Page 4 of For Wrath and Redemption
“I like making the coffee. It makes me feel useful.”
I’d make dinner, too, if he’d let me. Anything to help feel less like a visitor between these pristine, million-dollar walls. Eleven months and all I’ve gotten is a phone charger I leave by the bed, a few silk nightieshanging in the closet, and a designated place for my toiletry bag under the bathroom sink. I was disgustingly excited about the phone charger.
I realize how sad that is.
Conrad walks to the side of the sink that I use and presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“I’ll be leaving after lunch today and will be gone for a few days. I have some business.”
I make eye contact in the mirror. “Is it about the call last night?”
“It is.”
“Are you going to tell me what it was about? I’d like to help, if possible.”
“There’s nothing you can do, Claire.”
I turn to face him and place my hands on his chest. He’s already in his suit, and I’m back in yesterday’s outfit.
“I want to help, Conrad. It must have been something serious to warrant a call that late at night.”
He purses his lips as his eyes bounce between mine. I slide my hands around his neck and lift myself onto the balls of my feet so I can press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to make us serious?” I say when I pull back, locking my gaze with his. Willing him to see how sincerely I mean every word. How much I want the dream he’s crafted for me. “You said you care about me, right? We can’t have a serious relationship if you don’t let me in. I can help, even if it’s just to share the mental load. Tell me, please.”
Conrad sighs, his shoulders dipping before he nods once. “Elizabeth has died. I need to go upstate to make arrangements.”
My eyes go wide. “Your ex-wife? What happened?”
“Her illness took a turn for the worse. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“I can come with. I know how stressful this must be. Let me come, and I can?—”
“That’s unnecessary. How would it look if we were both absent? I’ll go alone.”
“But, Con?—”
“Claire, you will stay here. I just have to get ahold of my son so I cantake care of the body, and then it will be done. I’ll be back Sunday afternoon at the latest.”
I blink. So he cantake care ofthebody...
The. Not her body.Thebody.Detached and cold. She’s nothing to him anymore. It makes me sad for her, but I push it away.
“What about a funeral?”
He chuckles, but it’s a dead, hollow sound, and a chill runs down the back of my neck.
“I won’t be funding a funeral. I’ll carry out her after-death wishes and then finally wash my hands of the thing.” He must see the horror on my face because his lips curve up into a soothing smile. “Eliza was unwell, and I’m glad she’s not in pain anymore. Maybe now, without the constant stress of her presence looming over us, you and I will be able to go public soon.”
I bite back the impulse to smile and stifle the spark of hope that ignites in my chest as shame washes over me.
Excitement over a woman’s death? A woman whom I’ve never met? It’s vile.
And anyway, Elizabeth Henderson’s death still doesn’t erase the main conflict shrouding my relationship with her ex-husband. Conrad is the CEO of the company where I’m currently employed, and I do not want anyone claiming I slept my way to the top.
He bends down and kisses me once more. It’s a soft, sweet kiss, and it calms the self-loathing swirling in my empty stomach. When he steps backward, his smile is kind, but the words he speaks next deflate any confidence I’d started to feel.
“You should hurry if you’re going to be at the office on time.”
