“You too.”
A few momentsafter he left, I went upstairs to my room. I found a black velvet necklace box on the end of my bed. Inside was a beautiful silver word pendant suspended between two delicate chains.
Bandit.
I choked up when I saw it, my hands shaking and my eyes full of blurry tears as I put it on in the reflection of the mirror. It was gorgeous and the perfect length, nestling right below my collarbone.
My husband had done nothing but try with me, including inviting me out tonight. I knew he felt bad about Bandit, and this necklace proved it.
He couldn’t give me Bandit, but he was trying to connect. Just like I had asked. And I needed to step away from my grief and realize that he was actually being incredibly kind to me.
He was really trying.
He deserved better.
I decided to surprise him at his business dinner. I quickly did my hair and makeup and put on a slim black dress with long sleeves and a square neckline to showcase my new necklace. I paired that with heels in black suede and a black trench coat that belted at the waist.
Oleg asked where he was driving me.
“To Joule, please.”
He looked concerned. “Isn’t that where boss is dining?”
“Yes, and my attendance is a surprise.”
“We’re not supposed to do surprises anymore.”
“He literally just invited me to dinner. And I refused, quite rudely. I’d like to make that up to him in the nicest way possible, and I really hope you don’t ruin the surprise.”
“If he gets pissed, would you mind explaining that to him?”
My fingertips played with the necklace around my neck. “He’s not going to be pissed. He’s going to be happy. This is a good thing, Oleg. Trust me on that.”
The hostess allowedme to take a look through the restaurant when I promised to be quick. The decor was a beautiful mixture of subdued Parisian charm and metropolitan Vancouver energy, all gray and charcoal tones with high leather booths and pendant lamps at every table. Soft music, the gentle clink of cutlery and murmuring guests hummed in the background as I walked through the place, looking for Axel and his table of business guests.
I stopped cold when I saw Giselle and Axel sharing a booth alone together.
Motherfucker.
I didn’t even know why I was so stunned to see Axel sitting across from her. She looked like a siren, wearing a beautiful silver dress that demurely showcased her fabulous figure.
But what killed me was that they were alone.
Together.
Dining in a romantic place.
And here I was, proudly wearing my Bandit pendant, thinking my surprise would be a happy one.
I marched up to the table and the look of confusion on Axel’s face only angered me more.
“You didn’t have any plans with business people, did you? That’s just a tired excuse you hide behind.”
Axel looked stunned. “This is a business dinner.”
“Liar,” I cried in frustration.
Giselle’s look of faux shock infuriated me.
