Take Two (The Jilted Bride #1)(17)

“Yes,” she took out a key and unlocked a door. “It seats about ten people. However, this is the only unit in this building with this particular type of balcony.”

“How much is this one?”

“This one is over the price range you gave me. It’s about two million before HOA fees and taxes. We could try to get the price down a bit, but since they added that lake-inspired spa I’m not sure if—”

“Where’s the spa?”

“Right this way,” she led me through a long white corridor and down a short flight of steps. She hit a series of buttons and clapped her hands.

“Wow,” was all I could say as the room began to glow.

Dark brown flagstone and reed grass surrounded a large oval pool. Small waves rippled across the pool’s surface and a small cascade waterfall emitted a soft shushing sound. A Jacuzzi stood in the corner, softly hissing and foaming.

The glass walls that encased the room depicted a variety of trees—pine, maple, elm, and hickory—and a small hearth provided the room’s warmth.

There was a sauna to my right, built with a combination of slate and travertine tiles.

“You can change the temperature of the room as well as the pool by voice control or remote,” she said. “There’s also an antique tub behind the glass walls. It’s accessible by remote too.”

I took off my shoe and dipped my toe into the pool, causing a soft yellow light to appear on its surface.

“Ah yes,” she fidgeted with the remote. “The pool has a motion sensor. It can light in yellow, orange, red, or white.”

I removed my toe and smiled. “I’ll take this one.”

“Are you sure? I have three more properties in your price range that you might be interested in. Their spas are significantly smaller but—”

“I’m sure,” I put my shoe back on. “How long will it take to get through closing?”

“Well, that all depends. Are we offering them under the asking price or are we—”

“The full asking price.”

“Well, I’ll file the paperwork this afternoon and I’ll be in touch with you by the end of the day.”

Hoping that Sean was still predictable and didn’t work on Sundays, I walked into Belazi with my engagement ring safely tucked in my purse.

A salesman opened the door and tilted his head to the side. I remembered him, Taylor. He was the first employee Sean hired.

“Hello. My name’s Melody Carter and I would like to return a ring. It wasn’t worn that long…”

“Nice to meet you,” he smiled. He knew exactly who I was, and was too respectful to mention the fact.

I handed him the ring and he inspected it underneath a lit mirror for several minutes.

He took off his glasses. “You sure you don’t want to keep it? It’s a very intricate ring.”

“Intricate? It’s a four carat diamond with rubies.”

“No, it’s more than that. Look here,” he beckoned me over to the light. “Look at what’s in between the rubies. Do you see those small pink stones?”

“They’re just light red rubies, right?

“Those aren’t rubies at all. They’re sapphire, a very rare sapphire. This prong setting for the diamond had to take at least three months to perfect. I’ve never seen one done like this before. Of course, the diamond itself is beyond incredible. Then look here, on the inside of the band.”

I held the ring to the light and squinted. “Love lives here” was etched in cursive. I never even thought to look there. Sean had told me over and over how he designed it to be special, but I thought four carats and “rubies” were special enough.

“I don’t want to keep it,” I set the ring down. “I’m sure.”

“Okay well, I’m sure I can make an exception to our return policy for you. I can offer you three and half million dollars.”

I felt my eyes widen and followed him into the back office.

“Mr. Scofield told me to give this to you,” he handed me an envelope.

“He knows I’m here?”

“No. He’s been expecting you to return the ring, Miss Carter. Told us all to keep a heads up and to give you a fair price for it. He didn’t tell us anything about the ring itself though.”

“Oh,” I stuffed the envelope into my purse. I sat on a sofa as he typed numbers into a computer and asked me questions.

As he typed, memories of Sean flooded my brain. I could see everything clearly, as if the scenes were playing right in front of me: How I picked Belazi’s wall color, convinced him to go for a rustic brown instead of an antique green. How we had sex on top of the jewelry cases before opening day. How he always let me see his newest creations weeks before revealing them to his staff.

“It’s been deposited into your account, Miss Carter.” Taylor smiled. “But it won’t be accessible for the next seven business days. I’ll need you to sign this receipt of return.”

“Thank you Taylor,” I quickly signed the paper and left Belazi for what I hoped would be the last time.

“I’ll let the realtor know when she can pick up the check,” Sophie handed me my suitcase. “And I’ll be sure to document its release.”

“You know you don’t have to do anything for me. I’m technically not your boss for the next five weeks.”