“And who might your guest be? Did you bring a toy to share for once?”
“Touch her,” Thayer says in a pleasant voice laced with ice, “and I’ll break your hand.”
My pulse spikes.
“Ooh, violence,” the nameless voice responds. “Rumor has it you can be violent when the situation warrants it, but I didn’t know you’d be so easily provoked.” The dark chuckle sends an unpleasant shiver down my spine. I imagine the person he’s talking to dressed in a snake’s skin.
“I will not be sharing,” Thayer snaps, implying the utter and instant death of whoever might question him otherwise.
“Understood. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
“I’m not changing my mind.”
The chuckle continues.
The retreating footsteps assure me whoever’s expressed an interest in me has gone.
Thayer curses and walks us a few more paces forward.
“And this is why,” Thayer says in a low voice to me, “we should’ve hired another manager.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve received my messages?” Thayer asks someone. No answer to my question, then.
“Yes, sir. Of course, sir.”
“Perfect.”
We turn to leave and begin walking at a rapid pace, and I get the distinct impression he wants to get me out of here as fast as he can, but he still has business to tend to.
“And sir?”
Thayer doesn’t slow his pace at all. “Yes?”
“We’ve prepared everything you asked us to for your ten o’clock meeting tomorrow.”
We come to such a sudden, screeching halt, I would have stumbled if he didn’t brace me against him with an arm around my waist.
“Excuse me?”
That tone of his voice sends another shiver down my spine. I imagine whoever he’s talking to has backed up against a wall.
“Your guests, sir?”
Thayer’s still beside me. “I didn’t invite any guests. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He curses under his breath.
“We received a message this morning, requesting the security and privacy of room two. We’ve temporarily asked all willing servants to relocate to the playroom.”
My. Head. Is. Spinning.
Willing servants?
The playroom?
“Is that right?” Thayer asks in a low voice. “One minute, please.”
He shifts, and I hear the gentle rustle of clothes. I imagine he’s looking for his phone. It’s strange standing here in the dark like this.
