Page 25 of Beautiful Revenge
“I have a feeling there was no dry spell for Albert. If that’s the case, he was at least careful. I’ve had myself tested three times and each one has come back clear. The thought makes me want to throw up. I’ve been careful my entire life. Hell, I’ve been selective. I thought I found my soulmate and look where it got me.” A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of what could’ve been in so many different ways. I continue to unpack in what will be my room for the next three weeks. “I don’t want to talk about Albert until I have to. He’s gone and so are most of the wedding guests. I’ll be free to wanderpeacefully.”
“Ha, that’s funny,” Chrissie balks. “I’m sure you’ll be able to wander around Winslet on the downlow. Your mug has been plastered all over social media leading up to the wedding. You’re the biggest thing that small town has seen besides the new and improved manor. Let me know how your time goes. And that means you have to be careful. Don’t put it past Albert to come back for you. By the way, a car will be delivered tomorrow. Maybe I should add a private security detail to stay with you.”
“I’m officially settled in.” I stuff my bras and panties into a drawer and push it shut. “And there was no room for me, so I know there’s no room for security. I’ll be fine. Winslet will get used to me. Or they won’t. It is what it is.”
“I didn’t mean that they won’t like you. They will. You’re Effie’s daughter. They’ll love you. I just meant you’re not in Central America or Africa. There’s no way you’ll blend in.”
“Maybe not. Look, I don’t need them to love me. At this point, I’ll take them begrudgingly accepting me.”
“Enough of that.” Chrissie lowers her voice. “Have you gone snooping yet?”
“No,” I whisper as if the place is bugged. “Why would I do that?”
She sounds affronted. “Because that’s what one does when one is alone in a stranger’s house.”
I stuff my last suitcase in the corner of the closet and wander back into the living area. “I would never do that. Do you do that when you’re at my apartment by yourself?”
“Every time, and I’m not stopping. What do you take me for, someone noble?”
“I’m not surprised,” I mutter. “But I really don’t care.”
“I know we’ve known each other for years, but you’re incredibly boring. Keeping a secret kink or three would make it a lot more fun for me.”
“How about when I actually own a home again, I’ll leave something spicy for you to find under my mattress. Happy?”
“You just took all the fun out of snooping.”
I don’t respond and wander slowly through the space. It looks nothing like the suite next door where I’ve spent the last few days. It was light, bright, and airy. The draperies and bedding were a soft floral, the furniture was fine linen, andthe kitchen was stocked with crystal and china—and nothing you see here in the States. It’s definitely European.
But this suite ... this is different. I don’t know Devon Donnelly, but somehow I know that this is all him.
Leather replaces linen. Deep, navy velvets flank the tall windows rather than florals. Gone are the fine china and delicate crystal in lieu of heavy glassware and ceramics that look like they could be used as weights in my barre class. The walls are earth tones and even the floors are dark, rustic wood.
“There’s nothing to snoop,” I go on. “The entire suite is just like him—dark and broody.”
“The suite is broody?”
“Yes. It fits him. I find it a little sad that he lives here.”
“But you said it was beautiful. Why wouldn’t he want to live there?”
“He owns the place. Who wants to live where they work? It’s not healthy. It’s hard enough for people to unplug as it is. But enough about me and Winslet. Tell me the truth, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Harlow. I promise.”
“I feel horrible. I’ll make it up to you. When this is all said and done, you’re taking a month-long vacation on me—anywhere you want to go.”
“You’ve already quadrupled my pay, and you didn’t need to do that.”
“But this isn’t your job.”
“No,” she agrees. “But this is what friends do. We will be back to regularly scheduled programming before you know it.”
I pause and stare down at my sandals on the dark wood floors. My pearly, pink painted toenails stand in stark contrast to everything around me. “I hope so. You’re the only person I have, Chrissie.”
“Well, I’m not sure if that means you’re lucky or you should worry. We’ll see how this plays out. But if I’m your only person, I’m going to need you to check in with me on the regular since you’ve moved into a stranger’s suite. I have a feeling this will either turn into a Netflix rom-com or a Dateline special.”
“Nope. No more drama for me. I refuse to accept anything other than a basic and lackluster life.”
