Page 150 of Beyond the Cottage

“We used to know each other,” she said. “We were close friends as kids. It’s a long story, but after I got over what he did, I may have…”

“What? Developed feelings?”

She nodded, waiting for Philip to crack a joke.

He merely sipped his coffee. “Is that why Nat came up with those unorthodox contract terms?”

“Yes. I swear to god, he still thinks I’m seventeen years old.”

“You realize he’s so hard on you because he likes you best, right?”

“I donotrealize that. And if he really cared about me, he’d let me manage my own life. He’d never pull this shit with you.”

“You might be surprised.” Philip sobered and set his coffee aside. “Here’s the thing. I may have framed it poorly on the train, but the fact remains—we’ve all been concerned for a while. Your drinking, your isolation, your impulsiveness. It isn’t healthy.”

A snappy comment sprang to Gretta’s lips, but it was more from habit than anger. Hadn’t Brand said the exact same thing?

“I don’t know what to say,” she sighed. “Other than, I’ve been doing better.”

At least, she’d been trying to. Talking to Ansel had helped. Maybe today she’d ask him about taking that lunch break together?

A long one.Hours. Technically, they’d be at work.

“I’m glad to hear it,” Philip said. “And I suppose you do seem less…you today.”

“Gosh, thanks.”

Philip smiled. “You know, it’s not too late to tell Nat what he can do with his contracts. I wouldn’t mind seeing someone check him for once.”

“I can’t. He’d take Ansel’s money back, plus find some other way to fuck with him.”

“Ah. It does seem the dust thief has been enjoying the trappings of wealth.”

Gretta perked up. “What do you mean? Have you seen him?”

“Once, at Nat’s office.”

“How did he look?”

“He was wearing a fucking suit.”

Ansel was tooling around town in asuit? When he eventually replaced her, how many minutes would it take him to find someone? Ten? Twenty if he was choosy?

“Did he seem…happy?”

“I have no idea, Gretta. I don’t know the man, and I certainly didn’t ask. He looked busy.”

Hedidhave a ton on his plate. Was he getting sleep? Eating? Maybe Nat wouldn’t notice if she popped by Ansel’s once in a while, just to make sure the investment was taking care of himself?

Except, she still had no idea where he lived. And she knew she wouldn’t stop at once in a while. And Nat would definitely find a way to notice.

“I have a question, too,” she said, ready for a subject change. “If Nat wins the election, are you going to take chief of staff?”

“Fuck no.” Philip absently rubbed his scars. “Hell, I don’t know.”

“I actually think you’d be pretty good at it.” He had a way of making things happen without people realizing who pulled the strings, and these days, Nat liked to keep his hands clean.

“I don’t think I’m cut out for it. I’ve got other things on my mind.”

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