“You’re doing a magnificent job. Yes, but sit up now because I brought you a present."
“I already got one of those.” I shoved the files deeper across my desk to hide the velvet box and accidentally knocked in the direction of the trash.
Oops. Too bad, Ward.
“Hey, you nearly missed this.” Cora caught the box and placed it right in front of me.
I eyed it like it might explode at any given moment—knowing the bearer, it could—and then ignored it. “You mentioned a gift?” I opted for sipping my coffee. “Thank you.”
Cora watched me with narrowed eyes. “You’re welcome. This is Lewis Maynard. He is your new intern.”
A short, young man with skin the colour of fresh ice offered me a watery smile.
I blinked.He is?“Hi, Lewis." I saluted him with my coffee. “How are you enjoying meeting the Chimeras?”
“I, uh, haven’t had the pleasure—”
“He hadn’t been down to training yet,” Cora cut in. “Do you want to do the honors? I think Hallie is there. She can sign him in?”
I shook my head. “Are you bribing me with coffee?” I sent her messages with my eyes. Big ones. The sort that told her I had no idea what the hell was going on, but I also didn’t want to say that in front of Intern Lewis.
Cora rolled a shoulder, telegraphing me back. “It’s a Mickey special.” Her bright smile set my teeth on edge. “Are you going to open your other present?”
I bit back a groan and nudged the jewellery box in front of me. “Nope?”
Cora refused to give up. “Come on, let’s see who your admirer is, then?”
A sigh whooshed from my lips. Today wasn't going that way I wanted. Not this hour, or any hour, apparently. “It’s an—”
Arrangement.That was the word Ward used when we set the rules we played by. No one in the office, apart from my boss, knew we were married. We kept our lives separate, even our surnames. The only scant hours we ever spent together were on our anniversary and those were…
Volatile.
Toxic.
I didn’t have better words.
Why not get divorced? Huh. That was the question I’d asked myself a million times. But the answer was the same as the reason that Ward never touched me each year. Because he waited for an impossibility, and I wanted something he refused to give.
Three little words.
Our bank accounts were separate—mostly. We still had one joint account, in case of emergencies. All our property was shared though we lived apart. But there was a twisted strand of hope that lit up once a year. And stupidly, so freaking stupidly, I prayed that this year he would gather me in his arms after he was done, kiss my lips, and stay.
But Ward Bishop was a stubborn man and he never broke his word.
Always steadfast. Always reliable.
And he always left
I flicked open the top of the black velvet box. Inside sat a ruby carved in the shape of a rose. Delicate gold claws held it into a setting designed to look like the rest of the vine that wound its way into a branch, with leaves and everything, to make a pendant on a delicate chain.
The pendant was beautiful. He must have spent hours picking the piece out.
I loved it.
“Wow,” Cora breathed.
I closed the box reverently, and released a slow breath. “Alright, everyone out.”
