Page 76 of The Photograph

The slight tremble in her voice punches me right to the chest, and I nod.

“Thank you,” she whispers, then slants closer. She smells so damn good. I track her slim finger to the bottom of the page.

“I reimbursed fifty percent of this lamp because I just had to make a new shade.” She straightens up to face me. “I’ve also reimbursed the price of the pendant—”

I tense but keep my voice gentle. “The pendant was a gift.”I want you to keep something from me.

Her voice sharpens. “So were the dress and the bangle.” Her long fingers graze the pendant. “But this, I want to keep. My friend found it for me, and I would have bought it myself.”

And you don’t want it to be coming from me.

She points at the check. “This should cover it, but if it doesn’t, let me know. And as the project leader, I take full responsibility for what happened, so if you choose to take this matter further, I should be the only one held accountable.”

You must hate me.I fucking hate me.My chest hollows, and I shake my head trying to find the words. “Aelin, those were just scraps—”

Her eyes narrow. “Scraps that could have cost me my business and jeopardize the livelihood of people who trusted me.” After a little exhale, she adds, “If anything, it’ll be a good lesson for me to be more careful.”

Of assholes like me.

“Aelin, this is a sizeable chunk of your payment. I don’t need this, and I won’t take… Nothing will happen to you or your team. You have my word.”

Her trembling breath rips at my chest. “It’s about the principle. Please, accept it.”

“I will if you let the pendant be my gift to you.”Please keep one thing from me that you cherish. And wear on your skin.

When she frowns, I tense, but she nods and touches the pendant again. “All right.”

I shift to face her fully. “My turn now?”

A tiny but real smile stretches her lips. “Yes, your turn.”

“Aelin, I apologize. I’m sorry. For threatening you and your family. For the fucking contract. For everything you’ve been through. I’ve been an all-around piece of shit to you.” When she lowers her gaze, my chest tightens. I wait until I get her eyes back. “And I’ll do anything for you to forgive me, even though I know I don’t deserve it.”

She watches me for long seconds, and when she places her hand on my forearm, her touch loosens a little of the tension I’m holding.

“Thank you, Gabe. Really, thanks.” She removes her hand and breathes deeply. “So, this is over? For good? And I can stay?”

She thinks I would force her out of a life she fought so hard for? I clench my jaw hard. Of course, she does. I nod.

“And my sister, too?”

“Yes.”

When she lets out a quivering breath and her eyes fill up with tears, I grit my teeth.

I’m never going to hurt you again.

She twists her fingers in her lap and a tight smile ghosts over her lips. “Gabe, um, can you please contact Delia Jones? She keeps calling me and uh…”

“Fuck, I forgot. Of course, she won’t bother you again.”

“Thank you.” She clutches her purse, but I’m not ready to let her go.

“How are you, Aelin?”

She blinks fast and understanding flushes her face. “I’m … fine. Thank you.”

I know I lost every right to you, but…“Is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all?”

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