Page 24 of A University of Betrayal

I shook my head. There was no point in stressing about so many things. Not now.

I gripped the cool metal handle of the door, whereupon my body immediately began to fight against opening it. Fear was our greatest enemy, and I lived by that mantra. So, I didn’t give it a second thought and simply pushed the handle down.

Maybe it’s just a simple bath, Larissa.

It wasn’t a bath. The automatic light from a small golden chandelier came on, and I entered a slightly smaller room with black open wardrobes along the walls that formed an octagon. Mirrors, a black fashion mannequin with a very modern and tight black tracksuit, and a lot of wardrobes filled with a hell of a lot of clothes, but these weren’t just any historical dresses, like the ones hanging outside.

“I was just about to come and show you everything, but I see you’ve already started yourself.”

I hurriedly turned around and looked at Camille’s smiling face. And the first thing I noticed was her black Fedora hat.

“Oh my...” I blurted out and quickly closed my mouth again as she shot past me with supernatural speed and ran her eyes through the closets.

“You seem like a good investment, dear.” She turned to me as her hands stroked classy-looking, skin-tight dresses. “If you only knew whatmystarter wardrobe used to look like.” She started laughing, and it seemed amused, yet heartfelt at the same time, as if she was talking to her child about her carefree school days. “I was privileged to choose your clothes, and I mostly based them on your style.”

“My style?” I asked, thinking of Bastien, who had suddenly known so much about me.

“You modeled a year ago. In Sacramento atModel Industries.The photos are very pretty, by the way.”

She winked at me and tucked the black strand that had slipped out of her hair behind her right ear. I immediately noticed the shiny silver jewelry that flattered her pale complexion and then the silver ring on her finger with the black stone, which looked simpler and therefore stood out a little.

“I’m afraid I don’t have much time.” She glanced at her watch. “I have to be in New York in ten hours.”

That explained the damn fine outfit, a black tailored suit with a white shirt and a black vest and tie, plus the two fine silver bracelets on the right and left. She radiated feminine elegance with a masculine undertone. Camille looked like she was going to a business lunch and was calling the shots, and I wondered what her job was.

“This whole closet contains your training clothes.” She pointed to a wardrobe full of sporty-looking clothes in black. I immediately noticed all the individual items: gloves, belts, strange holsters...Wait, no.Those were weapon holsters. What on earth was waiting for me at these training sessions?

“Here are your evening dresses. All the fancy stuff.”

I looked again at the tight dresses and the high heels, this time in black and dark shades of red. I didn’t know what exactly I would need them for, but somehow it was tempting to suddenly be allowed to wear something like this. Something you didn’t have the money for before.

“Believe me, I tried my hardest to get your measurements right.” Camille turned to me and touched my shoulders. “After all, you’re the first female to join this family after me.”

I couldn’t and didn’t want to share her joy at this, and yet I could empathize with her. I didn’t want to know how long she had been living here among all the men, even if I was interested in finding out exactly what her relationship with them was like.

“Can I ask you something personal?”

I looked at her and my chest tightened. Nevertheless, I nodded.

“Did you have a fire accident?”

I gritted my teeth, unable to answer because it was already taking all my effort to hold her gaze. And it was as if she already knew the answer, because she pressed her lips together and turned away from me.

“Son of a bitch,” she said and paced across the room, her face turned away from me, but when I looked at her reflection, it was as if I recognized remorse in her beautiful turquoise eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Shock and confusion mingled inside me, my chest tightened further, but I didn’t know what to say.

Had she guessed or figured it out?No.No one would ever find out because I had made sure of it.

“And here are your everyday clothes.” Camille slid the half-open closet door all the way open, revealing many black leather jackets. I couldn’t hide my smile at this small but incredibly nice gesture, and Camille grinned back knowingly, as if this brief conversation had never taken place. “I’m not really the jeans type, but you should be able to find everything you like here. If there’s anything missing, just let me know. And, before I forget...” She reached into her black clutch, which she had been carrying with her the whole time. “Here’s your personal credit card.”

“Mywhat?”I asked in disbelief, finally brushing aside her hints about my burns. At least now I knew she’d seen them.

“As part of the family, you’re entitled to a certain share of the fortune.”

“That’s very nice, but I have student loans, my own earned money, and I think I’ll be fine on my own.”

She had just reminded me that I was out of place here, even though she was tryingreallyhard to wrap me around her finger. Of course, I needed the money, no question about it, but it wasn’t mine, and I didn’t want to get myself into a new dependency. Besides, I’d be out of here soon anyway.

---