I’m still full of lunch and afternoon tea. Which is the best custom, and when I go back to New York, I’m definitely keeping it. Scones. So good.
I head to my room. On my computer, I watch two hours of garbage television and read a couple more articles on the Monet sale—ten paintings that were gathered quickly from a broker in Dubai. Which doesn’t mean they’re coming to Cloud Rift, I remind myself.
He didn’t hurt me; he wrote me an apology note and bought me a new phone. Granted, he didn’t find the time to come and talk to me today. But then how often does the owner of a company find the time to talk to a random employee? Even one he did something to.
It’s way past the dinner hour when I slip into the bath. I’m surprised Evander and Roark haven’t sought me out. But again, they don’t owe me anything.
I kissed Evander. So what? He’s an amazing-looking guy, and I’m sure he’s kissed lots of girls—tons of girls, in fact. I’m a number from the deli counter. That has me laughing: the thought of Evander or Kieren at the grocery store. I wonder if either of them has ever been to a grocery store?
Irinse and repeat for the rest of the week. It’s crazy how the first few days are fading in my memory. Even the scratch on my cheek from the bush in the maze is gone. With Wren being on an Asia schedule, it’s hard to talk to her. Still, she sends pictures and messages that I get every morning. She’s working this trip with one of the girls from the apartment. It looks like they’re having a blast. They’ve gone back and forth from Honolulu to Tokyo all week, and on their days off, I’m getting tons of food and beach pictures. I just wish I could send her some photos of the art I’m unpacking.
The storage units are going to arrive on Monday. AndI’ve almost exposed the whole wall while taking inventory of the small pieces that aren’t packed in crates. I go to bed exhausted, but I spring out of bed in the morning. Sure, I might slow down in the atrium by Kieren’s office when I pass. I’ve even considered stopping. I came as far as pulling the heavy curtain back from in front of the door and held my fist up to knock. But then I chickened out and scurried away.
I make my way off to the dining room for a fast breakfast.
Leo emerges from the butler’s pantry, the perfect cup of coffee in his hand. “Good morning, Miss Fischer.”
“Good morning, Leo. Did you have a good night’s sleep?”
“Absolutely, how kind of you to ask.” He sets the cup down in front of me, and I automatically glance toward the door. I don’t know if I’m hoping to see them or if I’m still avoiding them. The one thing I know is that Leo’s afternoon tea service and lunches are larger every day after I skip dinner.
“Is there somewhere I should be eating with the staff?”
Leo, tidying up the breakfast buffet, straightens his back. “No, mademoiselle. Your position is one of the highest esteem, and you are to dine here. Unless you would like to take your meals elsewhere?”
“It’s just that, other than you, I haven’t really talked to anyone all week and it would be nice to... meet some other people.”
Leo’s eyebrow rises. “I see.” I’m not sure he’s keen on it. “I will talk to the gentlemen and get their opinion.”
I’m eating slower than I have all week, though it’s close to eight. And the “gentlemen” all seem like get-up-and-storm-from-the-castle kind of guys. “Thank you. Speaking of them, I haven’t seen any of them since... in a while.”
Leo takes a pause that tells me he kind of wants to ask me if I’m being serious. It’s his version ofGurl, wake up.“Miss Fischer, it’s not my place to say, but it does seem you have been trying to avoid them.”
He’s not wrong. “I suppose. I thought that Kieren, Mr. Alder, would come find me so we could talk it through.”
“Mr. Alder has been away from the castle for the last week.”
“Oh.”
“Would you like me to pass on a message to Mr. Lang or Mr. Slate?”
“Um, yes.”
“I will do so. Would you like to see them in person, or should they call you on your mobile phone?”
“Whichever they have time for.” I hold back a chuckle at Leo’s terminology. I’m about to give Leo my number when I realize there’s zero chance they don’t already have it. It occurs to me that... I pull out my phone and check my address book. They’re both in it. Kieren too. “Oh, I guess I can send the message myself. But thank you for the offer, Leo.”
“Will you be dining in the dining room this evening, then?”
I swallow hard. “Yes.”
“And Miss Fischer, while you are on salary, you are not required to work seven days a week.”
“I really want to get the space ready for the new storage units I ordered.”
“Just so you are aware.” He inclines his head and vanishes into the pantry.
I’m not sure if it’s the hours I’ve been putting in or Leo reminding me that it’s the weekend, but when I get to the collection room, I end up spending three hours catalogingsmaller paintings instead of cleaning and prepping the space. Mentally, I’ve lost count of how many boxes I’ve opened, but I’ve got it written down.
