Chapter 5

The sounds from the lounge finally faded into silence. The quiet that followed was almost as loud, ringing in Hayley' s ears. Her fingers finally found the latch. A hidden panel slid open, revealing a single blue folder.

She pulled it out, her heart pounding. She quickly scanned the first page, memorizing the string of account numbers and offshore holding companies. This was it. This was her ticket out. She slid the folder back, closed the panel, and replaced the books.

She turned to leave, her movements silent and swift. As she reached the door, it swung open. Dean stood there, looking at her with suspicion.

"What were you doing in here?" he demanded.

Behind him, Karina was adjusting her dress, a faint flush on her cheeks. She looked at Hayley and smiled, a smug, victorious expression in her eyes. It was the smile of a predator that had just finished its meal.

Hayley' s mind raced. "I... I came to get a book," she lied, gesturing vaguely toward the shelves.

Dean' s eyes narrowed, but Karina' s triumphant mood seemed to have softened him. "Your presence is an eyesore. Get out." He then turned his attention back to Karina. "I've arranged a party for you tomorrow night. A proper welcome home."

He looked at Hayley, his gaze dismissive. "You will organize it. Consider it your apology to Karina for all the trouble you've caused."

Hayley' s jaw tightened, but she nodded numbly. She had no choice but to play along.

The next day was a blur of activity. Hayley moved like a ghost through the penthouse, arranging flowers, selecting menus, and directing staff. She knew the tastes of New York' s high society intimately; it was a skill she had been forced to learn over eight years. She performed her duties with a chilling efficiency, her face a blank mask.

That evening, the penthouse was filled with music and laughter. Karina made her grand entrance on Dean' s arm, glowing in a diamond-encrusted gown. They looked like a king and queen, perfectly matched and radiant. The sight sent a sharp pang through Hayley' s chest, but she pushed it down, burying it deep.

Dean fussed over Karina, adjusting a stray curl of her hair, his eyes filled with a soft, happy light that Hayley had once believed was reserved for her. She had to turn away, the sight was too painful. Her chest felt tight, and it was suddenly hard to breathe.

The party moved to the gift-opening portion of the evening. A mountain of presents from Dean' s wealthy friends was piled on a large table. Everyone oohed and aahed as Karina unwrapped designer bags and priceless jewelry.

Then, Dean presented his gift. It was a velvet box that contained a set of matching platinum watches, intricately engraved with their initials, D & K, intertwined inside a heart.

A murmur went through the crowd. "Are they engaged?" someone whispered. "It certainly looks like it."

Hayley felt the weight of a hundred pairs of eyes on her. The public girlfriend, the placeholder, now officially obsolete. She stood tall, her expression unreadable, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing her crumble. What was she, really? A footnote? A cautionary tale? The thought was a cold, hard lump in her throat.

Karina threw her arms around Dean' s neck and kissed him soundly before putting on her watch. Then, with a predatory gleam in her eye, she walked directly to Hayley.

"And what about your gift, Hayley?" she asked, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Surely you have something for me?"

Hayley had been forced to prepare a gift. She had wrapped a beautiful, antique art book. She handed the box to Karina, her hands steady.

Karina tore it open with theatrical excitement. But as she lifted the lid, she didn't see a book. Inside, nestled on the tissue paper, was a large, dead tarantula.

Karina let out a bloodcurdling scream and threw the box into the air. The spider flew out, landing on the dress of a nearby guest, who also began to shriek.

The party dissolved into chaos. In the midst of the panic, Karina stumbled backward, "accidentally" bumping into Hayley with full force. They were standing near the edge of the penthouse's infinity pool. The impact sent them both tipping over the edge.

The cold water was a shock to Hayley's system. It filled her nose and mouth, and for a terrifying moment, she was back in the ocean as a child, drowning, the waves pulling her under. Panic seized her. She flailed, her lungs burning.

She saw Dean dive into the water. For a split second, a flicker of hope ignited in her chest. He was coming for her.

But he swam right past her. He didn't even look at her. His eyes were fixed on Karina, who was splashing and crying dramatically a few feet away. He gathered her into his arms, lifting her from the water and carrying her out of the pool.

He laid her gently on a lounge chair, wrapping her in towels, his voice a frantic murmur of concern. He never once looked back at the woman he was leaving to drown.

The last bit of fight went out of Hayley. The waterlogged dress was impossibly heavy. The water was cold. The sky above was dark. She gave up. She let her body go limp, sinking down, down, into the silent, blue depths.