I got to my feet even though I had nowhere to go. The apartment was dark because my mind was shrouded in misery. I could make out the furniture and the kitchen from the light that had been left on in the bathroom. “He kept his promise to me…”

Six

A Beautiful Lie

Fender

The camp was back to its former operations.

But working double time to make up for the losses.

Magnus supplemented my salary along with those of the surviving guards out of his own pocket. My distribution partners were promised double their order for the next shipment to make up for their losses.

Magnus hadn’t left the camp in months because he had too much work to do.

We barely spoke to each other.

If he was pissed that I’d emasculated him, I didn’t give a damn.

He didn’t leave me a fucking choice.

I sat in my office with the fire burning. Spring was here, soon to intensify into summer, but I still enjoyed the fire for company. It complemented the burn down my throat from the scotch Gilbert tried to hide from me.

Yes, I was killing myself.

And, no, I didn’t care.

There was work to do, but I’d been at it all day, so I closed my laptop with the glass between my hands, my eyes on the enormous mantel that took up most of the wall on the other side of the room.

Gilbert entered the study. “Sir?”

I looked at him and lifted the glass to my lips for a drink.

He came closer, walking quicker than usual with a flare of urgency. “Sir, Melanie is here to see you.”

I nearly dropped the glass onto the desk. My fingers tightened to prevent the slip. My sip was cut short, and my drink was returned to the surface of the wood. Anger rushed back like an unexpected tidal wave. She used to be the face that brought me peace. Now she was the face that brought me misery. It was still in my dreams. It was still in my thoughts. It was still in the fire that burned right this very moment. “No.” I grabbed my glass again and took the full drink I wanted seconds ago.

“Deny her entry?” Gilbert asked for clarification.

“Yes.” I leaned back in my chair and stared at the fire like the matter was settled.

Gilbert nodded then departed.

The last time she’d looked me in the eye on the grounds of my palace, I’d expected a very different request from the one she made. I expected her to admit that leaving me was a big fucking mistake. That I ruined her for all other men. That she didn’t feel safe unless she was with me. That she missed the life I gave her. That she missed being taken care of. That she missed me.