The Do-Over (The Miles High Club #4)(121)

Ugh . . .

I have a feeling that the first few weeks are going to be hectic hell while I catch up on everything. Elliot is here for the week with me, and then he leaves for a two-month vacation, which is only fair.

Then it’s all on me.

I email Elouise, my PA.

Hi Elouise,

Great to be back!

Can you book me an appointment with Reynolds Jewels when my schedule permits please?

This week if possible.

Thank you.

Ps . . . and come and see me when you arrive!

Christopher.

I get up and make myself a coffee with a smile.

A diamond ring for my love . . .

Life is good.





HAYDEN

I walk around the apartment. It’s big and grand and deathly quiet.

There are no sounds in this penthouse. No wind, no rain . . . no cows.

Nothing.

It’s only eleven o’clock. It’s like time has stood still. What am I supposed to do for the rest of the day? I’ve already done our washing and cleaned the apartment, not that I needed to. It was already spotless.

I pick up my phone, and my finger hovers over Christopher’s name. Just a quick call?

No . . .

I need to let him work in peace. I can’t call him every time I’m bored. I throw my phone onto the couch and go to the window and stare out over the city. It’s pouring rain.

I was going to go for a walk or . . . to the shops to find a new dress for Friday night, but I don’t fancy getting saturated, and I have no idea where an umbrella is.

There’s no rush. I guess I can look around tomorrow, and I have the whole week to find a dress. How hard can it be?

I flop onto the couch and hold the remote to the television. Looks like it’s a date with Netflix.

I flick through the movies. Now . . . what will I watch?

Wednesday

I walk through the shops on autopilot.

How do people actually like shopping? I would rather pull my teeth out than do this shit for fun.

My phone rings and I dig it out of my bag.

Miles Media

Ugh, Elouise.

I’ve spoken to Christopher’s PA more than I’ve actually spoken to him this week. “Hi, Elouise,” I answer.

“Hello, Hayden,” she replies happily.

“What’s happening?”

“Christopher asked me to call you.”

Of course he did.

“Yes.”

“He wanted me to let you know that he’s got a Zoom meeting at six tonight, so he will be home late.”

I roll my eyes. “Can you put me through to him, please?”

“He’s in a board meeting now that will be running late into the afternoon. I can get him to call you between that and his Zoom, if you like?”

“No, that’s fine.” I exhale heavily. “Okay, thanks for letting me know.”

“He also asked me to remind you that you have that meeting with Zoe this afternoon at two p.m.”

“How could I forget?” I mutter dryly.

She laughs. “I don’t envy you, that’s for sure.”

“Ugh, Elouise. How did I agree to this?”

“You’ll love it. Zoe has been Christopher’s personal shopper for many years; you’re in safe hands. And don’t forget you have that charity ball on Friday night.”

Ugh . . . don’t remind me.

“He’s trying to help,” she adds.

“Help me what? Go insane . . .”

“Buy up big, I say.” She laughs. “Spend it all.”

I chuckle. I do like Elouise. “Thank you.”

“And Hayden . . .”

“Yes.”

“Please call me if you need anything.”

“I will.” I smile. Christopher has Elouise on babysitting-Hayden duties. I swear the poor girl checks in with me twice a day.

“Have a good day.”

“Bye.”

I glance at my watch. An hour until I have to meet Zoe. I look around . . . I wonder where a bar is. I need wine for this shopping trip.



I sit in the bar along the window seat as I sip my wine. I’ve called my mom and Eddie, and I meet Zoe in half an hour.

I don’t know what’s going on with me, but time seems to have stopped in this city. I swear the days drag on forever.

“We’ve got her. There she is,” I hear someone yell from out on the street. “Miss Whitmore.”

Huh?

I glance up to see a flash, then another and another.

Almost blinding.

A large group of people clambers around as they take photos of me through the window. I duck and cover my face.

What the hell is going on?





Chapter 27


CHRISTOPHER

I bring up the spreadsheet on the large screen, and ten sets of eyes stare up at it. “What we need to do is focus our efforts onto the streaming service. When I looked over the results over the last twelve months, the one thing that’s glaringly clear is that . . .”

My phone vibrates on the table . . .

Hayden

“So what you’re saying is that you aren’t happy with what we’ve been focusing on while you were away?” Henry asks.

My phone keeps vibrating . . .