Now he'd asked me, straight to my face, to give that gown to Olympia.
My fingers curled inward, nails digging so deep into my palms they nearly drew blood.
I looked at Mick's expression, so utterly matter-of-fact, and slowly nodded.
"Fine. I'll have someone deliver it tomorrow."
Mick held my gaze for a long moment, then pushed the door open and walked out.
From the hallway came the soft murmur of his voice, gentle and soothing, comforting Olympia. Then the click of the neighboring room's door shutting behind them.
I turned and walked to the desk. Pulled open the drawer. Took out a desk calendar.
I picked up a red marker and drew a heavy X over today's date.
Two more days until Russ came for me.
I peeled off the wine-stained gown and stepped into the bathroom.
Warm water streamed over my body.
I stared at the pale face in the mirror.
Mick Gilbert, seven years ago you pulled me from that car wreck and gave me a second life.
For seven years, I took knives for you. I handled the things you couldn't let see the light of day. I managed the Gilbert household so you never had to.
We stopped owing each other a long time ago.
The next morning.
I followed Mick's instructions and had the maid deliver the Starlight couture gown to Olympia's room.
Olympia made a point of having her door left wide open.
As I passed through the hallway, I saw her in front of the mirror, twirling in the gown that clearly didn't fit her, the fabric bunching and pulling in all the wrong places.
She picked up a pair of scissors and, without a second's hesitation, cut away the most intricate panel of crystal-beaded tulle from the hem.
"This design is so dated. It'll look better shorter." Olympia pouted at the maid standing beside her.
The maid stole a cautious glance toward me in the doorway and said nothing.
I didn't stop. I walked straight to the kitchen.
Mick had drunk heavily the night before. He had a serious stomach condition, and after every night of heavy drinking, he needed a bowl of specially prepared herbal stomach-healing soup.
For seven years, I'd been the one to brew it for him by hand.
I stood at the stove, watching the liquid roll and simmer inside the clay pot.
This was the last time I would ever make this for him.
I ladled the soup into a thermal flask, set it on a tray, and carried it toward Mick's study.
The study door was slightly ajar. Inside, I could hear Mick talking with his childhood friend, Zachary Delgado.
I was about to raise my hand and knock when Zachary's voice carried through the gap, clear as day.
"Mick, don't you think you went too far this time? You took back the jade ring, gave away the necklace, and now you've handed the Starlight gown to Olympia. Jill followed you for seven years. She'd have laid down her life for you. Are you really trying to push her out the door?"
My hand froze. I stood perfectly still.
Mick's voice came next, cold and detached.
"Where would she go? She's an orphan who can't even remember her own past. Besides the Gilbert family, she has nowhere."
"I've spoiled her too much these seven years. Her temper's gotten out of control. Olympia just came back. Jill needs to learn her place."
"I'm going to strip that pride right off her bones. Make her understand who the real master of this house is. Once she accepts reality and falls in line, I'll keep a room for her here. She'll be fed and clothed. She should be grateful."
Zachary sighed.
"You keep humiliating her like this, aren't you afraid she'll actually give up on you?"
Mick let out a laugh, quiet and dripping with contempt.
"Give up? The greatest skill Jill Chambers has ever possessed is clinging to me like a vine. She can't survive without me."
The tray tilted slightly in my hands.
A few drops of scalding soup splashed over the rim and landed on the back of my hand.
The skin swelled red instantly.
I didn't feel a thing.
I looked at that carved wooden door, still slightly ajar, and set the tray down on the console table outside.
