Her lips part before closing and reopening. The doe-eyed stare is suddenly so obviously familiar. “You need somewhere Mr. Kensington and Adrianna are unlikely to look. So, you should hide everything in the staff wing. We could put it in my room or Jules’s.” She glances at her nodding friend, who appeared at her side at some point.
Asher shrugs. “That’s—that’s not a bad idea.”
“Easier to access than storage.” I clap once, the idea solidifying in my mind. “Let’s do it. Gather everything up. We are moving it down into the staff rooms.”
Myra, the director, walks in at the perfect time. “I grabbed a couple of extra hands.”
My heart warms as at least ten other people emerge from the hallway, all ready to help us cover up our party crime.
I think we might actually be able to get all of this in one trip. The seconds are rapidly ticking away as I grab a couple of stacked boxes before turning my attention to Cirella.
“Well, Cirella, lead the way.” I smile, watching a thousand emotions shift through her face at once.
She stands a little taller. Her shoulders settle, and her chin lifts with a nod. Everyone scrambles and grabs as much as they can.
A few seconds later, the foyer is empty, and we’re moving, heading into hiding.
We pass a few offices, the laundry rooms, storage area, and the first floor of staff suites before turning into the stairwell.
Asher and I are directly behind Cirella, Jules, and Myra as we reach the lower floor and step into the well-lit hallway, golden sconces lining the walls.
A couple of steps later, Cirella stops outside of a suite door, dropping her boxes to the ground. “Jules and I can fit quite a few people; otherwise, Myra can take the rest further down the hallway.”
Asher and I stop with Cirella, knowing damn well there’s not a chance we’re letting her out of our sight until we can talk to her.
After letting us into their front lounge area, Cirella enters the code to her room and pushes the door open, leading the way inside while Jules does the same for her individual room.
“Last person in, please lock it,” Cirella announces to the back of the group.
Asher and I go straight back against her far wall near her bed, making room for everyone else. Thankfully, the rooms are decently large.
Part of the group files in after us, including our friends—Alora, Blair, Malik, Griffin, Elias, and Finn—as well as a few staff members. Someone locks the door, and we’re officially sealed inside.
Everyone drops their armfuls with a sigh as pride blooms in my chest. This was actually a brilliant idea. Our father never comes down here, and I doubt Adrianna would sink so low, likely thinking staff are beneath her holier-than-thou ass.
“You saved the day,” I tell Cirella with a smile.
Turning to us, she looks up, a nervous smile on her face. “Not a problem.”
Her breathing is shallow, her pretty blue gaze bouncing between Asher and me. She swallows hard, her lips parting to say something, but she stops herself.
Yes?
Something steals her attention behind me, her eyes flying open.
We follow her stare, and my heart leaps into my throat, my airway cutting off.Jesus.
I instantly calm my shock, realizing it’s just a little mouse.
A little mouse …
OMG.
The whiskers twitch as it looks up to a vase of flowers … thesameexact flowers Ash and I gave our mystery girl.
“Holy shit,” I whisper, fireworks exploding in my mind, heart, and fucking soul.
It’s really her.
