Page 19 of The Protégé

Karina worked for Elliot and had done a phenomenal job with my highlights last year when he was out of town.

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

“You haven’t been in for highlights. Come on Wednesday, and I’ll squeeze you in.”

I felt bad going to him because he always did everything for me for free.

“It’s okay. I can skip this year.”

“You are NOT skipping. Don’t think I don’t know why you’re hesitating.” He sighed. “You’re like a sister to me. We’re family, darling. I don’t charge you because it makes me happy to make you look beautiful and to see that smile on your gorgeous face. So stop acting weird.”

“I’m not acting weird. You’re running a business. And I don’t want to take advantage?—”

“Stop it. How many times have you modeled for me at my shows for free? You helped me build a successful career. Not to mention all those essays I had to do in college. You were there for me.” He inhaled and exhaled. “If you don’t come in tomorrow, I’m going to be mad. You don’t want to see furious Elliot.”

I smiled at my dear friend. Why couldn’t any of my previous boyfriends love me like him? Unconditionally. No one had put me first except my dad. But that kind of affection was different from lovers.

“Okay. But I don’t want to get Jake jealous.”

Jake was Elliot’s longtime boyfriend. He often traveled with Elliot, attending the latest shows on beauty, hair, and fashion.

Elliot laughed. “Jake loves you, darling. He knows where he stands with me. Because you’re my sister, you’re his sister too. That’s a given.”

Someone shouted something to him in the background. “Gotta go. See you tomorrow!”

After I hung up the phone, I returned to my computer and saw Orion’s email.

My heart raced seeing his name. What the hell was wrong with me?

Apparently, he’d stayed up late too.

I reviewed the email from Orion. He sent me the link to the shared drive, a login with a temporary password, a guideline ofthe files and their contents, and a brief explanation of what he needed me to do.

He wanted me to help investigate the murder of The Condor. I’d never heard of this person. Orion ended the email by saying he’d explain more on my first day.

I admired his organization skill because I couldn’t master it. It seemed too strict for me. I preferred leaving space in between just to breathe. One time I tried to organize my schedule months in advance and got bored. Managing an online newspaper required a schedule, and I had and followed that. But it had flexibility for me to shift things around.

Was Orion a man always on a disciplined schedule? I didn’t know why, but I wanted to rearrange his schedule just to see how he’d react.

What would it be like to get him flustered?

CHAPTER SEVEN

ORION

I stayedup late researching Elena and Musepaper, which I hadn’t heard of until she wrote an article for Kaylee and Aimee. I’d rescued Aimee from sex traffickers, and she’d charmed me with her intelligence and impressive memory. Kaylee, who was Arrow’s half-sister, was also a genius. I knew these two girls would contribute immensely to society one day, and I loved supporting children with big dreams.

I browsed Musepaper’s website and stopped at a section called Random Riddles. The latest riddle was posted a month ago. It made me think of Madame Sarcasm, a blogger I used to follow.

Tenting my fingers, I studied Elena’s riddle.

I have a bank, but no cash. I like to run, but not walk. I wave, but never say hello. What am I?

What could it be? I didn’t want to cheat and look at the answers by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page. After a few minutes, I gave up and found the answer: a river.

I smiled, appreciating the little joys that took me out of my stress bubble. Doctors couldn’t prescribe remedies like these.This was a completely new way for my psyche to shift itself. Madame Sarcasm had done this for me years ago.

I searched for Madame Sarcasm in my email inbox and brought up the last reply, which was her last blog post. Some people called her a unique therapist with no degree.

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