Playing with Fire: A Standalone Dark Romance

Chapter Sixty-five

It’s been two weeks since Malakai showed up at Willow’s house in the middle of the night, and the pain in my chest has not eased in the slightest.

It feels like a physical, living thing, so much so I had to ask the doctor to check me over on my last checkup. He told me I was fine, healthy but it didn’t feel like it. It feels like my heart is dying.

My leg is healing well, I don’t have to use the crutches anymore, but I still have a slight limp and the bruising is still there but healing slowly too. Physically, I am on the mend, apart from the nasty scar I’ll now have and the trauma that haunts me every time I sleep now, it’ll be like it never happened.

I don’t have the pills anymore to keep my mind clear of nightmares or dreams.

I’ve woken every night reaching for Malakai even though I know he isn’t there. He hasn’t tried to contact me, hasn’t showed up, not even the guys try to convince me to see him anymore.

It hurts even though I asked him for it.

Now I have it, I’m not sure I want it.

I wander down the hall toward the offices in the hotel, smiling at everyone who says hello, and then I close the door to the office and take a seat behind the desk. My new office. The old office is being renovated into a new staff area, it’s plenty big enough and since I’ll never use it, it seemed like a waste to leave it gathering dust. I thought it would have been hard to say goodbye to that piece of my father, but it didn’t. It’s now stripped to the bone, not a single speck remains to say it used to be my father’s.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I load up my laptop and open my emails.

Since I’ve taken over the event coordination for the hotel, we’ve been inundated with requests to book but I’ve taken it slow, accepting only the events I know I’ll be able to manage so there are only a few in the books for now. As I grow my team, I’m sure it’ll grow with it, but while it’s only me, this is how it’ll be.

There’s a new email in my inbox when it finally loads.

Dear Mrs. Farrow,

I wince at the name.

Firstly, I would like to commend you on the winter event that was held a few weeks ago. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our evening – though it ended far too quickly for my liking, and now a few weeks have passed, I’d like to take this opportunity to request your services.

I will be frank here, Mrs. Farrow, my wedding to my wife was not what it should have been, and she deserves more, which is why I would like you to organize a vow renewal ceremony, including an after party to be held at the hotel.

Please understand I will simply not take no for an answer. My wife deserves the world and I plan to give it to her. There is no amount of money I will not pay to persuade you to help me with this.

I fully trust your judgement to make the day in the same way you made the event.

She does not know about this yet, it is a surprise for her.

So, can I expect your help with this, Mrs. Farrow?

With hope,

Mr. M. Levine.

I read the email again before I hit reply.

Dear, Mr. Levine.

Thank you for your high praise, however I am currently not scheduling new events for the coming months.

I wish you and your wife a very happy marriage.

Best,

Olivia Lauder

Sickness works through me. I could totally schedule a small vow renewal, but do I want to?

My computer dings loudly in the quiet office, a new email popping up. That was quick.

Mrs. Farrow,

I do not think you understand, I will not accept no as an answer. Money is not an issue; I will pay whatever is needed to make this happen and to make my wife happy.

Please understand there is nothing in this world I will not give her.

I request you to please, reconsider.

I blink at the screen.

I will draw up an invoice once I have received quotes.

Please provide the date of the ceremony.

Olivia

The reply is almost instant.

Seven days from now.

I will make a deposit of fifty thousand to the hotel now, please charge the remaining to the card.

Thank you, Mrs. Farrow. I look forward to it.

Seven days!?

Okay, maybe I spoke too soon. Who the fuck organizes a vow renewal in seven days!?

I’m still staring at the screen five minutes later when Helen, one of the ladies from finance knocks on my door, “Um Mrs. Farrow?”

That fucking name. It’s both a curse and a treasure.

“Yes, Helen?” I paste a smile on my face, hoping like fuck it looks somewhat genuine.

“We have just received a rather large sum of money however it does not tie to anything.”

“Shit,” I hiss. He works fast.

“Mrs. Farrow?”

“Fifty thousand?” I ask. It’s a big deposit considering the guy has no idea what I will plan.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Open a new account for a M. Levine. We will be hosting his vow renewal ceremony in seven days. Now please, excuse me, I apparently have a lot of work to do.”