Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 138981 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138981 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
“I... yes.” I take a deep breath, scrub my hands against my thighs, and straighten up. No need for me to be so nervous just because I’m not used to dealing with rich people who are also like my boss’ boss. Donning my most professional smile, I step closer, offering a hand. “You must be Lucia Arrendell.”
“And my worse half, Montero.” She lays her hand in mine like a feather, just barely touching, before turning her head languidly to her son. “My youngest and least responsible son, Ulysses.”
Both Montero and Ulysses chuckle.
“Welcome, Miss Clarendon.” Montero reaches for my hand, grasping it firmly.
His eyes dip over me, assessing me like he’s looking to buy a horse before he looks away just as fast, dropping my hand like he’s lost interest.
“I do hope you’ll find our town more welcoming after yesterday’s distressing encounter,” he rumbles.
Distressing?
That’s what you call it?
God, rich people are weird and overly polite.
That goes double when Ulysses steps up and takes my hand in both of his before I have a chance to respond.
“Delilah.” He practically breathes my name. “I’ve been waiting to meet you.”
What?
I blink. My fingers curl helplessly in his. His fingers are hard, his touch vaguely cool.
“...you have?”
“Entirely. I owe you an apology after what happened yesterday.”
Ulysses bows over my hand—and I realize almost too late that he means to kiss my knuckles.
Oh my God.
Maybe he’s just being gentlemanly and cultured in a way a dumpster rat like me can’t comprehend, but I jerk my hand free before he can, tucking it against my inner elbow as I hug my arms to myself.
I forget how to breathe.
Way to make it awkward, Lilah.
Ulysses studies me, his gaze too curious before he straightens like it didn’t happen and offers me a disarming smile.
“You see,” he says, “it was my responsibility to prep the house for your arrival. I left it in the hands of a good cleaning crew, but I should have made a point of checking in personally. I could’ve spared you the horror. Have the police identified the girl yet?”
“No,” I say flatly, shaking my head.
I wasn’t expecting him to just bring it up like that.
For an instant, all I can see is the red of Lucia’s brightly colored mouth. It’s almost the same red as the dead girl’s dress.
My breath rattles as I inhale. “But it’s not your fault.”
That makes me wonder, though.
That cleaning crew, should I tell Lucas?
Maybe if he finds out who they were, they can tell him something that might lead to more clues.
But Ulysses is talking again, relaxed and laughing. “You’re too kind, and apparently, you’re a resilient young thing. But come.” His gaze sharpens as he gestures toward the double doors. “We shouldn’t keep the council waiting.”
...the council?
I’m meeting the whole town council?
Oh, hell.
There’s no time to protest or make excuses.
The Arrendells are like peacocks, closing in around me. They usher me into a wood-paneled conference room.
A good half dozen people are already seated at a U-shaped table, dressed much more plainly, older men and women who already look bored and ready to be done with this.
I feel like I’ve stepped into a Tim Burton film.
The Arrendells are just surreal, their colors more vivid than reality, cast against the drab backdrop of everyday life.
After meeting them, the rest of it’s pretty boring.
Names pass over my head I’ll probably remember after hearing them a few more times.
Pleasant greetings all around.
I’m shown to a chair, and there’s talk about the education budget, holidays, and zoning.
All things I have no say in but end up listening to intently anyway.
The council members make proposals, and every time Lucia and Montero have the final say, yeas and nays gliding off their tongues.
Meanwhile, Ulysses never takes his eyes off me.
I don’t even know how to feel about it.
It doesn’t quite feel like flirting, but it’s definitely intense.
Every time I glance up and catch those jade eyes on me from across the room, my heart skips.
I’m so ready for this day to be over.
After a few more yeas and nays, the meeting adjourns.
Thank God.
As I stand, a few more people give their welcomes and make small talk before I’m free.
The sunlight feels heavenly as I burst outside and take a deep, shaky breath of fresh air.
Only to stiffen when a warm voice purrs at my back.
“Are you all right, Miss Clarendon?”
I whip around to find Ulysses standing in the doorway behind me. He’s so tall and he’s got this odd way of standing out yet also blending into the background.
Also, he’s still freaking watching me.
But there’s concern in his eyes and his brows are drawn together.
I clear my throat, forcing another smile.
“I’m fine!” I insist. “I just didn’t sleep well last night. I’m sure you can imagine... Oh, and I’m sorry if I made a rough impression today.”