Every Time He Goes Cold, My Fortune Grows

Chapter 2

The next day, I went to a high-end shopping mall. I spent twenty thousand dollars on a simple, perfectly appropriate black evening gown.

Then I walked straight into an ultra-luxury jewelry store.

"Show me your heaviest solid-gold piece."

The sales associate looked at me as if I were someone showing off new money, but then she saw the black card in my hand, and her attitude turned instantly respectful.

I picked out a solid gold statue weighing five hundred grams exactly. I swiped the card and signed the papers, smooth and quick.

Outside the mall, I found a quiet spot and took the statue straight to the goldsmith.

"Melt it all down. Turn them into gold bars. As fast as you can."

The woman behind the counter ran her eyes over the beautifully detailed piece and shook her head.

"You know, the craftsmanship on this cost a fortune, such a shame to melt it all away."

I didn't care at all.

"Just melt it. Someone else paid for the work. I only want the pure gold weight. I'm a goldsmith myself, I'll make what I need."

Three days later, I slipped ten gleaming gold bars into the bottom of my safe. Another big step closer to the life I'm building.

The day Kendall came home, the rain was pouring down hard. I wore that thin black gown and followed behind Killian, quiet and unassuming.

Down the airport walkway, Kendall appeared, dressed in a crisp white designer coat, pulling her suitcase beside her.

She was stunning, cool, elegant, like a flower untouched by dust.

Killian strode forward, took her suitcase as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and draped his coat over her shoulders.

"Why didn't you wear more?" His voice was soft, a gentleness I hadn't heard in three years.

Kendall smiled at him warmly, then looked past his shoulder and saw me.

"Killian, who is this?"

Killian didn't even glance my way. He spoke as if he were pointing out a piece of furniture.

"This is Wynne Kincaid. She just lives here."

My heart gave a sudden jump, not from hurt, but from excitement.

By Killian's unspoken rules, when he puts me down in public, my compensation doubles.

I lifted my head and gave a soft, harmless smile, bowing slightly to Kendall. "Hello, Ms. Kesswick."

Kendall looked me up and down, and something like quiet judgment flickered in her eyes.

On the ride back, Killian and Kendall sat together in the back, talking and laughing easily.

I was sent to the front seat. The air conditioning was turned up so high I quietly wrapped my arms around myself to stay warm.

Kendall seemed to notice for the first time how cold I was. "Oh, are you freezing? Killian, turn the temperature up, would you?"

Killian frowned and glanced at me. "Don't bother about her. She's tough, she'll be fine."

Inside my head, I opened my mental ledger. Exposed to the cold, five thousand.

Called tough in front of others, five thousand. Ten thousand earned in one evening.

What's a little chill? I'd happily walk through the snow in nothing at all for this kind of money.