“Wait!” I called out, standing after her. She paused, waiting. “Um…listen. Do you have a phone I can borrow?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Mr. du Lac will provide you with one, if he sees fit.”
Ice swept the room with her tone. Just like that, I was reminded where I was, and what position I held. Forget options, she wasn’t my friend and she didn’t work for me.
“Oh, well, he did…” I pushed the knots in the wood with the tip of my toe, aiming at nonchalance, grasping at straws for a good explanation.
I remembered how being a servant, it was always shoot the messenger.
“I broke it and since…”
Since…
Since…what?
I’m not allowed to speak unless spoken to.
Josephine’s words popped into my head.
“He did but it broke. I was hoping to order a new one. Fix the problem before he found out, but you know, I won’t be allowed to talk to anyone…” I tested the words on my lips, a line forming between my brow, a cavern in my chest.
I won’t be allowed to speak.
To. Speak.
I cleared my throat past the ache. “Well, the last person who was involved in something like this, he was fired…or maybe deported? I can never remember, you know how they get.”
She blanched. “Yes. I do.”
“But I guess, since I’m allowed to talk to you…when he asks, should I say you told me to wait for him?” I shrugged, while inside, fire ants were crawling on my skeleton.
She froze for a split second.
Then dove into her purse so quick a few pens fell out and clattered to the floor.
“Take—take this. It won’t work internationally but it will get you internet connection. Don’t mention me.”
I took the phone with both hands. “Thanks.”
Holy shit.
It was one step closer to Grayson.
“One more word of advice, Story. This is the most important decision you will make in your life. After you leave this place, all your decisions belong to the du Lacs. But this…” She patted her briefcase. “This will always be yours. You have until the end of your training.”
All your decisions belong to the du Lacs.
What would that even look like?
I watched her leave, waiting a few moments until I was certain she wasn’t coming back, before I turned the phone on to see if I could message Grayson.
The phone only had fifty percent power and I realized too late that I had nothing to charge it with. She said it didn’t work internationally, but I could figure something out, even if I didn’t have his email…
“Storybook Hale.”
I startled at yet another voice. I quickly shoved the phone into the nearest hiding space—a pot of fresh primroses—before turning to greet my newest mystery.
She reminded me a little of Ms. Barn, in that she had the same stern eyes and engraved frown lines, but she was petite where Ms. Barn was tall, and her voice was soft.