The walk to Julian and Leo's house feels like a march toward my own execution. I find Julian lounging on a deck chair on the spacious wooden side terrace that extends under the dappled shade of the trees, sipping from a fine china teacup. Leo is nowhere to be seen, probably off on Family business. From up here on the terrace, I can see the landscape gardener is a little way up on the gentle slope, surveying the view, and I think Julian was watching him before I came up the steps.
The Retreat is almost finished now, and despite some of the reservations I heard expressed during the build, it's turned out beautifully. It's a veryrespectfulbuilding, if one could ever call something connected to Julian Castellani respectful. It doesn't overpower the scenery at all, and while it's lifted up from the ground, so that there's a thick staircase made from reclaimed redwood leading up to the house and terrace, the interiorliving space is only one story, stretching long rather than wide, reaching out into the grove. The whole build was done from glass, wood, stone, and other natural materials, making it fit seamlessly into the landscape. In fact, it can't be seen from up at the Manor at all.
And it looks, somehow, as if it was alwaysmeantto be here.
Julian's gaze sharpens as I approach. "Darian, what a lovely surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?" His tone is light, silky, but his eyes land on the envelope at once. I stop in front of him and hold it out.
"I've come to submit my letter of resignation, Mr. Castellani."
Julian's eyebrows shoot up. He sets down his teacup in the saucer and swings his legs over the lounger to sit up. "Resignation? Don't be absurd."
"I'm afraid I must insist. After the events of the parley, I no longer feel I can continue in my position here."
"The parley?" Julian waves a dismissive hand. "That's old news. Yesterday's problem."
"Not for me. I'm afraid I underestimated the kind of events that might occur here, and I…I simply can't perform my duties under these…"
"Well, that's nonsense." Julian plucks the envelope from my hands. "You knew exactly who we were, exactly what we do, exactly what events might happen. That's why you turned down my offer of employment that first time, isn't it?" He goes on over my stuttering denials. "And anyway, Darian, you are essential to Redwood. You're the person who keeps everything runningsmoothly. And I consider you mine, in a way. I hired you, after all. So no, I won't accept your resignation."
He rips the envelope in half.
"Sir—I—I really must insist." Can't he understand this isn't abouthim?That I need to get away from here before I fall apart completely?
"No. I won't hear of it. You're too valuable to me. And I won't have you throwing away your career over one little parley."
If only he knew the truth.
"There are other jobs, Mr. Castellani," I say quietly.
"Not like this one. Not where you're soappreciated. And you've still got so much to learn here before you'll be ready to move on." Julian leans closer, his gaze intent. "I'd be very upset if you left, Darian.Very. Upset."
The implicit threat doesn't escape me, but I just sigh in response. Julian is a dangerous man, but I know how rigidly he adheres to the rules that give him guardrails. "Mr. Castellani, I don't think Mr. Bernardi would like to hear you speaking that way to me. Not to mention your brother." He scowls. "You need to accept this."
Julian's eyes flash with irritation. "Well, you can't justleave. The terms of your contract state one month's notice."
I expected this, but hoped he would let it go. I probably should have known better. "I have some personal leave saved up," I tell him. "At least a week. So?—"
"ButDarian," he whines, "what about my housewarming party? Youpromisedyou'd run the whole event."
God. I did. "But that's months away."
"Nonsense. The house is practically done. In fact, I declare it now—the housewarming will be held in one month's time. What do you say? Compromise with me," he wheedles. "And after that, well…" He lies back on his chair and replaces his sunglasses. "Well, then I suppose I'll accept your leaving. I'll even throw in that million dollar bonus you're supposed to get per year of service, even though it won't have been a year.AndI'll give you the kind of reference that will open doors. I promise."
Ihadbeen looking forward to running that housewarming event. And getting that million dollar bonus…it would be silly to turn it down.
Plus I do need a good reference. If I don't keep Julian happy, it wouldn't be surprising if his reference ended up a hatchet job. Of course, I could go to Sandro or Max Pedretti for a reference, too, but…
"I won't change my mind," I warn him. "I'll still leave after the housewarming."
"Whatever you say, Darian. Whatever you say. So you'll do it?"
"Very well," I say at last. "I'll run the housewarming event, scheduled for one month from now. But the day after, Mr. Castellani, Iwillbe leaving Redwood."
Julian grins. "Excellent. Now, of course, you'll have to work closely with security to ensure that the guest list is acceptable, and all the arrangements, and all of that very tedious and dull nonsense?—"
My heart sinks as realization dawns.
"—but I'msureRaffaello will be delighted to work with you on the event, as head of security for the Retreat," Julian finishes.
