Page 135 of The Hallows Queen

Opening my laptop, I start searching for gifts I can give her – only partly hating that’s where my mind goes first. I guess old habits die hard, because after ten minutes, I’m spending an exorbitant amount of money on a diamond bracelet and having it overnighted.

Chapter47

Penelope

Tuesday morning isgrey and depressing. The sun is hiding behind storm clouds that accurately represent what I’m feeling deep in my soul. I want to curl up in bed and suffocate in a tub of Ben and Jerry’s, but duty calls.

As rain falls outside, taunting me with sadness, I organize the kitchen in the back of the restaurant. By noon, I feel drained. I think everyone on staff can tell I’m having a bad day, because no one asks for anything, and they leave me to hide.

Sliding some AirPods into my ears, I step into the walk-in refrigerator and start rearranging all the food. After I’m satisfied with the dairy shelves, I move on to the vegetables. I’m stacking bags of carrots and celery when the refrigerator door opens behind me, flooding the space with fluorescent light. I turn, almost knocking over some tomatoes, and find my assistant manager standing at the door, her arms stretched out as she holds on to the frame.

Pulling my AirPods out, I give her my best smile.

“You’re going to freeze if you’re in here much longer.” She drops her head to the side.

“I’m fine. It’s a fridge, not a freezer.” I turn back to the produce.

“Well,” she says from behind me, “someone just dropped something off for you. Just wanted to let you know. It’s at the host stand.”

I roll my eyes, muttering under my breath, “More flowers?”

When I turn around, she’s gone, but the refrigerator door is propped open with a jug of oil. I sigh, brushing my hair from my face and walking out into the kitchen. After kicking the oil to the side so the door shuts, I head out to the host stand.

There’s a small white box on the countertop, a big black bow wrapped around it. I sigh as I grab it, tearing the card off.

When the skies are grey,

And everything feels dark,

I think of you,

And the sun starts to shine again.

H

A wave of heat rushes from my head to my toes, and I put the card down on the counter to pick up the box. Sliding the bow off, I lift the lid off. On a thick layer of black velvet, a bracelet with heart-shaped diamonds sits, the light glittering as it hits the gems.

I brush my fingers over the diamonds, then sigh.

Slamming the lid back down, I slide the bow back into place and grab the card before I head to my office. Anger has started to form in my chest, and I need to let it out.

I grab my purse and keys, tell the assistant manager I’m taking my break, then storm out to my car, throwing the box into the passenger’s seat. It feels as if I blink and I’m parking my car outside Hayden’s hotel, my blood boiling with frustration. Taking the box with me, I walk into the hotel, through the lobby, and get into the elevator, pressing the button for the penthouse.

I rehearse what I’m going to say the entire ride up, imagining myself yelling and throwing the box straight at Hayden’s smug face.

When the doors open, I step into the lobby outside the front door for the penthouse and take a breath. My hands shake as I move to the door and knock, then I take a step back and wait.

As he pulls the door open, I push it and storm into the suite, making Hayden stumble back. “You think you canbuy me?!”

“What ar—?” he starts, but I put a hand up to silence him.

“This is how you’re going to try to get back into my life?” I hold the present up, and he looks at it, his eyes wild. “Expensive jewelry? I don’t need gifts, I don’twantgifts, and they certainly aren’t going to make mefuck you!”

“Whoa.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “Where did you get the idea that’s what I’m trying to do? If I wanted to pump and dump into someone, I certainly wouldn’t buy them fucking diamonds.”

I toss the box to the floor at his feet, trying to keep myself calm. “I don’t want gifts, Hayden.”

“Okay,” he says, kicking the box to the side. “Forget it.”