Page 99 of You'll Be the Death of Me

Cole bowed his head in shame. “Please, Beatrice. I’m sorry. But punish me. Dell doesn’t deserve this. She was only trying to get her life back—which was my fault to begin with.”

“Indeed, it was your fault. And it wasmyfault for thinking I could trust you to do things right. But now here we are.”

The feeling of being sucked toward a black hole had a grip on Dell. A force greater than herself had been put in motion and was pulling her closer and closer to the true point of no return.

Beatrice lifted the phone receiver on her desk and pressed a button. “Ms. Rodgers, you’ll be escorted to Processing to finalize your case before moving on.”

Dell looked up at Cole, suddenly more terrified than she’d been in her life. “Cole, what do we do?”

He stared down at her with panic in his eyes. He didn’t get the chance to say anything before someone knocked on the door.

“Enter,” Beatrice said.

Two burly men, who could have been nightclub bouncers, entered. One stood behind Cole, blocking his way out, while the other gripped Dell by the arm before she had the chance to duck out of reach.

“Cole!” she called as the man led her from the room. She tried to dig in her feet, but her flats against the stiff corporate carpet might as well have been skates on ice.

“Let go of me!” she demanded of the man. He didn’t acknowledge her struggle. He must have had some otherworldly strength because he didn’t even falter against her thrashing in his grip.

“Dell, wait!” Cole called, but Beatrice’s closing door cut off the sound of his voice.

Dell fought against the man’s grip, trying to pry his hand off her arm. “Please, you can’t take me away. This is all a mistake. I’m supposed to go back to earth—to my life.”

She might as well have been talking to a brick wall. The man didn’t respond; he didn’t glance at her. He didn’t even blink. Dell looked around in a panic for anyone who could help, but no one was paying attention to her. Everyone sitting at their desks stared at their screens, silently working away.

The man pulled her toward the hall with the elevators, and she knew this was it. If she got on the elevator, there’d be no turning back. He’d take her to whatever floor held the Processing department, and she’d be shuttled off to eternity. Back on earth, surely, her coma would end, and her family would lose hope. Her restaurant might close without her at the helm. She would never laugh with Jason again. Her brothers would continue building their empire and having kids she’d never get to see grow up. Her parents’ broken hearts would never heal. She’d miss the life she was supposed to have. And to add to it, she would miss Cole. This imperfect, charming man she’d crossed paths with twice and still couldn’t be with.

If she could go back, she would. Back to that day on the ski slope when he plowed into her. She’d say yes to his drink invitationand spend the day falling in love with him, even if it was the first time they’d met, because she knew now from experience how easy he was to fall for. It had happened without her even realizing it. Like breathing or falling asleep.

But right now, she couldn’t go back. She couldn’t do anything other than follow her burly escort into the elevator and watch the doors close.

Chapter 18

As far as afterlife waiting rooms went, the one where Dell sat was rather soothing. The pale blue walls, bookshelves, and potted plants reminded her of a cozy reading nook. She wondered if, like the street outside, the room looked different to everyone with the intention of offering comfort. After all, anyone sitting inside had just died.

She was alone for the time being. Her escort had taken her to the forty-seventh floor and deposited her in the room. She could tell by the shadow cast under the door behind her that he stood on the other side, blocking her way out. And the door in front of her on the opposite side of the room was locked. She’d tried the handle twice.

Despite the serene space surrounding her—the gentle classical music tinkling through invisible speakers, the scent of clean linens and vanilla piped into the air—Dell was the furthest thing from serene. The absolute point of no return waited through the far door, she was certain.

She paced around the room like a fish trapped in a bowl. Hernerves were positively on fire. If the room had windows, she would have used the single chair to smash through one and jump. Surely falling forty-seven floors wouldn’t hurt if she was already dead. But then what? She’d be on the run in the afterlife? Did they have police? Security other than the henchman outside the door? And if they caught her, what would they do with her? She was already being held prisoner, and she couldn’t imagine punishment much worse than being moved on against her will.

“This is bad,” she said to herself, and continued to pace. She was an expert problem solver, chronically successful at everything she did. But this was a challenge unlike any other.

Her head snapped up when the far door opened.

“Ms. Rodgers? I’m ready for you now,” another ageless woman the likes of Beatrice pleasantly said like she was calling Dell in for a dentist appointment. She wore a long, swishing skirt and chunky acrylic jewelry. Her demeanor matched the serene room.

“Wh-what if I don’t want to go?” Dell asked. Her voice came out slow. Her head felt a little lighter, perhaps from pacing circles in the room for several minutes.

The woman gave her the softest, kindest smile. “There’s nothing to worry about, my dear. We just have to review your file, and then you will be on your way. Please, follow me.” She held her hand out, and Dell saw her own arm raise to reach for it.

“That’s it,” the woman said in a near whisper.

The sensation Dell was half dreaming filled her like a balloon. Had she fallen asleep? Why did she feel so soft and fuzzy all of a sudden? Her nerves dissolved, and she felt an overwhelming peace. She could hardly even remember what she’d been worried about.

“Here we are,” the woman said when they entered the next room, a tidy office painted soft green. She led Dell to sit in the chair facing her desk, and then circled around to face her from the other side.

“I’m a little dizzy,” Dell said. She held her hand to her forehead.