“If I may play devil’s advocate for a moment, it does look a little… convenient,” he said. “The groundskeeper rescues the damsel in distress, becomes her partner, and now he gets to feed her inside info for the remaining ten days of the game.”
Jacob’s shoulders stiffened and he went very still beside me.
Henry didn’t say anything yet. He was watching us. I could feel his gaze boring into me.
“I don’t have any inside info,” I said. “And if you think Number Seven is going to risk his job and whatever punishment Mr. Stonewood has lined up for him, just to help me cheat, maybe you should’ve read your own contract a little closer.”
Twelve’s smile sharpened.
“Just admit that you have an unfair advantage over the rest of us.”
“I admit I had a flat tire and bad luck,” I shot back. “And that I’m grateful someone came to my aid and actually treated me like a human being when we both could have just let it slide.”
Her gaze flicked to Jacob, then back to me.
“He’s still on the payroll of the man we’re all here to impress,” she said. “Are we really pretending that doesn’t matter? The rest of us got matched randomly. You walk in already paired with someone who works for him.”
“That pairing is going to cost me,” Jacob said. “I stand to lose everything, including my job, if Eighteen doesn’t win, or at least stay honestly in the game until someone else has won.”
It was the first time he’d spoken loud enough for anyone else to hear him. Heads turned, all drawn to the sound. His voice was the same as it had been when he was helping me out on the road: low, rough, somehow steady and frayed at the same time.
“Mr. Stonewood will decide my… punishment… for inserting myself into the game after dinner,” he said mildly. “Volunteering to keep Eighteen in the game wasn’t free.”
Twelve’s brows shot up, arching over the top of her mask.
“And that’s supposed to make us feel better?”
“It’s supposed to make you understand it wasn’t done lightly,” he said. “She didn’t ask for it. I did it to stop her from being unfairly eliminated before the Game began.”
“So noble,” she murmured. “How romantic.”
The sarcasm in her voice made my teeth grind.
Number One set his fork down with a little clatter.
“Look, I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking,” he said, facing Henry. “You expect us to sit here and pretend this isn’t all rigged in Eighteen’s favor? She gets staff-boy as a partner, he gets a front-row seat to all the challenges, and you want us to believe he won’t nudge things in her favor?”
A crackle moved through the room, nervous and hungry.
Someone muttered, “He’s got a point.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. They were going to get me eliminated and Jacob fired if they didn’t shut the fuck up.
Henry stood. He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t have to.
“That’s quite enough,” he said, his voice crisp and cold.
The room went still.
“Number One,” he continued, eyes fixed on the man across from me. “Do you recall the sabotage clause in your contract? Hell, man, I just went over it mere moments ago.”
One’s mouth worked.
“I’m not sabotaging anyone. I’m pointing out a conflict of interest that is detrimental to my partner, and to every woman here besides Eighteen.”
“You’re accusing another guest,” Henry said, “and a member of staff, of colluding to defraud the Game. You’re implying cheating on the first night, before a single challenge has been announced. You’re attempting to seed distrust in a way designed to unsettle and disadvantage your fellow player.”
His icy gaze slid to Twelve.
