Page 33 of The Princess and the Fraud

I’d had nothing to distract myself on Wednesday, when there was nothing but time to replay how I’d bolted from brunch. Each time it popped up in my mind, I winced. Even now. I was torn between being relieved that Annalise and Caroline hadn’t reached out after—and mortified.

Or angry.

If I was being honest, Caroline’s radio silence was a shock. I didn’t expect her to show up at the apartment or anything, but I’d been waiting on a call or text at some point.I was going to tell you,orI wasn’t sure how to go about itorsomething.

Instead, nothing. It left me feeling anxious, like I should’ve reached out first.

I didn’t, though. What would I even have said?It’s okay that I was blindsided by the fact that Grant is coming home?I couldn’t quite be the bigger person yet.

Wednesday, I’d had nothing but time to brew and stew and play everything over a million times in my head.Annalise, Caroline, Grant, Aaron.

Aaron.

Is this the part when you realize I’m kinda pretty?

I’ve always known.

A to-go coffee cup slammed down on the table in front of me. “Here you are,” Paige said as she slid into the open seat beside me. “Figured you’d need the pick me up.”

I sat up in my chair, smiling. “Thanks.” When I turned the cup, I foundcaramel mochascrawled on the side. “You know my order?”

“We’ve worked together for six months already,” Paige said, likeduh. “I know a lot of little things about you.”

I smiled down at the coffee cup, knowing that the list of everything she knew was short, and minor.

Paige tipped her own drink up, taking a long sip. “What do you think today’s meeting is about?”

“Probably the fundraiser they’re having at the end of the month.” I laid my palms on either side of my cup, savoring the heat. “Mr. Roberts probably wants to get his ducks in a row.”

Paige deflated into her chair. “The fundraisers and galas are only going to pick up from here, aren’t they? With the warmer weather?”

“Overtime paired with event pay sounds like a dream to me.”

She wasn’t satisfied. “Don’t you ever wish you could be a part of it? Partying on the dancefloor instead of serving it?”

I brought the mocha to my lips, forcing myself to take a sip that burned my tongue instead of answering. I could distinctly remember all the times that specific thought had crossed my mind, especially when Grant was still home to come to events. It’d been torture to watch him across the room, mingling with people who never gave me a second glance, knowing I couldn’t do more than offer him an hors d’oeuvre. “When has anyone from this crowdpartied?”

Paige rolled her eyes.

More staff members filtered in then, taming down our conversation to lighter topics—topics we wouldn’t get in trouble for teasing about. “Have you decided to renew your lease?” Paige asked, using her heels to swivel her chair back and forth. “When does it renew again?”

“Middle of April.” I’d forgotten all about it, actually. With Mom’s dream house going up for auction, being passed on the Christmas bonus, and everything involving the irritation of Aaron Astor, it’d slipped my mind. “And I don’t know. It depends… on what happens.” If all went smoothly, and Aaron bought me the house, I’d move into that.

I didn’t even let myself think of the alternative.

“Well, if you’re ever looking for a roommate, I’m ready to move out of my parents’ house. Maybe I just need to find me a nice, rich lover boy. That Aaron Astor guy single?”

She dropped her voice to a murmur for the last line, but it was the exact second that Mr. Roberts walked into the boardroom, and his eyes cut over to us. “Not appropriate, Ms. Schumer,” he said in a light tone, moving toward the head of the table.

Paige ducked in her seat, lifting her drink to her lips. “Sorry.”

I watched Mr. Roberts unlock his tablet, his attention engrossed in it while he waited for it to hit 7:45. I wondered if anyone had told him I’d had brunch with my friends on Tuesday. Being in his presence now, I felt bad for going against his advice, even if it hadn’t been fair.

Then again, if I’d taken his advice, I wouldn’t have found myself in the predicament with Fiona and Aaron and the stupidity of it all. Ugh.

A few more stragglers filtered into the boardroom, taking up the remaining seats or lingering against the back wall. As soon as the clock struck fifteen-til, Mr. Roberts looked up from his tablet. “Good morning,” he greeted. “Some of us really do need that fifteen extra minutes of beauty sleep, huh?”

Most of us forced a laugh at his lame joke.

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