Page 88 of Hiding Secrets

Even if he is an asshole.

“Black hair dye?” He picks up the box and I snatch it out of his grasp, making him chuckle.

“That is mine,sir.” I start packing the items back into the bag and walk around Hunter to head to Kameron’s bathroom. “I think it’s time to finally say goodbye toEden.”

***

I read the hair dye instructions for the millionth time as I pace the bathroom floor, hoping I am not fucking this up. I have the dye in my hair and it says to wait up to forty-five minutes. I peek my head from the bathroom to the clock on the nightstand and see it’s only been forty. The anxiety I have is vibrating through me. I start the water in the shower, then sit on the toilet to wait for the water to warm up.

I haven’t looked in the mirror since I fully coated my hair I can’t bring myself to look. What if I hate it? What if it comes out in patches because I messed up the instructions.

Shit.

Steam begins to fill the bathroom, so I discard the messy hair dye covered clothes on the floor and step into the shower. I rinse the hair dye out, watching the black water run down my body. The instructions say to wait until the water runs as clear as possible, so I drag my fingers through my hair multiple times, wringing out my hair and repeating the process until I’m sure it’s all out.

I dry off and wrap my hair in a towel, not ready to look in the mirror.

I walk to the room, put new clothes on, and sit on the bed, legs crossed and my mind is racing. Who knows how much time goes by when I finally gain the strength to push myself off of the bed. Going to the bathroom vanity, I stare at my reflection.

My hands shake as I watch myself unravel the towel on my head, “Good-bye, Eden.” I whisper to myself as I let the towel fall to the floor.

I suck in a sharp breath as I look at myself.

I know it’s just hair, just a different color, but my eyes tear up at the sight. My irises look brighter with the dark wet strands of hair framing my face. They’re still a deep blue but there is a sparkle to them, like when the light hits water. I laugh and sob at the same time, a full belly cackle as I cry. I have never cried while laughing this hard, it’s a strange mix of emotions.

My reflection blurs from my tears and I wipe my eyes with the back of my hands, dropping them to vanity as I lean into the mirror for a closer look.

I don’t see the same girl Samuel defiled. I don’t see the image of who he self-claimed to be his wife.

No, I see Elliott.

Me.

“Hello.” I say, smiling brighter as I wipe the last of my tears away, along with the girl I used to be.

55

Hunter

I’m on my last call for the evening, a conference call between my assistant Kelly and our Director of Finance, Mr. Sanchez. Kelly is filling him in on the details of the paperwork I sent back to her to finalize, debrief what we agreed on to keep or remove, as well as scheduling our next meeting. I listen in, giving my replies quickly. I decide to make my way to the living room, ready to snuggle up with Elliott before helping Marcus cook dinner.

“Alright, how does that sound, Mr. Sanchez?” Kelly uses her perkiest voice, one she never addresses me with.

“Yes, thank you Ms. Beaufort, Mr. Sinclair.”

“Of course,” is all I groan turning into the living room, pausing as I look at a figure on the couch.

Who the fuck–

They turn around to look at me, and the ocean blue eyes take my breath away.

Elliott?

“Our pleasure, Mr. Sanchez. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”

“You as well.” The line clicks as Mr. Sanchez hangs up on the call.

“Mr. Sinclair, there is something–” Kelly’s voice drops to her normal tone, now that Mr. Sanchez is off the call.

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