“Have you heard anything yet?” I asked her. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, but this limbo seemed to be worse than having answers, even if those answers were bad news.
“You’d know if I had.”
“Would I?”
“Yes, Lola.” She leaned against the sink, arms folded. “I wouldn’t keep that from you. Not about this. I can tell you they’re reviewing every disgruntled former club member, every angry ex-girlfriend and ex-boyfriend.”
I snorted at that. The only person that hated me enough was Adam, and he was dead. I wondered if she knew about that. I decided not to ask.
“What about the press? It could be a journalist.”
“Journalists would either leak the images or ask for money, so would most people actually. It worries me that this person hasn’t asked for money.”
I didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me yet. I felt like an idiot. Alfie had called it blackmail, he’d said himself that this person would want money, but blackmail only worked if you were asking for something.
“They haven’t asked for anything yet?”
“Nothing and we’ve been waiting for it. That’s how this shit usually goes down. Send the threat, let the target stew for a while, then send the demands. Twenty four hours without demands is concerning. They’re giving Alfie a lot of time to figure out who they are, which means they’re either covered or confident. Or stupid.”
“Why does that worry you so much?”
“Because it means it’s personal. They’re doing this just to hurt you. If their intent is to hurt, this will escalate. On the upside? They’re less likely to make these pictures public. More likely to lead back to them and if their intent is to escalate, that means they plan to do shit more illegal than blackmail. I don’t think someone's out for a payday, I think someone's trying to get between the two of you. My money is on his mother, or Julia Whitmore. It’s too coincidental that you’ve trodden on both their toes recently and now all of a sudden, you’re being threatened.”
The kitchen door leading out onto the patio opened and Sid raised a hand at me. “Hey, Lola? I’m going to get back to work.”
I waved back and told him I’d be right there, hoping that he hadn’t heard any of our conversation. Once his footsteps had disappeared, Maia turned back to me.
“Be suspicious of anyone or anything that might turn you against him. Someone's trying to pull your strings. Don’t let them, alright?”
I nodded but I didn’t feel the conviction. Since the day I met Alfie it had been one drama after another, sometimes I wondered if we’d ever just be able to live a normal life.
Thirty
Istood on the rooftop, sipping wine. The cool evening breeze was my only company as I watched the sun disappear for the day. I had largely stopped drinking since Alfie and I had been together but tonight I needed something to steady my nerves a little.
I’d waited all day for news but heard nothing. I checked my phone again and again until I felt like I was going mad, both eager for word that it was over and terrified that I would find those photos online. Before I could drive myself more crazy, I’d thrown my phone on my bed, grabbed a bottle of wine and headed up here, away from it all.
Now I sat, remembering the first time I’d been up here. I shivered at the memory of Alfie’s attempt to seduce me. It was still a marvel to me that I’d been able to resist. My month at Harrington was almost over and it felt a far cry from the intimidating place I’d first walked into. Now it felt like mine. With the Evergarden right there and memories of Alfie and I around every corner, this was beginning to feel more like home than the place I’d grown up in.
After my third glass, I debated pouring another. I should go to bed but I didn’t want to face sleep. I didn’t want to deal withthe sick feeling in my stomach that wouldn’t go away. Before I could make a decision, the door to the rooftop opened.
“Lola, what the hell are you doing up here?” Maia gasped. “Are you out of your mind?”
“What? I’m hardly in danger, it’s not like I’m sitting on the wall.” I leaned against it, showing how it came up to my chest. “How did you know I was up here?”
“I heard you walk in this direction when you left your rooms, the door to the stairway hadn’t closed properly. I took a guess.” She looked me up and down, clearly disapproving. I could see her deciding whether to talk to me like a friend or an employee. She chose the latter. “I came looking for you because your phone won’t stop ringing. Thought it might be important.” Just as she spoke, my phone lit up again. She handed it to me and left me alone, though I didn’t miss that she took the wine bottle with her.
I saw Keira’s name flashing on the screen and answered it immediately.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked before I could say anything.
“Yeah,” I lied, “why?”
“I just saw everything online and I thought…shit, Lo. I’m so sorry.”
My heart sank. They were out. They’d leaked. Why hadn’t Maia said anything? “You’ve seen the photos?”
“Yeah, do you need me to come back? I know I’m seeing you in a few weeks for Natalie’s wedding anyway but I can come if you need me.”
