Page 81 of Broken Princess
I looked down at Willow, my brows knitted with concern.
She gave me a shaky smile. “I think so. Has Rowan done his part?”
I checked my phone. “Yes. He says it’s ready to go.”
“Good.” Willow set her jaw and threw her shoulders back. “How do I look?”
“Like a different person. Don’t worry, she won’t notice.”
Willow was wearing thick-rimmed glasses, a blonde wig cropped into a bob, dark plum-colored lipstick, and a Wonderland maid’s uniform. Up close, most people who knew her would probably be able to tell it was her, but they’d have to actively stare for quite a while to figure it out.
I knew my mother wouldn’t do that at all, because she was a typical rich person when it came to maids. The second they put that blue and white outfit on, they became invisible. Just nameless, featureless drones my mother would never look at twice.
“You sure you’re ready for this?” I asked, putting my hand on her shoulder.
“Uh-huh.” She leaned down to pick up the heavy silver serving tray I’d nabbed from the kitchens earlier. It was stacked with empty plates.
I leaned in to kiss her forehead. “You’ll do great.”
“I hope so. When do we go?”
“As soon as Rowan spots my mom on the CCTV feed. He said he’ll text us when that happens.”
“She’s due back any minute, right?”
“Yup. I texted her saying I want to have lunch with her.”
A moment later, my phone vibrated in my hand. I glanced down at it. “Okay, she’s back. Rowan says she’s heading to the elevator now. We should go.”
“I’ll hang back for about ten seconds.”
“Sure.” I nodded and gave Willow one more kiss before stepping out of the empty room we’d been hiding out in. Then I strode down the main hall of Wonderland’s top floor, heading toward the elevator.
I glanced over my shoulder a moment later to see Willow following me, shoulders hunched and head down as she carried the serving tray. I gave her a half-smile and turned back around when I heard the elevator doors opening.
Mom stepped out into the hall and headed toward me, high-heeled boots clattering on the marble tiles. “There you are!” she said in a saccharine tone, pink lips curved into a wide smile. As she spoke, she set her purse down on a nearby accent table. “I missed you last night.”
I leaned down to give her a brief hug. “Sorry. I went to visit a friend.”
“That’s okay. I hope you had fun.”
“I did.”
She smiled again. “Good. Anyway, why did you want to have lunch with me today?”
“I had some ideas about the Carlton campaign. I was thinking—”
My sentence was abruptly cut off by Willow’s arrival. She pretended to trip over her own feet right next to me before wobbling and lunging forward to regain her balance. In the process, she pushed the serving tray right into my mother, who inadvertently toppled backward, hitting the corner of the accent table with a sharp yelp.
“Are you okay?” I asked, grabbing her left arm to steady her.
“I’m fine,” she said, rubbing her lower back with a grimace.
I glared down at Willow. She was on all fours on the tiles now, fake-blonde head facing downward as she scrambled to pick up the tray and plates she’d dropped after she barreled into my mother. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I said in a vicious tone. “Are you completely incapable of watching where you’re going?”
Willow mumbled something under her breath. I waved a hand. “Get the hell out of here,” I said. “I’ll get someone else to clean this up. Someone who isn’t a complete moron.”
She fled down the hall and vanished around a corner. I turned back to my mother. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
