least have waited for her to finish getting ready for work.

What in the world are you two fighting about this time? She asked, stepping into the kitchen with her arms crossed over her chest. The two men froze and stared at her with guilty faces. She knew what she must look like- still in her PJs, with half-brushed hair and a full face of light makeup. She could see the very moment that they realized what they had drugged her.

As always, Charlie was the first to recover, in a light use of the word. He looked away and huffed, trying to act all high and mighty even though it was such a thin mask for embarrassment. This idiot is taking a job from the Morris Family.

I don’t really like them either but don’t make it sound like I’m making a deal with the devil! William shot back before giving Yana a shaky smile. A very casual day at work, huh, sis?

Yana gave him an amused, fond look, even as exasperated as she was, which just caused Charlie to roll his eyes.

Sis! You can’t indulge him! Don’t let him do this! He said, gesturing between William, the laptop

William was on, and she. You know how awful the Morris Family is!

She did indeed know how awful the Morris was, specifically, Mr. Morris himself, the head of that division of the company. He had been unpleasant from the first time she met him at five years old. Mr. Morris was as unpleasant then as he was now, even in the eyes of a small child. He had smelled of smoke, had reeked of fake politeness, and made everyone in the room uncomfortable in a way she never liked.

The impression had never gotten better, and as she had grown up and started working for the company under her own father’s division, she had really started to see how awful he really was to the people under him.

I do know. She answered simply, moving over to the stove and putting on a pan of water to boil. If she was going to be stuck in the kitchen instead of getting dressed, she was going to at least make breakfast. I also know that William knows and doesn’t need a lecture.

Thank you! William said, relieved, and Yana wondered how long Charlie was berating him on this.

I just don’t see why you need to do this! Charlie said. You would have a job with us, under dad, if you would just-

Apologize? William snapped. He stood up, grabbing his laptop off the table. I’m not saying sorry for something so stupid!

Then why didn’t you just do it! Charlie tried as William brushed past them. William! Don’t walk away from-

William slammed the door on his way out, shaking the walls of their cheaper apartment. Yana pushed the cookbook threatening the fall back onto the shelf absentmindedly as she said, I told you to stop pushing the issue.

Someone needs to! Charlie snapped at her. She gave him a look, and he deflated, looking away. I just don’t get why he won’t try and fix it. Or why everyone seems to be content about letting him just walk out on this family.

He’s not walking out, Yana said, looking away from her younger brother and back to the pan of now simmering water. He’s still here. Just because he’s having a fight with mom and dad-

He’s only still here because you offered him a place to stay! Charlie said. And I can’t believe that he would go and work for the Morris Family! You know how mom and dad will react when-

Our parents will understand, She hoped. The Morris are our coworkers, Charlie. They aren’t all bad. She tried to lightly scold, but her heart wasn’t in it. ‘They aren’t all bad’ indeed. By the look Charlie gave her, she knew he felt the same way.

Which Morris are we talking about, then? Charlie asked. "Mr. Morris, sleazy and womanizer? Mrs. Morris, who yelled at every woman that works under them? The goody-two-shoes second son, who does everything told of him? Or is this about Bradley?''

It’s not about Bradley, Yana said quickly and with a blush. Charlie raised an eyebrow and Yana looked away.

The first time she met Mr. Morris was a very unpleasant memory. The first time she met his son, on the other hand, was a much more pleasant memory. At first, anyway.

Don’t get her wrong- it was the same memory. But when Mr. Morris and his equally unpleasant wife, Mrs. Morris, left their son and her alone at the playground while they talked to her parents, the afternoon turned much better.

Her mother had been talking about the playdate for weeks. Mrs. Morris was one of her closest friends, and her dream at the moment was for Yana and her son to hit it off, fall in love as teenagers, and get married as adults. Yana didn’t know if she liked that plan, but that first afternoon with him really turned her around on it.

Bradley was a whole year younger than her, and she had been afraid he wouldn’t be much fun to play with. But she had been wrong! It had been the most fun she had ever had on a playdate.

When the playdate was over, and the Morris Family were saying their goodbyes, Yana tugged on