Her Love, My Transaction

wasn't

eyes searching mine in the dim light of th

o talk about," I s

she said, a familiar edge to her vo

ess smile touching my lips. "Fine. I'm tired, Sc

Just... stop talking about your feelings

" I opened the car

't loo

to my building, a woman

arp business suit. She

asked. Her voice

. "Who's

smiled, a flash of white teeth. "I'm Olivia Monroe. I've seen you

card. "If you ever decide you want a

e card, Scarlett'

towards us, her f

e doing?" Scarlett hisse

e one not in a sling,

ared, glaring at Olivia. "He'

yebrow, unfazed. "

s furious face to Olivi

doing here?" I asked, tr

ly flustered. She fumbled in her purse and pulled out a smal

," she mumbled, sho

it, "And I told you not to wande

my arm agai

y dragged me i

t of sight, Scarle

hat," she ordered, her eyes

hand. "Wear these. So eve

d and stalked

he box. Expensive.

st trash can in the l

me, to mark her terr

orporation was hostin

e period ticking down. Scarlett, in a rare moment of remembe

t least. My architectural training helped in und

command center, a small room backsta

necklace, swept in. Ethan trai

d, her voice tight.

a pair of antique gold cufflinks lay

ing to wear them tonight. For the speech. And your man here," he jerked his head at m

been fine when I checked them earl

said calmly. "But not in time for tonig

For sentiment." He was laying it on thick. "Unless... unl

. He knew I wouldn't own any

d to hum

s are... sim

. "You wear my broken ones. I'll wear you

nd that's hardly a solution, Mr. Cole. It would

rlett, darling, this speech is so important. For your fathe

m Ethan's pleading

was, as alway

ny empathy. "Just do it. Give him your cuffli

phant. "Yeah, Walker

taff members present, "Ethan just has such impeccable taste

ement. Another lay

ple, silver cufflinks

x with the broke

at the ruined

parked. A small

t part of one broken cufflink

gaffer tape in my kit

he broken stems with the tape, cr

discarded silver chain

iece, then through a buttonhole on my other cuff, secu

ntional. It wa

ation, tr