Page 11 of Prince of Tides
“You were right,” I said, forcing the words out. “About him, about everything. Heisusing me for money.”
I reiterated everything I’d told Mel, trying not to cry again, though I wanted nothing more than to run away and hide, to avoid what I knew was coming.
“Said you were stupid for not suggesting a prenup, did he?” my father growled, pulling me into another hug. “Callmydaughter stupid, did he?”
I didn’t respond. I could feel the anger radiating from him.
“And you’re one hundred percent sure this was malicious and whatnot?” he asked.
I hesitated. “Fairly,” I said. “But I haven’t asked him yet.”
My father mused. “We could kick him out. Send him packing and be done with it. Or, if you want to be totally sure, for your own peace of mind, I have a plan.”
I backed away, noting the angry tint in his gaze. My father was not someone I wanted to be on the bad side of. Being a ten-year Marine vet who’d started a business that dealt with many Department of Defense officials and people meant he was used to all sorts of situations. I did not envy Eric.
“What’s your plan?” I asked. I was pretty sure I knew Eric was trash, but a part of me would like the closure.
Chapter Seven
Rip
My wanderings brought me back to where it had all started. The balcony alcove outside Laurie’s room. I stared through the doors, but nobody was inside, even though the lights were on.
I sank onto a chair, ignoring the biting chill of the wind. I wasn’t dressed for the colder weather, given the relatively balmy climate that was my home, but only extremes really bothered me. The chill was little more than a footnote.
What wasreallytroubling me was the fact that I couldn’t return to that warmer weather. Not without ease, at least. I circled the balcony, looking everywhere to see just how and why I had been depositedthereof all places. There had to be a reason, or maybe even a way to trigger the Watching Mirror and send me home.
I was out of my element, and I wanted to approach the situation properly. Formally. Besides, Laurie already had a fiancé, a man to whom she was betrothed. I’d seen the ring on her finger before she’d mentioned it. I knew what it signified to a human woman.
“Come on,” I growled to the empty air. “Bring me back. There’s nothing more I can do here. Wherever here is.”
Movement from the corner of my eye drew my attention back to the room. Sitting where I was, in the corner of the little alcove, I was mostly out of sight to anyone inside unless I moved or stood up. Doing neither, I watched as the person, a man, came into the room and started looking through it, peering into adjoining rooms.
If I listened, I could hear him calling for Laurie repeatedly. That was odd. Where would she have gone, and why was he searching so intently for her?
I only stiffened when he made his way for the French doors. Shit. I would get made. Thinking swiftly, I slid down to my knees, pretending to be fiddling with things under the chair as one of the doors opened.
“Laurie?” the man called, dragging out her name as he noticed me. “Hey, you.”
I stifled a thunderous growl at the arrogant manner in which he addressed me. I might just be an employee of the house in his eyes, but that didn’t give him the right to treat me or anyone like they were lesser. After all, the house staff did all the jobs he was too lazy or useless to do himself. If they all left, he would suffer, not them. But people like that rarely understood they weren’t actually superior.
“Yes?” I asked, not turning around, knowing that would anger one like him.
“I’m looking for Laurie. Have you seen her?”
I clenched my jaw, then let it relax as I counted to ten. “She’s not under here.”
The door opened fully as he came out onto the balcony to stand beside me. “Are you fucking kidding me? What kind of shit answer is that?”
“The kind you deserve,” I muttered back, still bent halfway under the chair, fiddling with things that didn’t really exist.
Thatwas the man she wanted to marry? I hadn’t talked to Laurie for long, but I knew my mate was not like that. She’d thought I was the help, too, and her first instinct was to introduce herself and learn my name. The two of them couldn’t be more different.
“Excuse me?” the fiancé snapped hotly, kicking the chair. “Who the fuck do you think you are? Talking back to me like that. Do you know who I am?”
I sighed and slowly withdrew myself from under the chair. Then, still kneeling, I cranked my head up until I could look him in the eyes. “You’re the person blocking my light. Could you please move?”
“Get the fuck out of here,” he spat. “I don’t want you spying on my fiancée and me. This is her house. You should watch your tongue if you want to keep your job.”
