Page 149 of Chosen Beta

Maybe I’m being a dick.

This guy is Lana’s friend.

Even if he did kind of steal the girl she loves.

I clear my throat. “I remember fish and chips were the best. That’s about it.”

“Fish n’ chips, a British classic! Chips are basically fries, right?”

“Kind of,” I answer as I lean against the desk, watching Lana’s office door.

I get the feeling I’m in for a long day.

Chapter Fifty-Five

Lana

Erika steps into the office and gives me a vaguely nervous smile. She glances from Brooke to me and back again, her gaze narrowing slightly.

“I’m doing okay on reception, right? This isn’t some kind of work appraisal thing?”

“It’s got nothing to do with work. You’re doing great,” I tell her.

She blows out a breath. “Phew. I was worried for a second.”

“Why don’t you take a seat next to Brooke?” I ask, moving over to the couch Pete and I christened a little while ago. I sit down opposite Erika.

Her posture is perfect as she looks back at me. “Um, so, what is this about if it’s not a work thing?”

She glances at Brooke, and Brooke looks over at me.

“This is about Warren Corvina,” I start.

“Brooke’s father,” Erika murmurs.

“You know what he did to Brooke.”

“Who could forget?” Erika says, with a shiver. “What a piece of garbage. I’m glad he’s in prison.”

“He is, which is why we don’t want you to worry, but there’s something we need to tell you.”

She blinks. “Okay. What is it?”

“My father brainwashed some of the students here,” Brooke cuts in, sighing once it’s out. “I’m sorry, Erika, but you were one of them.”

Erika stares at her. “Um, what? He did what? No … I would know.”

She looks at me. “I would know if he’d done that. I’d know. Right?”

“Brooke didn’t know until she was triggered.”

Erika takes in a slow, deep breath. “Okay. So, you’re telling me I’ve been brainwashed by that piece of garbage, and I won’t know until something bad happens?”

“We’re doing what we can to make sure nothing bad happens,” I assure her. “Brooke’s working on figuring out what he was trying to achieve with what he did to you. In the meantime …”

I trail off realizing I can’t let Erika stay on reception, even if she’s been a great help.

We need to stop the chance of someone calling her or using the internet to trigger her.

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