Page 151 of The Protégé

ELENA

It had beentwo days since I received that video of Orion. My heart had died and my body seemed to have gone with it. Sleeping had been tough, even though I tried to tire myself out by keeping busy. But he was everywhere.

I looked at the jars of stars, and my heart ached. I’d put so much time and effort into the jars—into the relationship. A part of me wanted to smash them and destroy everything we had.

But I didn’t have the energy to do that. If they broke, I’d have to clean up the mess. I’d rather conserve the energy for something better. So I left them on the windowsill to collect dust. Perhaps they would collect enough dust to cover the stars so I wouldn’t remember what I’d written in each of those paper stars.

I was so stupid. How could I be so stupid? I should’ve known. How could a wealthy man like him—who had everything at his whim—love one person? Women were like gems to a thief. How could heresist?

Why hadn’t I seen that?

Because you love him.

I closed my eyes, praying that my feelings for him would disappear sooner rather than later. The longer they stayed with me, the more I’d suffer.

I didn’t even have the energy to pack up his clothes and toiletries at my house. I could do that tomorrow or the day after. Today, I wanted to do a good workout that used up my entire body.

Wild Roots was packed with customers because of a bonsai class that was being taught by some bonsai specialist. My mom would probably hold these classes when she returned with the knowledge. If I were in a better mindset, I’d take it and learn how to care for one. The last bonsai plant I had survived a whole month.

But I didn’t have the energy to learn anything. I just wanted to quiet my mind and work on things that were second nature to me. I helped Reid water the plants. Then I clipped dandelion flowers from my mom’s dandelion beds. I collected the flowers in a basket and transferred them to a mesh tray to dry. There wasn’t enough room for the abundant flowers, so I dumped them into a paper bag to take home. I had some room in my house to dry them.

I didn’t realize I was crying until tears dripped onto the paper bag. I wiped them away with the back of my hand. My heart hurt so much. I was trying my best to hold it together, but failing miserably. I felt stupid for believing Orion loved me. Apparently, he loved too many women.

I hadn’t slept well the night before and was too tired to make coffee this morning. I was paying for it now. My head throbbed, needing caffeine. Wiping my hands of dirt, I told Cathy, one of the garden workers, that I was heading out for a coffee run.

“Do you want anything at Coffee Hut? My treat.”

“Yes, please! I’d like a chai latte.” Cathy grinned.

“You got it.” I added her order to the Coffee Hut app.

I went around taking orders. Reid passed on the coffee because he was delivering several trees.

I hadn’t gone out to get a new phone yet. It still worked, even though there was a fat crack on it. I needed to charge the battery too. I couldn’t help see the phone as a reflection of me—broken and in need of a recharge.

Once I placed the order, a garden worker brought me a new tray of dandelions from a bed I’d missed. I shoved the dandelions into my fanny pack, not wanting them to go to waste. I’d dry those at home too. I tucked my phone into my cargo capris and hopped into my car. With no makeup on, I probably looked like a zombie. But I didn’t care.

On my way to Coffee Hut, I saw a couple on the side of the road with a flat. I recognized the man and his wife from the grocery store. I’d accidentally hit him with my shopping cart that day.

I pulled over, got out, and walked to them.

“Are you okay? Do you need me to call a tow truck or something?”

The man smiled. “That would be great. My phone doesn’t have any battery.”

“I forgot my phone at my mother’s,” said the woman.

“No worries.” I pulled out my phone and made the call. “Someone should come in fifteen minutes.”

“Thank you for your help,” said the woman. “You don’t need to stay here with us. I’m sure you have places to go.”

“All right. Have a good day!” I walked back to my car and drove off.

Music blasted in the car, removing thoughts from my mind. Then something cold pressed against my neck.

“Take a right down the next street, bitch.” Jasper moved the cold device to my ribcage. “Or I’ll shoot you right now.”

My heart jumped as I looked in the rearview mirror. Jasper had grown a beard. I saw on the news that he’d escaped during the transfer to the prison while awaiting his trial.

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