"If those dogs ever show up at my door again, don't let them in."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The little episode with Bartholomew was soon behind me. There was no chance in this lifetime I'd ever reconcile with him.
Just then, my phone buzzed with a notification. It was from ZQ Jewelers. Adam had placed a custom order for a pair of matching diamond rings the month before.
He was gone now. The least I could do was pick them up and keep them as a memento.
No one would have guessed that I'd fallen in love with Adam a long time ago. But our time together had been far too short.
So short that I never got the chance to tell him how I felt before he slipped away from me.
The next day, I went to the mall to collect the rings.
I had barely reached the storefront when I spotted Bartholomew and Rosalind Finch inside.
He froze for a second, then his lips curled into a mocking smirk, his face practically screaming I knew it.
He couldn't possibly think I was here for him. I was about to walk right past him without a word, but Bartholomew stepped into my path and blocked me.
"Zoe, still going to deny you're stalking me?"
"Just admit you still have feelings for me. Enough with the hard-to-get act."
One look at that smug, self-important face of his, and my disgust deepened another notch.
"Move. Who said I'm here looking for you?"
"If you're not here for me, then what are you doing here?"
He glanced over his shoulder at the display counter behind him, and something clicked.
"Tch. Don't tell me you heard I was shopping for diamond rings and rushed over to buy me a pair first."
"But you're broke now, aren't you? Your company's been in a financial tailspin ever since that dead husband of yours checked out."
"Here. Take this card."
"There's more than enough on it for you to blow through."
It was true that Adam's passing had rattled the employees and shaken morale at the company. But a financial tailspin? Hardly.
I had more than enough capital to keep things running smoothly. My company wasn't going anywhere.
I drew a long breath, willing myself not to lose my temper over this shameless man.
"Bartholomew, if your ears have stopped working, go see a doctor."
"Let me make this perfectly clear."
"First, I'm not here stalking you. I'm here to pick up rings my late husband ordered."
"Second, put your card away. I haven't sunk so low that I need your money."
"And if you've got that much free time on your hands, go find a few more trophy mistresses to keep you entertained."
I dropped those words like stones, stepped around him without another glance, and walked straight inside.
Bartholomew's face went scarlet. I'd clearly struck a nerve.
His entourage crowded around him. "Bart, you're just going to stand there and take that? She humiliated you to your face."
"And her shopping here? Isn't that a joke? Everything in this store costs a fortune. Where would she get that kind of money?"
"Didn't you hear what she said?"
"Her dead husband ordered some rings here. She's just picking up his leftovers."
"Hmph. If she doesn't know a good thing when she sees one, then I'm done being nice. I'll double the price and snatch them right out from under her."
Bartholomew stormed into the store, fury rolling off him in waves.
The moment the sales associate brought out the rings Adam had ordered, Bartholomew's voice drifted over, light and careless.
"Nice set. I'll take them."
Him again. He was determined to push me past my limit.
"Bartholomew, my husband ordered these rings. If you want a pair, go place your own custom order."
He didn't even acknowledge me. Instead, he turned to Rosalind beside him.
"It's a couple's set. The women's band looks rather lovely. If you like it, I'll pay triple and take it."
