“It’s getting late. We can do the NDA in the morning. The legality of it would be questionable if it was known we gave you alcohol and then made you sign something.” Evander places the electronic tablet in the middle of Kieren’s extraordinarily tidy desk, next to the computer the steward took away from the dining room table. “I’ll call someone to take you to your room. Unless you think you can find it on your own?”
“Up the stairs to the fourth floor, second room on the right. I can find it.”
Kieren’s scowl returns. “Leopold put you on the second floor.”
“But my suitcases are on the fourth floor.”
“You’re on the second floor,” he says in a quick burst.
It makes my hackles go up. It’s a feeling that’s gotten me into lots of trouble before. I don’t like being told what to do. It’s one of the reasons I changed my major without my parents knowing. And by the time they found out, it was too late to switch it back. And they took their money. I’m one semester away from a degree they say will never amount to anything, so why should I ever finish it, anyway? That’s how I ended up living in my sister’s crash pad in NYC. Did I lie on my resumé about graduating? Yes. Yes, I did. And if they’d wanted to, they could have looked it up. But when I’m done with this six months, I’ll have enough money not only to finish my degree but to get an MFA. One that, with this experience, will allow me to land a great job. But maybe not better than being able to look at a Monet Water Lilies painting every day.
“Don’t argue with your boss about something that doesn’t make a difference. Save your objections for something you haveconviction about.”It’s my dad’s voice in my head this time. And I’m going to listen to it.
“Second floor. Got it. I’ll go get my suitcases and bring them down.”
“I’ll send Percy to get them,” Evander says.
“Right.” I’m beginning to not believe that this Percy even exists. It’s possible he’s just an imaginary friend of those who live in the castle. I hold in my laugh. “And in the morning, after I sign the papers, one of you will show me the collection?”
Evander nods. “Yes, we will make sure you see the collection. Breakfast is served in the dining room. It’s less formal, though.”
“Got it!” I nod. I need to go. The two of them have a look that says they need to talk, and it’s obvious it’s going to be about me. “I’ll show myself out.” I step out into the hallway and smack myself in the face with the curtain. “Oh, that’s there.” I smooth it away from my shoulder.
“Yes, it’s kept closed even when I’m in my office. I’m sure one of the staff closed it after we came in,” Kieren says.
“It’s really something. And they’re all different, and so large.” I push the curtain to the side.
“Yes.” Kieren glances up at them too.
“One more thing, Miss Fischer,” Evander says.
“The doors behind the curtain are off-limits,” Kieren finishes for Evander.
“Off-limits. Got it. Anywhere else? Not that I’m going to go prying open doors.”
“Of course. No, just behind the rest of the curtain.”
“Good. See you in the morning.” I give an awkward wave at the bottom of the steps and slowly make my way up the stairs.
There’s so much to take in that my senses fire onoverload. Every detail of the wood on the way up has me hanging next to the wall. At the top, I can’t resist going to the landing at the top of the stairs and taking another look at the mosaic.
They are still in the foyer. Their heads are close together, but the acoustics of the dome are like the whispering gallery effect, where you can hear clearly because the sound waves travel along the walls at odd angles.
“She’s smart. Make sure you get her to sign tomorrow. Don’t touch her. And find Roark. They might have gotten it fucking right this time,” Kieren says. His voice is as clear as if he was whispering in my ear.
I take a quick step back. My heart thumps in my throat. What the heck does that mean?
8
RAINE
Idon’t want to get out of bed. The castle— Castle! I have to pinch myself. The castle is stirring. I can hear people moving around in the hall. Water rushes through the pipes in the en suite bathroom. A truck arrives and leaves out front, its tires crunching on the gravel drive. The loud boom that shook the walls yesterday has happened twice. Six a.m. and everyone at Cloud Rift castle is wide awake, everyone but me. But at home it’s midnight. Midnight yesterday.
I’m not a morning person. Yes, I’ve been working in a coffee shop. And yes, I normally get up at six a.m. Jet lag. I’ve never had to deal with it. But I’ve seen it enough with the flight attendants at the apartment. Their veins are mostly espresso and energy drinks.
I can smell coffee coming from somewhere. I need it.
I unzip my scuffed and dented suitcase. I don’t know if Percy is an imaginary friend, but he’s my friend. My giant bags were in the blue jewel box of a bedroom when Iscurried down the hall away from the conversation my bosses clearly didn’t know I was there to hear. But what Kieren said keeps echoing in my mind.
