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Such a coward, Fae. You should’ve known better. The best gifts are wrapped in the way you least expect.
I tipped my head back, scanning the corners of the room until I spotted a camera.
A flashing red light blinked at me.
I waved back. “Thank you, Zach. Truly.”
Then, I ran to another box, popping the lid off with a giddy bounce.
A mosaic sculpture of two lovebirds that used to occupy the nightstand beside Dad and Vera’s bed. He’d obsessed over this piece during their fourth honeymoon in Venice.
This one came with a letter from the reseller. I slid the heavy card stock out of the envelope.
Mr. Sun,
I do not appreciate being threatened to fork over what amounts to a penny in your wealth of art.
In the future, should you wish to pilfer my far more modest collection, I suggest a polite exchange.
Regards,
William St. Eve
P.S. Did you gain such an expansive collection by threatening every collector on the globe?
Kamran Izadi recently informed me that you commandeered aLobster Telephonereplica from his home, as well.
I squealed, heels squeaking across the garage as I raced from box to box, trying to find it.
When I finally unearthed the lobster, I brought it to my chest, twirling in circles. “I always wanted it for my own room.”
“Did you say something, Miss Ballantine?”
I ignored the robot voice, a lone stand catching my eye. A hand-carved box I didn’t recognize sat on top of it. Heart in my throat, I popped the lid off, gasping at its contents.
The pendant.
There, in all its glory.
With its lush green tassel and hand-carved lion.
I pushed my hair from my face, squinting to make sure I saw it right. It really was here. Down to the crooked trimmed tassel, courtesy of yours truly.
I brought the pendant to my lips, sealing it with a kiss. My eyes caught on a hand-written note, wedged in the roof of the box.
I’m a greedy bastard, Farrow Ballantine.
That you’re enough for me says it all.
— Z
T-MINUS 1 DAY.
Ever so charitable, the rain added to my misery when I landed in Italy.
I descended the stairway without a peacoat, too pressed on time to hunt one down.
A driver stood before the open rear door of a Rolls Royce Droptail. I didn’t know a lick about him. Didn’t deep-dive into a background check.
