Every Time He Goes Cold, My Fortune Grows

Chapter 4

As soon as the door closed, the sweet, gentle look vanished from her face completely.

She tossed her limited-edition handbag onto the counter, and it hit the surface with a sharp, clear sound.

"Wynne, do you think you've been treated unfairly?" She touched up her lipstick while watching me in the mirror. "Three years with him, and you don't even get to stand beside him in public. Now you're here to wait for me."

I stood still, meeting her gaze calmly. "You're mistaken, Ms. Kesswick. I'm paid to do a job. I don't feel wronged."

Kendall gave a cold laugh. She turned around suddenly, picked up a glass of cold water, and threw it straight at my dress without any warning.

The cold water ran down my collarbone and soaked through my clothes. I shivered from the chill.

"Paid to do a job? Then go back out there and tell Killian that you were clumsy, that you didn't fix my dress, and that you made me angry instead."

She lifted her chin, her eyes bright with cruel satisfaction. "I want to see who he chooses, between you and me."

I looked down at my soaked hem. I didn't feel angry at all. I felt like I'd just been handed a gift. This wasn't an insult, this was pure good fortune.

I turned and walked straight back into the ballroom without hesitation. Killian was surrounded by a group of powerful men from the business world.

When he saw me approaching, dripping wet, his brow drew tight.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice cold.

I kept my head down, made my voice tremble, and let two tears fall just right. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Rourke. I was clumsy. I didn't fix your dress. I mean, Ms. Kesswick's dress, and I made her angry instead."

The room went quiet. Every eye turned toward us, waiting to see how he would react.

Killian stared at me for a few seconds. The look of impatience in his eyes was impossible to miss.

"You can't do anything right," he said, his tone icy, with no sign of standing up for me. "Go home. Don't embarrass me here."

I felt like I'd been given permission to leave. I turned and walked out quickly. Just as I reached the door, my phone buzzed.

A message from Killian.

Killian: Go buy yourself something decent to wear. Don't stand there looking miserable and getting in my way.

Right after that, five hundred thousand dollars was transferred to my secondary card.

I stared at the number, took a deep breath of cool night air, and let my look of sadness turn into a genuine, bright smile.

Five hundred thousand dollars. That water was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I took a taxi straight to another gold shop that stayed open all night. I turned every dollar into pure gold bars.

It was late when I got back to the mansion. I placed the gold bars into my safe. Inside, the space was now completely filled, solid gold, all of it mine.

Ten full pounds of gold. Three years of coldness, of being overlooked, it had all added up to exactly what I needed to buy my freedom.

I pulled out my phone and messaged the owner of the house in the small town I'd found.

Wynne: I'll take it. I'll be there tomorrow to sign the papers and pay in full.