I watch as she scoops up her laptop and leaves without a backward glance.
I’ll need to thank Professor Dunn. I wasn’t sure he’d do it when I approached him about who I wanted to be partnered with. Penelope Dawson is the top student, and I want to work with the best. I haven’t got the time or inclination to be fawned over, not for work. The downside of my last name and all that entails. Miss Dawson gave the impression she finds me less than appealing, which I should find irking. She’s an individual both in her style and her approach to life. Her makeup and extensive piercings give the impression she’s not as confident as she wants everyone to believe, but that’s not my issue. All I’m interested in is if we can work together and I can stay on track. I don’t need to be her friend.
I need to get my grades up, and Penelope Dawson is going to help me do that.
CHAPTER 16
PEN
Elijah follows me into my library. Something I installed when I renovated. I blame my mother. She brought me up on Beauty and the Beast. I didn’t have abeastto provide me with all the books I wanted.
As an independent woman of means, I bought my own.
He stops behind me. His eyes take in the expanse of shelves covering every wall, floor to ceiling.
“Impressive,” he says, running a finger over the spines of some of the more traditional hardback books I searched high and low to acquire. My library is an eclectic mix of old and new, from classical to modern, spicy contemporary. There’s a whole paranormal fantasy section too. Although that’s further away from the door.
“Every old house needs a library,” I say.
Mine is based on the one at his parents’ house. Every summer I visited, I flicked through the books. Franny lent me multiple titles over the years. Part of this collection comes from her. After I completed the renovation, she came to visit. Her housewarming gift, five hundred books to begin my collection. She also introduced me to her principal supplier, who I now have on speed dial.
Computer NerdandBookwormwere my names growing up. As a child, I lost myself in stories. As an adult, I lost myself in code.
How have I made my fortune?
By combining the two things I love the most and writing first-class computer games that sell the entire world over.
I leave Elijah and move further into the room.
I pull an attached ornament on one bookshelf forward, exposing a hidden doorway.
“Very spy novel,” Elijah says over my shoulder, making me jump.
I didn’t sense his approach.
“Similar to a library. Every old house needs a secret passage,” I say, my heart pounding as I turn my head to look at him, our faces inches apart. “And you can talk.”
His eyes sparkle. It’s not like Elijah isn’t used to secret passages. Secret passages litter his family home. Doorways hidden in the walls or behind wooden panels. Years ago, the servants used them to silently move from place to place without bothering the lord and lady of the house. Gabriel told me they used them to torment one another growing up. Looking back, poor Franny and Robert must have had their hands full.
I step forward, putting some space between us.
“I admit, Jaxson outdid himself with this one.”
Elijah grunts.
“Come on.”
I gesture towards a flight of stairs leading down into the basement.
“Are you leading me down there to kill me?” he asks.
“Don’t tempt me,” I say, suddenly wanting to put some space between us. “I could murder you, take over your company, rule the world. Although, quite honestly, I’ve got better things to do with my time.”
Elijah’s chuckle echoes around the enclosed space, causing my stomach to contract, but I ignore it.
I lead us down the brightly lit staircase into my sanctuary. The closer we get, the more the gentle hum of my equipment sinks in. My shoulders relax, and the knot coiling in my stomach releases. This is my safe space. My creative sanctuary, a refuge from worldly chaos.
“I’m amazed. I don’t have to duck,” Elijah says, taking in the additional ceiling height.
