Page 9 of Storm of Bells
Looking forward to seeing you STOP
Adaira
‘And?’ Aunt Brank demanded.
I just grinned. Life was about to get evenbetter.
***
The rest of the week drifted by in relativepeace—except for the living room of my uncle’s house becoming adeadly battleground. I mostly tried to stay far away from there,but occasionally, I caught a peek of the ravaged remnants of adress design or the tatters of a seating arrangement. R.I.P.,wedding plans. You shall live on in our memory.
Some people might wonder why I didn’t take amore active part in the proceedings. But really, in my opinion,there were only three essential components to the wedding day:
1. Me
2. Him
3. The vows
Taking that into account, I didn’t really seethe point of getting involved. Plus, it was just so much funwatching my little sister turn into a bloodthirsty wedding monster.I made sure to keep her fiancé Edmund entertained with tails of heratrocities, so he would have something to look forward to.
However, not all of my life could be fun andgames. Some had to be fun and work instead.
‘Good morning, Pearson.’
‘Good morning, Mr Linton.’
It was a few days later. I gave Sallow-Face anod and, as slowly as humanly possible, sauntered past themysterious tarpaulin still affixed to the wall beside the stairs.The noises coming from behind it had become more and moremysterious. My nosy instincts were clamouring to know the truth. Mymouth was already open to stop one of the clerks hurrying aroundthe big hall and demand to know what was going on—when I caughtsight of Pearson’s smug face and closed my mouth again.
‘Well…I’ll be on my way upstairs then, MrPearson.’
‘Yes. I believe that would be best, MrLinton.’
Damn him! And damn Mr Ambrose, too! I’d liketo grab him and strangle him until—!
‘Ah,’ a familiar cool voice came from rightbehind me. ‘There you are, Mr Linton.’
I nearly fell over my own feet. Whirlingaround, I caught sight of Mr Rikkard Ambrose, standing not ten feetaway, tall and proud like a granite monument. Around us, a hushfell over the grand hall.
‘What are you doing down, here?’ Idemanded—then hurriedly tagged on, ‘Sir.’
‘Have you already forgotten, Mr Linton?Today, the meeting with my advertising directors is scheduled. Andyou are coming with me.’
My face lit up. ‘I am?’
‘Yes. You shall be taking notes while I willevaluate their proposals.’
‘So, tell me if I understand thiscorrectly…they are going to, completely metaphorically of course,try andsellyou their ideas, and you, how shall I put this,have tobuythem?’
‘Indeed.’
I grinned. This was going to be fun.
‘When do we leave?’
‘Right now. Karim?’
At the snap of a finger, the huge Mohammedanemerged from a nearby door, making the clerks all around retreat acouple of steps. I didn’t know why exactly. I myself had to workhard to resist the urge to give the big, bearded mountain ahug.
