Page 71 of Rosabel and the Billionaire Beast

The more distance I could create between us, the better.

“We’re leaving,” I said.

Rosabel stood as well, looking confused. She moved slowly—too slowly. It was all I could do not to jerk her by the elbow and frog-march her to the door.

“I suggest you sever whatever ties with that pact that you can.” Eudora spoke with a sense of urgency as if she had something she needed to say and wanted to get it out before we left.

Apparently oblivious to that fact, Rosabel turned to Eudora—presumably because she wasn’t getting any answers from me. “I’m sorry, but I have no idea what you two are talking about.”

Eudora smiled as though we were discussing the weather. She took Rosabel’s hand in hers and patted it a few times.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear you’re only his assistant, Miss Astor. I suggest you keep your heart far away from this man. He has a past you won’t want to find yourself embroiled in.”

Fury blazed in me at full throttle. I gripped my hands into fists, trying to keep my temper in check.

“Come on, Rosabel. We need to go.”

“You’ve both lost me,” Rosabel said. “What does this pact have to do with Duncan buying this house?”

“I wouldn’t want to meddle with anything else,” Eudora said.

This riled me.Shewouldn’t want to meddle? That was all she’d done since we’d walked through the door!

“I’m sorry you came all this way,” Eudora said.

My throat was tight. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Rosabel, but I felt her gaze boring into me. I wanted to slip my arm around her and herd her outside.

But all I had were words and an ache inside I could never quench.

“Please,” I said under my breath, the words stirring the hair at Rosabel’s temple. “Let’s go.”

Rosabel’s jaw tightened, but she nodded. Finally, she led the way to the front door. She paused long enough to say, “It is a beautiful house. Thank you for letting us see it,” before stepping outside.

She was gone—and I was going to take one last stab at getting some answers. This time without Rosabel around to hear.

My suspicions rose with every step I took toward the old woman. This had seemed like an accidental meeting, but it felt far too coincidental for that. I didn’t like that.

“You knew I was coming today,” I said.

She blinked at me. “Yes.”

“Why didn’t you say anything? Why use an assistant? To keep your identity a secret?”

Eudora released a little laugh. “You make it sound like I was trying to act on some kind of conspiracy.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” I muttered, thinking of the time she’d set us all up with The Pact the night I’d signed it.

She’d sided with some of the upper guys when I’d first arrived. She’d helped them move all of my belongings to the attic and had left me to search the whole house for them. It was all meant to be in good fun, and that was how I’d taken it, but seeing things now, I’d bet it was something else.

She was too easily roped into shenanigans regardless of what was being asked of her or what her actions might do to the victim.

Eudora lifted her gnarled hands. “Calm down, Duncan.”

“Stay away from Rosabel,” I said, feeling the need to make my intentions clear before she or anyone else could.

Something flickered across her gaze. Again, she looked almost panicked as she glanced toward the fireplace.

“You shouldn’t have said that,” she muttered almost regretfully.

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