Grace’s steps slowed. “The masked ball?”
“Yes. Henry asked me to go with him.”
I was pretty sure Grace’s squeal could be heard two streets away. “Oh my god! Are you kidding? I knew it! He has little heart-emoji eyes whenever he sees you in the corridor.”
I laughed. “No, he doesn’t.”
“He really does! Henry is totally into you.” Grace sighed theatrically. “Oh, man. I like you, Kate, but I’m so envious. I want a hot billionaire to fall madly in love with me too, and take me to a ball.”
“You could try your luck with Ethan,” I joked.
“I doubt that devil’s spawn is capable of feeling love. And even if he were, I’d rather spend the rest of my life living under a bridge than getting involved withhim.”
No, you wouldn’t, said a voice in my head.
“I don’t like the guy,” Amy said, her chin buried deep in her scarf, her cheeks rosy from the cold.
“No one likes him,” Grace clarified, before turning back to me. “Enough about Beelzebub and back to Henry. You do know that’s a date, right?”
“Yes.” I grinned.
“What kind of dress do you want?” Amy asked.
I shrugged. “No idea. A pretty one.”
She laughed. “OK. And do you know where you want to go?”
My thoughts drifted to Henry’s credit card, tucked into the sewn-in pocket of my leather jacket. Although it would get me into the most high-end, expensive boutiques in the city, I knew I wouldn’t feel comfortable in them. Besides, I was paying Henry back, and I didn’t want to waste my savings on a dress. I wanted to use that money to build something—my own life. I couldn’t stay at The Darlington forever, after all. Sooner or later, I’d have to learn to stand on my own two feet.
“What about the secondhand shop at Seven Dials?”
“Good idea,” Grace said, and we decided to walk the half hour to the shop.
Though it was cold and the wind cut through my leather jacket, the sun was shining and the sky was a brilliant blue. It struck me that I’d practically barricaded myself inside The Darlington over the last month. I had only left the hotel two or three times, usually just to buy snacks from a shop down the road. Otherwise, The Darlington had everything I needed, and everything I had craved: a warm bed, a clean bath, and privacy.
“Kate!” someone called behind us, and a chill colder than any gust of wind gripped me. I knew that voice and had hoped to never hear it again. “Kate! Wait!”
No.
No.
No!
What was Randell doing here? My stomach clenched, and I quickened my pace. It took all my willpower not to run like I used to. But Amy and Grace didn’t speed up to match my pace. They slowed down instead, and I could feel their curious eyes on me. I had no answers for them.
“Kate!”
A hand gripped my upper arm, stopping me in my tracks. Dirty fingers dug into my skin—firm, but not painful. Still, I knew all too well how it felt to be beaten by those hands, and my body remembered the pain. My heart pounded fiercely against my ribs as I turned to face Randell, meeting the eyes I despised so much. He stared back at me, his pupils dilated.
I wanted to scream at him, curse him, wrench myself free, but doing so would have required an explanation. And if there was one thing I dreaded more than confronting Randell, it was Amy’s and Grace’s inevitable questions. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs, and forced myself to stay calm.
“Randell.” My voice was cool. Detached.
He looked even worse today than he had the day I’d given him the money. As if he’d spent it all on getting high and drunk. The acrid stench of cigarettes hung over him like a cloud.
I looked at Grace and Amy. “Can you give us a moment?”
They looked worried—they must have noticed the stench of alcohol emanating from Randell—but I forced a smile that seemed to reassure them. They stepped back hesitantly, still not taking their eyes off us.
