“Yes. Bryce Jamison.”
“First off, are you okay?”
I sigh. “Just a little scared. Bryce is helping me get my mind off things.”
“That’s good, Noelle. You truly are a resilient young woman. Second, I want to let you know I have hired some extra security. Thomas will be organizing a team to watch the entire property, especially the guesthouse. This will not happen to you ever again; I can promise you that. The security team will all be armed and are all trained professionals. Thomas may seem like just a driver, but he is highly skilled. Nobody will ever harm you while on my property, Noelle.”
“Uh, thanks,” I say. Bryce looks at me with an eyebrow raised. I shrug my shoulders.
“Elle, are you still coming tomorrow to the function at my home?”
I was almost taken aback by Arthur Cain calling me by the name I prefer. “Yes, of course,” I say. “Sounds like you have made things safer for me.”
“I have. The police are investigating this as well. Rest assured, we will find out who did this. So, I do hope you are coming tomorrow.” I’m taken aback again by the sense of anxiety in his voice.
“Thanks, Mr. Cain, again. Of course, I will.”
“Great. I will see you tomorrow.”
“See you—” Arthur Cain hangs up on me before I can finish my sentence. I look at Bryce. “Arthur Cain—”
“I heard,” he says.
“I don’t know why, but it almost feels like he’s more concerned about me not going to his charity function tomorrow than the fact that someone threatened my life today and broke into his guesthouse.” Bryce is quiet, processing what I just said.
“I know you don’t want to talk about this—or at least, I wouldn’t if I were you, but do you have any idea who left you that letter in your bedroom?”
I think about all the people in my life right now. I think of Lance, Jaxson, Chase, and even Arthur Cain. “I have no fucking clue.”
Chapter 9
I had thought the last charity function at Arthur Cain’s mansion was something to behold. Tonight managed to top the last. All staff were present, plus an extra fifty I’ve never seen before. I spot Martha in the crowd handing out appetizers.
I walk up to her, and she looks at my long white dress and rolls her eyes. “Elle, just when I thought you couldn’t look prettier, you out do yourself.”
I take one of the appetizers off her tray and take a bite, making a sour face. It looked like spring roll to me, which I love. The snack was sour and off putting though.
Marta laughs. “Not my favourite either, but the Ryland folk love it.”
“I don’t even want to know what I just ate,” I say with half a smile. “Do you ever feel weird, Marta? Giving out expensive food to expensive people?”
“It’s the life I’ve chosen, dearie,” she says, waving a hand. “I try and pretend I’m one of them sometimes, so it can be more fun. That is, until one of them comes up to me and asks for something.” A woman in a diamond laced dress waves her hand at Marta. “And duty calls,” Marta says. “I guess we all can’t pretend for too long in a place like this.”
I grab her hand before she leaves. “I pretend to. Sometimes, it’s easier to pretend that you’re like a family member to me, helping me out, then you say something that reminds me that you’re not.”
“Well, now that I know, we can pretend a little bit longer next time,” Marta says with a smile. The elegant woman in the dress looks almost distraught, waving her hand furiously at Marta. Marta nods her head at her and looks back at me. “See you at home later.”
I walk around the room and feel almost lost. I’ve been in this room before, but not when it’s decorated to the nines and crowded with rich people. I can almost smell the money on them, looking at their fancy clothes and jewelry.
I feel like I’m doing a good job fitting in. Nobody seems to notice me, which I’m not sure how to feel. The few that do give me big smiles but don’t say anything, as if they think I don’t speak English. I feel like I’m at a party I wasn’t supposed to be invited to.
I look around the room for anybody I recognize. Hell, I’d talk to Lance Cain at this point just to feel social. I notice Thomas Winters in the corner of the room. He has a headset on, and is speaking into a microphone at the side of his face. He looks at me and nods his head. I smile and walk past him. Lately, that man gives me such a weird vibe. I only tolerate him when I need a ride somewhere.
I think of Lance again. The last time I was at a function like this, I made a pretty bold move against him. I’ve been waiting for him to retaliate in some way. I smile, thinking he won’t hand out copies of my diary to these people. Too much of an adolescent play. I almost worry about what he has in store for me next. I haven’t seen him, his father, or his cronies for most of the night.
For Arthur Cain being so adamant that I come tonight, I certainly don’t exactly feel welcomed.
I spot the Senator Ferlong coming in with her husband not too far behind. She notices me and smiles, but continues to schmooze with the people in front of her.
A woman walks up to me and shakes my hand. “What an opportunity,” she says with a big smile. “You’re making your city proud.”
I nod my head. “Thanks. What exactly—” An older man, who I’m assuming is her husband, forcibly grabs her by the waist and moves her away from me.
Great. Just when I thought I could say a few words to another person at this function. I
