Page 27 of The Marriage Bid
“Huh. Interesting. It is pretty, I have to admit. Do you want it?”
I started walking, dragging my eyes away from the beautiful jewelry. “I would have to sell my arm and my leg to afford such a piece.”
Tyler stayed rooted in his spot. “We could go in and try it, if you want.” He nodded toward the store.
I really wanted to wear it. I’ve only seen it once on a client and never had the chance to touch it, let alone wear it. “Sure.”
The cool, sleek store was as uninviting as it was outside despite the welcoming smiles of the employees. A woman at the front counter greeted us in Italian and English. Tyler wasn't as intimidated as I was, and he casually asked if we could look at the tennis bracelet.
“Of course,” the woman said, casually glancing at Tyler’s Rolex. She brought out the bracelet and led us to a table with three plush chairs. She sat at one end, indicated for us to sit on the other, and opened the case. I gasped without meaning to.
“It’s beautiful,” the woman, whose name was Fiona, as the name tag indicated.
My hand hovered over the jewelry, and then I snatched it back. “Can I touch it?”
“Of course,” she said and took out the piece, laying it on the table. I picked it up. It was lighter than I had expected. The platinum used to hold the stones was expertly crafted, and the interlocking sapphires and diamonds were meticulously cut.
“Let me help you put it on,” Tyler said. He extended his hand, and I placed the bracelet in his palm. Then, I gave him my wrist. His fingers were delicate as they brushed my skin. When he snapped the piece, he leaned back, observing the bracelet. “You’re right. It is stunning.”
“It’s our last one; we only had two,” Fiona said.
“How much is it?” I asked without taking my gaze away from the piece. I knew the price, but I was still shocked when she mentioned the amount. “See,” I said to Tyler, “arm and a leg.”
“But beautiful,” Fiona said. “You can buy it for your girlfriend, no?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I jumped in.
“No. I am her husband.”
I glared at Tyler.
“Even better,” Fiona said. “You can buy it as an anniversary gift.”
I removed the bracelet. “We don’t buy each other anniversary gifts. We’re weird like that. Thank you for showing it to me. It’s lovely.”
When we were back on the street, I said, “Why do you love telling people we’re married when you hate the marriage yourself?”
“Do I?” He shrugged. “I was just stating the truth.”
We went back to the hotel, and I was thinking of taking the stairs and leaving Tyler to take the elevator on his own when Tyler casually led me to the bank of elevators. We entered an empty car. Just my luck. I didn’t want to be in a confined space with him again. Especially an elevator. Especially after the last time.
We stared at the numbers as they escalated, floor by floor. I hoped it would stop and someone would enter, cutting through the tension, but nothing happened. We rode the elevator in silence until suddenly the lights went out and the elevator came to a stop.
I jerked back. “What happened?”
“Must be a blackout,” Tyler said, checking his phone. “Signal is out.”
“Fuck.” Heat crept all over me. A clawing in my throat made it difficult to breathe. Oh god. What if—what if something bad happens? What if the elevator drops? Oh god.
A light went on, but it was not the elevator lights. It was Tyler’s torchlight. “Saffron, what’s wrong?”
I doubled over, finding it difficult to breathe. I checked my pockets for medication that was not there. My head was spinning. “I’m going to die.”
“Shit,” I heard Tyler say as my hands and knees touched the floor. Tyler’s hands went around my back. “You’re having a panic attack,” he said. Gently but firmly, he pulled me back until I felt the cold steel of the elevator walls behind me. The contact seemed to have some calming effect, but once my body gets into this state, it’s hard to get out of it, no matter what I try to do to calm myself down.
Tyler rubbed my shoulders as I took deep breaths. And it was working. I let myself be aware of the surroundings and think of nothing else until I was finally not as dizzy. Once the headache went away, I began feeling better.
“It’s just a blackout,” Tyler said.
