Page 64 of The Heart You Kept

“Uh-huh.”

Jonty walks into the office and closes the door behind him. “What the hell is going on?”

“He’s the owner of the casino,” Helene whispers as she continues to peer through the blinds at him. “He’s like a gazillionaire.”

“I’m so confused right now,” Jonty whispers. “Why does he want an internship at an antique store when he could afford to buy the whole of fucking France?”

“I don’t know,” I lie. “Just keep him busy.”

“Doing what?” he asks.

“I don’t know, teach him stuff,” I stammer.

“Like what?” Jonty asks.

“I could teach him a thing or two.” Helene smirks as she watches him.

I seriously doubt that.

“What should I teach him?” Jonty asks again.

“I don’t know.” I hold my hands up. “Go…show him how to use the cash register.”

“Okay.” He frowns. “Do you think he wants to buy our store?”

“Maybe,” I lie.

“Right….” He cranes his neck to watch him. “Are you thinking of selling?”

“Oh my god, Jonty!” I snap. “I need to think in peace for a moment, please go out there and do something useful.”

“Fine.” He disappears out into the front of the store, leaving the door open, and all is silent for five minutes. “Don’t touch that,” I hear him say.

“Interns touch everything,” I hear Edward’s voice fire back. “Isn’t that the point of interning?”

“That egg is an ancient artifact.”

“That has dust on it.”

A comeback for everything. I feel my temperature rise even higher.

“God, he’s so fucking hot, right?” Helene murmurs as she watches him through the blinds.

That’s it!

I can’t hold this in for one moment longer…. I have to talk this out.

“I have something to tell you,” I whisper. “But you have to swear on your life not to tell a soul.”

“It’s me.” She shrugs. “Who am I going to tell?”

“I know him. I mean I knew him before.” I wobble my head around as I search for the right way to put this. “Like really knew him if you get my drift.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh my god. You slept with him?”

“Sshh,” I splutter. “Keep your voice down.”

“Well, did you?” She holds her face as she waits for my answer.