CHAPTER TWO
SIA
A stack of files—the club refused to go digital, I swore—sat on my desk, topped with a tiny, black velvet box.
I shoved that aside where it toppled unceremoniously behind my keyboard.
Ignoring that, I flicked the file open, staring at the first of two new players who Ward would likely bench during the next games.
They’d come through due to injuries mid season.
The change out would be noticed by the team, but if he didn’t give them time on the ice then that would be noticed too and with playoffs starting, he’d end up in front of the board.
Then Mickey, our CEO, would be up my ass and I’d have to face off with the one man in the building I really. Didn’t. Want. To. Have. To. See.
Before Friday, at least.
I groaned and laid my head on top of the files.
“That bad, huh?” Cora said sympathetically. She placed something else on my desk.
I sniffed without raising my head. “These are my toddler exercises. I’m connecting with my inner child. Did you bring coffee?”
“You’re doing a magnificent job. Yes, but sit up now because I brought you a present."
“I already got one of those.” I shoved the files deeper across my desk to hide the velvet box and accidentally knocked in the direction of the trash.
Oops. Too bad, Ward.
“Hey, you nearly missed this.” Cora caught the box and placed it right in front of me.
I eyed it like it might explode at any given moment—knowing the bearer, it could—and then ignored it. “You mentioned a gift?” I opted for sipping my coffee. “Thank you.”
Cora watched me with narrowed eyes. “You’re welcome. This is Lewis Maynard. He is your new intern.”
A short, young man with skin the colour of fresh ice offered me a watery smile.
I blinked. He is? “Hi, Lewis." I saluted him with my coffee. “How are you enjoying meeting the Chimeras?”
“I, uh, haven’t had the pleasure—”
“He hadn’t been down to training yet,” Cora cut in. “Do you want to do the honors? I think Hallie is there. She can sign him in?”
I shook my head. “Are you bribing me with coffee?” I sent her messages with my eyes. Big ones. The sort that told her I had no idea what the hell was going on, but I also didn’t want to say that in front of Intern Lewis.
Cora rolled a shoulder, telegraphing me back. “It’s a Mickey special.” Her bright smile set my teeth on edge. “Are you going to open your other present?”
I bit back a groan and nudged the jewellery box in front of me. “Nope?”
Cora refused to give up. “Come on, let’s see who your admirer is, then?”
A sigh whooshed from my lips. Today wasn't going that way I wanted. Not this hour, or any hour, apparently. “It’s an—”
Arrangement. That was the word Ward used when we set the rules we played by. No one in the office, apart from my boss, knew we were married. We kept our lives separate, even our surnames. The only scant hours we ever spent together were on our anniversary and those were…
Volatile.
Toxic.
I didn’t have better words.
Why not get divorced? Huh. That was the question I’d asked myself a million times. But the answer was the same as the reason that Ward never touched me each year. Because he waited for an impossibility, and I wanted something he refused to give.
Three little words.
Our bank accounts were separate—mostly. We still had one joint account, in case of emergencies.
All our property was shared though we lived apart.
But there was a twisted strand of hope that lit up once a year.
And stupidly, so freaking stupidly, I prayed that this year he would gather me in his arms after he was done, kiss my lips, and stay.
But Ward Bishop was a stubborn man and he never broke his word.
Always steadfast. Always reliable.
And he always left
I flicked open the top of the black velvet box. Inside sat a ruby carved in the shape of a rose. Delicate gold claws held it into a setting designed to look like the rest of the vine that wound its way into a branch, with leaves and everything, to make a pendant on a delicate chain.
The pendant was beautiful. He must have spent hours picking the piece out.
I loved it.
“Wow,” Cora breathed.
I closed the box reverently, and released a slow breath. “Alright, everyone out.”
Cora ushered our new intern out of my office, muttering about taking him to meet the team.
I thought I was safe when I pushed the box off the edge of my desk, but Cora turned back right on cue to see the perfect piece of jewellery fall straight into the rubbish receptacle that I so desperately wanted to accept but couldn't. The box clanged in the empty trash can.
I held her eyes, reading the shock there.
“Asshole,” I murmured. “Enjoy your day, Lewis. Please close the door.”
Then I put my head down and kept working on files I didn’t read, not registering the door click shut behind them. My mind fixed on the man who sent me the present he knew I wouldn't take but tempted me anyway.
Asshole, indeed.