I didn’t know what infuriated me more: his lack of attention, or the fact that I knew he would be giving it to another woman that night. A woman who knew much more about him and his family.
His brother was quick to cover for him, though, during the awkward silence of him not acknowledging anyone’s presence. “You must be Franny’s nanny?”
“I am.” I nodded, and the title was a good reminder. That’s where I fit in with all these people.
He stood to his full height, and I was shocked at how his walk was even like Jameson’s. So easily they could be mistaken for one another, which meant they must have been close in age. “Want a guy friend along on your girls’ night?” he offered. “I’m Callahan. The nice Knight. I’m lots of fun.”
“No,” Pink interrupted. “Girls’ night only.”
Then she elbowed me as if it were my turn. Why were my knees suddenly wobbly and my palms starting to sweat? “So, I haven’t been outside of Paradise Grove since I’ve started working here, and Pink mentioned a nightclub in Chicago, which would be great considering—”
“Chicago?” Jameson’s head snapped up. I got his acknowledgment finally, but only because we were disobeying him. The deep timbre of his voice held a tight edge, and I had come to know that I didn’t want to push him over that edge.
“Chicago’s a good time.” Callahan must have known too, because he immediately tried diffusing the situation.
“No.” Jameson’s voice was loud and clear. “Mia isn’t allowed out of Paradise Grove.”
“Bro.” Callahan gave him a look. “Allowed?” Something unspoken passed between them. “She’s an employee, not a prisoner.” Then he turned to me. “We Diamonds have alwaysbeen accommodating, but we’re also overly cautious. Unless my brother has another reason for you not going into the city …?”
The tension was thick in the room as we waited for Jameson to answer. A part of me wanted him to say that he cared, that Iwasn’tjust an employee, that maybe some of his feelings might have been involved, but there was no indication of it as he waved us away, his emotions shut completely down in the blink of an eye. “As long as security goes with—”
“Which we always make sure they do.” Callahan lifted a brow like he was waiting for more of an excuse.
There was a moment of long silence before Jameson seemed to concede. “Hades can go, then.”
Hades shook his head while keeping his stare on Rosy. It was deadly. “I think that’s a bad idea. Archer can.”
Another jaw tick from Jameson, but he didn’t look up. “Fine. Him and a team.”
“Great. Tell them to stay back,” Olive concluded, starting to back out of the room like we needed to keep our eyes on them.
Hooking an arm in mine, Pink led me to the door, and we were almost through it when I heard, “Ms. Darling, a word with you first.”
“Shit,” Pink grumbled, “almost made it.”
He got up to walk past me, and his arm brushed mine as he said, “In the study. Now.”
I guess that meant I had to follow him. Freaking jerk. If we’d been alone, I’d have sat my behind down on the couch and waited for him to realize I wasn’t a dog who was told what to do.
And when Malek didn’t even follow him, I lifted my chin. “Mr. Knight, even my students know how to ask nicely.”
Callahan, I swear, covered his laugh with a cough as his brother turned around, shoulders tense and eyes with murder in them. “Please, Ms. Darling, get your ass in the study before I drag you to it.”
I scoffed, literally scoffed in his face, and I think the whole room tensed. I didn’t care. Just because I taught good manners to my students didn’t mean I had to have them all the time. I didn’t want to make a scene in front of everyone, but I did take it upon myself to stomp my way loudly down the hall. I only paused when we passed the living area and laid eyes on Mrs. Knight laughing with Valerie and Franny.
Both of them glanced over at me while Franny continued to laugh and draw on a sheet of paper.
“Ms. Darling, good to see you. You look … nice.” Valerie’s eyes swept over me, and I instantly wanted to shrink away from the doorway. My dress was probably too short and way too tight for Mrs. Knight to be assessing. And Valerie was in a pressed polo, all pastels and proper etiquette aesthetic. Her hair was in a soft bun, and the blonde highlights were perfectly blended like she had all the time in the world to make herself look the part. “You off for the weekend? You must have plans somewhere.”
“I do,” I answered cautiously, not sure what to say to her or Mrs. Knight. Both of their eyes held judgment that I wasn’t ready for.
Franny glanced up and gasped in delight. “You’re wearing your favorite color, Ms. Darling. You look like a princess. Right, Daddy? Are you taking out a princess tonight? You could dance with her until midnight like Cinderella does with her prince.”
Jameson cleared his throat and looked physically pained. He wanted nothing to do with this moment, and neither did I. Still, he answered. “I wish I was taking her out, Fran.” His stare felt heavy as he met mine. “She’s going to dance with her friends. But no prince better dance with our princess, right?”
Franny chuckled and nodded, going back to drawing. Mrs. Knight’s eyes stared inquisitively at me, but Valerie’s were daggers. “Franny?” Valerie’s tone was sharp. “You know that dress’s color is quite bold, a bit bright for around here.” Her insult hitright where it needed to as she raised her eyebrows at me and her lips curved condescendingly. “Sorry. I know you’re probably going into the city dressed like that, right? I just want Franny to understand the communityhere. It’s quite a respectable neighborhood.”
She crossed her arms, and I saw that emblem flash, reminding me that somehow she was part of the Diamond Syndicate. Whether it was generational grace or she worked for all of them, I didn’t know. All I knew was that I wasn’t a part of it. I was in a borrowed dress and on borrowed time here.
