Page 48 of House of Deceit

Butt flap included.

A delighted laugh escapes me and I quickly whip off my top and shorts and slip into the pajamas. Neither Cain nor Keith came out of the Head Deceiver room with new pajamas, so I know this present is from Alec to me. That he thought of me.

For being such a hard-ass, he has a very caring side as well.

“Thank you for this,” I say, knowing Alec’s watching. When this man says he’s going to do something, you can count on that. “I love them.” Touched, I blow a kiss into the room, not sure where the cameras are here. But I am certain there are some. They are everywhere.

Scott never bought me little presents because he thought I’d enjoy them. Even for my birthdays, the gift was practical. A blender, a treadmill, and a paper shredder. He never once brought home flowers on a random Tuesday because he thought they’d make me happy. Never my favorite candy because he was at the store and saw it and knew I had a bad day. He would never buy me something we had once joked about.

I crawl back onto the bed and sit with my legs crossed. Closing my eyes, I count my breaths. Emptying my mind of all thoughts, I center myself for the first time in weeks. Silence brushes its fingers across my cheek. It wraps its arms around me and pulls me tightly to its chest. It consumes me. I open my eyes and know I will fight to be back in this room again.

A low bell interrupts my sacred silence, but I don’t mind. A screen drops down from the ceiling, the motor whirring. I was so engrossed in the quiet and being alone I didn’t take full stock of my surroundings. A black projector blends into the dark room. It flicks on once the screen has fully descended. Jacob Jacobson’s fake smile sits before me on the screen.

“Hello, Charlie. Welcome to your oasis for the week. Please enjoy all the comforts offered to you during this time. As a special surprise, you will be able to enjoy a movie night! You’re welcome to have others join you, up to five guests.”

I gasp with excitement. A night of entertainment and the people in the mansion I’ve become closest to sounds as close to heaven as I will get here.

“The movie night will be on Thursday night. Please let your wrangler know by Wednesday what movies and snacks you’d like to enjoy during this special time. If you have any questions, please let your wrangler know.”

The screen goes dark and begins its return journey up the wall. The list of who I should invite starts making itself in my head. Molly, of course. Keith, without a doubt. I think of Parker and his searing gaze. Parker, yes. He should come. Maybe Mateo? My brain spins a wheel of the remaining names, trying to land on a few more but unable to do so. Choosing not to let the indecisiveness bother me, I let it be a game-time decision. One thing I know for sure, I won’t tell the others about this surprise. Instead, I’ll surprise them with the perk. A small smile graces my mouth as I think of their reactions.

After some time, I leave the room to go hang out with the rest of the house. The past few weeks, all I’ve wanted is peace, but now that I have it, I miss the others. Plus, I can almost hear Alec telling me the audience will like it more if I’m social.

“Could you get me some construction paper in various colors?” I ask Alec after our chat for the show.

He thought it would be good to talk about my family some and how I miss them. Apparently, the audience is really sinking their teeth into the girl next door image we are trying to portray with my interviews. A doting daughter. A loving aunt in the life of her best friend’s kid. Single. Attainable.

“What are you wanting to make?” he asks, bringing out his ever-present phone to take notes.

“Some invitations for the movie night,” I tell him. He smiles at my giddiness about surprising my friends.

“I’ll bring it to you tomorrow.”

“Perfect, thank you. Did we have anything else to talk about today?”

“Did you want to talk about anything else today?” He cuffs his shirt sleeves just below his elbows, revealing his forearms. Suddenly, I am very aware I’ve never seen him in anything but full sleeves because I would remember the tattoos covering his sculpted arms.

“Charlie?”

“Hm?” I look up at him.

He cocks an eyebrow at me, lacing his hands together and resting them on his knee.

“Did you want to continue staring at me or would you like to answer my question?” His smug tone makes me want to prove to him I wasn’t staring, just lost in thought. Then again, I’ve always been a terrible liar.

“What was your question?”

“What were you thinking about?”

My cheeks warm. “How I was surprised you have tattoos.” I try to appear unconcerned, but his face tells me I’m failing.

“Oh? And why’s that?”

“Because you’re tight-laced.”

He scoffs. “I’m not tight-laced.”

“You’re so tightly laced, you’re basically a corset. But it’s okay, I still like you,” I tell him.

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