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Chapter One
Mr Jack Hyde he sainst reat team"
Soe to curl my lips upward in a semblance of a smile
"I'll be off, if that's okay with you," I murmur
"Of course, it's five thirty I'll see you tomorrow"
"Goodnight, Jack"
"Goodnight, Ana"
Collectingonair of Seattle, I take a deep breath It doesn't begin to fill the void in , a painful hollow reminder ofatwithout my beloved Wanda, my old Beetle or the Audi
I shut the door on that thought immediately No Don't think about him Of course, I can afford a car - a nice, new car I suspect he has been overgenerous in his payht leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but I dismiss it and try to keep my mind as numb and as blank as possible I can't think about hiain -
not out on the street
The apart on a beach in Barbados sipping a cool cocktail I turn on the flat-screen television so there's noise to fill the vacuum and provide some semblance of company, but I don't listen or watch I sit and stare blankly at the brick wall I a must I endure this?
The door buzzer startles uish, and my heart skips a beat Who could that be? I press the intercom
"Delivery for Ms Steele" A bored, disehe cardboard box, and leaning against the front door I sign for the package and take it upstairs The box is huge and surprisingly light Inside are two dozen long-stemmed, white roses and a card
Congratulations on your first day at work
I hope it ell
And thank you for the glider That was very thoughtful
It has pride of place on my desk
Christian
I stare at the typed card, the hollow inNo doubt, his assistant sent this Christian probably had very little to do with it It's too painful to think about I exa myself to throw them in the trash
Dutifully, I make my way into the kitchen to hunt down a vase
And so a pattern develops: wake, work, cry, sleep Well, try to sleep I can't even escape hi eyes, his lost look, his hair burnished and bright all haunt me And the music so much music - I cannot bear to hear any les in commercials make me shudder
I have spoken to no one, not even my mother or Ray I don't have the capacity for idle talk now No, I want none of it I have beco grows and the horizons are bleak Yes, that's me I can interact impersonally at work, but that's it If I talk to Mo left to break