she had. I had no right to my Kitty anymore, and we both knew it. I'd given that up myself.
I picked up one of the smallest packages, carefully unwrapping it myself. I revealed a dark blue velvet box, opening it to reveal a priceless engagement ring. In the cold light of the morning, the ring was tacky and too gaudy for a girl like Amicia. She deserved something more special.
I walked over to the balcony, pondering the ring in my hands. It was the sign of our relationship falling apart. Another symbol of my ownership over the girl who hadn't wanted to be owned. Taking one last, long look at the ring, I tossed it over the balcony and into the abyss below.
Walking back inside, I groaned when I saw the Christmas tree. I'd have to arrange to have it taken down—I couldn't bear the sight of it, remembering how happy we'd been putting it up together.
A package on the floor caught my attention. It wasn't one of the ones I'd had professionally wrapped, it was a simple gift box with a bow clumsily attached to the top. I picked it up, reading my name in Amicia's neat handwriting scribbled on the front. Had she left it on purpose, or had she forgotten she'd left it there?
I ripped through the paper in record time, lifting the lid of the box with a deep sigh. Inside, Kitty's mask from that first night at Le Cabaret was waiting, all pink sequins and cute kitty ears. I touched the fabric longingly, and every moment I'd spent with my plaything flashed in my mind, a painful reminder of how alone her absence had made me.
My fingers wrapped around the mask and I cursed softly. I couldn't let her go. Even though she'd chosen to leave me, I couldn't accept it. I wanted to keep my Kitty. I wanted to have her back.
And I knew then and there I wouldn't stop hunting her until she was finally mine again.
Chapter 17
Amicia
Eleven months later
Almost a year had passed since I left Grayson Kline's London penthouse in tears. I thought the memories would fade faster, but it seems as if the old wounds will never heal. As I walk through the streets of my favorite city in the world that day, huddling into my coat, I find myself wishing I'd never closed the door on our relationship.
Yes, it was awful what happened because of Grayson. But I'd played a role in it too, and the only person I'd blamed when I left was him, even though there was just as much guilt on my own shoulders.
The freezing cold made me shiver as I came up to my apartment building. It had been a long year with a lot of changes, most of them for the better. Now that I had more money, I could finally afford better things, including my apartment which was small, but cozy. It wasn't quite as nice as Mr. Kline's penthouse, but I was perfectly happy with it.
Still, the worst of it all was the overwhelming loneliness I felt every day. Since I'd stopped dancing at Le Cabaret, I hadn't kept in touch with any of my friends from back there. I didn't hear from Capri after the auction either, which made me worried. I hoped she was okay, but there wasn't much I could do for her, not anymore. Not without Grayson.
I put on the kettle and made myself a cup of tea. I had a date that night, my first since the Grayson ordeal. I had a new job at a restaurant then. The tips were good and the clientele was much better than I was used to. But I hadn't really made friends there. Still, one of the bartenders liked me enough to ask me out, and I found myself agreeing. It was the time of year when I hated being lonely. The memory of Grayson was still overwhelming, so I welcomed the distraction of a new man.
His name was Ross, and he was tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes. I liked the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, and the dimples in his cheeks. I wasn't sure how successful our date would be, but I was excited to find out if Ross would be able to make me forget about Grayson for the night.
I got ready, putting on a simple jewel-toned purple dress with knitted tights and black heeled boots. I put on my new coat—with buttons, what