Page 15 of Beau and the Beast

Here goes nothing, he thought, swinging all of his weight to one side and then the other. The chair tilted, tipped onto two legs, and then slammed to the ground, bringing the full weight of the chair down onto his arm.

I'm... a moron.

He hoped he hadn't just broken his arm. There were footfalls behind him.

"Christ, kid, how'd you do that?" someone out of view asked. "Guys, he's up."

More footfalls and then there were two sets of hands gently righting the chair. The sound of a knife being unsheathed sent a chill down his spine, but immediately he felt someone cutting his bindings.

A woman stepped into view with her hands clasped in front of her.

"Hi."

* * *

Violet wondered what the kid—Beau Blake—must be thinking as the staff appeared in front of him.

They'd never given up the idea that they should keep getting dressed every day, keep cutting each other's hair and staying well-groomed. So despite the fact that she, Song, Alfie, Geoffrey, and James hadn't left the penthouse in almost a decade, they looked like they could've just as easily walked down the hall from their old Wall Street office as been longtime prisoners of the penthouse.

"Hello," Beau returned, cautiously. He rubbed his wrists where they'd tied him to the chair and Violet was thankful that James had freed him quickly. Beau didn't have any weapons, after all, and it wasn't as if he was going anywhere.

"Sorry about everything that's happened so far—bringing you in here and tying you up," Violet said. "We have to be incredibly cautious."

"Why's that?"

The way he eyed her told Violet that he probably wouldn't believe a word she said. She didn't blame him.

"This penthouse is the base of operations for a business that is... very private," she said. "Operated by Isidore Wolfram, Jr."

"And does the beast my brother got the pictures of have something to do with why it's so private?"

Violet narrowed her eyes at him.

"Your brother?"

"Yeah," Beau said. "I came for the drop but he's the one who snagged the footage."

Violet nodded. That was... admirable. And stupid.

"I assume the fact that I'm in here means the deal is off," Beau said.

"It does," Geoffrey said, stepping forward. "But only because we have a better deal for you."

Beau looked shocked.

"Let's sit down," Violet suggested. It felt too odd with all of them standing there in the living room. She led the way to the dining room and pulled out a chair for Beau at the dinner table. The staff and their new guest followed her.

"Can I get you anything before we talk business?” she offered. “Aspirin? A glass of wine?"

"No," he said. "To be totally honest, after you smothered me and tied me to a chair, I'm not too keen on eating or drinking the first thing you'd care to give me."

Alfie snorted. "That's fair," he said. Violet shot him a look that communicatedbe serious.

It felt so odd to have someone new in the penthouse.

The only people they ever let into the penthouse were doctors and contractors.

But now... Beau.

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