Page 129 of The Hallows Queen

“I need you to get in contact with my lawyer and my father’s lawyer. Book them tickets into Raleigh and get them whatever accommodations they may need. I need this done tonight.”

“Anything else, Hayden?” I hear her typing on her computer, probably already booking flights.

“Yes.” I sigh. “Make sure they keep quiet. I need to get things figured out before we publicize this.”

“I’m going to take a giant leap and guess your father died?” she asks, her voice small.

“He did,” I say, rubbing a hand down my face.

“Do you want me to fly out there and help with funeral arrangements or anything?”

Sighing, I think over her question for a moment, then shake my head. “I’m handing it.”

“Alright.” She continues typing on her computer. “Anything else?”

“Not right now. Thank you, Serena.”

She breathes for a moment. “I’m incredibly sorry for your loss, Hayden."

* * *

After meetingwith a few different people who deal with deaths at the hospital, I’ve signed away the rights to my father’s body and they’ve booked his transfer to the funeral home that will cremate him. I feel like this day has been an entire week long, and I’m sure it’s showing on my face when I walk back out to the main area of the floor and find Penelope still sitting in the same chair.

“Hey,” I say, and she stands up. “Sorry that took so long, you didn’t have to stay.”

She smiles softly. “I wanted to.”

Exhaling heavily, I run a hand down my face. “I’m exhausted.”

“I can imagine,” she says, rubbing my arm with her hand. “Are you hungry or anything? Do you want me to come back to the hotel with you?”

“You don’t have to do this, P.” I shake my head, feeling pathetic and small. “I know where you stand with everything.”

“Hayden.” She squeezes my arm. “Stop. Let’s go get some food, then I’ll stay with you to make sure you’re okay.”

I slide my hand to hers, wishing I could keep it there. “Thank you.”

Chapter45

Penelope

We pickup some takeout from my restaurant, then we go back to his hotel. He hands his keys over to the valet, and with bags of food in my hands, I follow Hayden onto the elevator.

Everything feels normal with him. I didn’t hesitate to come here to make him better, and that scares me. It feels like I’m falling back into the place I was before, when my entire world revolved around Hayden Monroe and nothing else mattered. I haven’t even bothered to tell him that I broke off my engagement. I feel like that will open a whole different can of worms I’m not ready to face.

Hayden presses the button for the penthouse, and I chuckle.

“What?” he says, facing me.

“Nothing,” I say, smiling. “Just a veryHayden Monroething to do, book the penthouse when you’re only staying for a few days.”

He shrugs, laughing softly. “Yeah, well. Some things don’t change.”

I hum between my lips to agree, and we spend the rest of the elevator ride in silence. When the doors open, I follow him out into the make-shift lobby outside the entrance to the penthouse. He digs around in his pockets for his key, then scans it over the sensor on the door to unlock it.

Stepping in, he holds the door open for me. “Go ahead.”

Walking past him, I scan my gaze around the room. It’s high end, but still has a beach-resort feel to it. The art on the walls is all neutral, but with touches of elegance that show me how much this room must be costing him.

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