I needed to get out of the room, so I took the elevator down to the ground floor at six.
The hospital gift shop was quiet, the smell of lavender soap and artificial flowers drifting through the open glass doors.
I stood near the display of plush toys, my hand resting on the handle of my IV pole.
Near the jewelry case, a familiar high-pitched laugh made me stop.
Sienna stood at the register, her finger twirling a long strand of blonde hair around her index finger.
“It matches my watch perfectly,” Sienna said, her voice breathless and sweet as she looked at the shop assistant.
The assistant wrapped a thin gold bracelet in white tissue paper and slid it into a green box.
Sienna reached into her leather bag and pulled out a silver credit card.
From ten feet away, I could clearly read the raised letters on the card: Vance Enterprises.
“Is the corporate account still active for this location?” Sienna asked, her voice dropping slightly.
“Yes, ma’am, we process all Vance corporate cards directly,” the assistant said, sliding the card through the terminal.
The machine beeped, and Sienna signed the screen with a quick, practiced flick of her wrist.
She took the bag, her smile wide as she turned toward the lobby elevators.
She did not look in my direction, her heels clicking on the tile as she disappeared into the crowd.
I walked to the counter and looked at the duplicate receipt lying near the register.
The total was four hundred and eighty-two dollars, charged to the corporate marketing fund.
I kept that number in my head as I wheeled myself back to the elevator.
“Did she buy the gold one?” I asked the cashier, my voice casual.
“Yes, the eighteen-karat link,” the girl said, wiping down the counter. “Must be nice to have a company card for that.”
“It certainly is,” I said, my grip tightening on the IV pole.
I knew that card was registered under Julian’s name, but the expenditures were supposed to be limited to client entertainment.
