Page 89 of The Heart You Kept

I twist my lips, annoyed. “Yes.”

“And now that you have found one, are you really going to walk away from it?”

“My point exactly, I shouldn’t have one. Do you listen to me at all? That is why I am here; I want you to erase it. This is a huge overreaction; it was three days and a very long time ago.”

“And yet she has you completely rattled.”

“No she doesn’t.” I stand. “As usual, I’ve got nothing from our visit.” I walk to the door. “This was pointless.”

“Will you be flying to London to see me again next week?” He smirks.

Sarcastic asshole.

“Absolutely not.”

He smiles as he writes on his stupid notepad. “We’ll see.”

I storm out through reception.

“Would you like another appointment?” the receptionist asks.

“No.” I march past her and open the door.

“Should I call you later to discuss?”

“Don’t bother.”

ALORA

I shuffle through my pile of mail.

Sender…

Royal Scholarship Institute.

What?

I tear it open.

Dearest Alora,

We value your sponsorship and would like to extend an invitation for you and a friend to attend.

THE MOON AND THE SEA

An art exhibition with heart.

Two gold tickets slide out and fall onto the floor and I bend and pick them up.

“What’s that?” Helene frowns as she walks into my office.

“Not quite a swingers party.” I shrug as I hold up the tickets. “We’ve been invited to an art exhibition.”

“Hmm.” She twists her lips. “Sounds extraordinarily dull.”

“But it’s a night out.” I shuffle the gold tickets.

“I guess.” She sighs. “But if they serve bad wine we are leaving immediately.”