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“If you think she’s go
Face screwed up in what must be a grimace reserved for the most uncouth locals, Rand rolls his shoulders. “Yes, well, just the same, we’d like to cover all bases.” His dark eyes fall on me like a stormcloud, and I’m guessing the guy’s assuming I’m like most other teenagers of my generation who have social media. In truth, I probably don’t exist in today’s modern world, considering I don’t even have a phone with internet. Mine is a simple design, meant only to field the occasional frantic call, or text, from Aunt Midge when I’ve stayed too long at the library.
Without hesitation, I sign the document.
“I hope it doesn’t state in the contract that she has to call him Master, because we Qui
“Mister Blackthorne is fine. Though I don’t suspect you’ll have much contact with him during your time here. As I said, he’s a man who values his privacy above all else. And he’s quite busy.”
With the kind of urban legends that surround this place, I wonder what makes a man like Rand remain faithful to his much-loathed employer. Money?
It takes a couple minutes to fill out all of the paperwork and sign the documents, and when I’ve finished, I let out an exasperated breath. “Hope I didn’t just sign my soul over.”
“Of course you did.” Rand’s voice carries no trace of humor.
Frozen in my seat, I dare a glance toward Aunt Midge.
The chasing sound that fills the room might be mistaken for a chuckle, but one that hasn’t gotten much practice in the last couple of years. Rand sits with a hand covering his mouth, his eyes bunched in mirth.
For a moment, I feel like I’m caught in an episode of The Twilight Zone, the room blanching to white and black in some alternate version of reality.
Thankfully, the laughter doesn’t last long, dying down to a sigh.
Removing a handkerchief that he sets to his eyes, Rand clears his throat. “Well, then. Allow me to show you around Blackthorne.”
“Shouldn’t I meet Mrs. Blackthorne first?” Make sure the woman even likes me?
“We’ll do that last. Mrs Blackthorne tends to be very … disagreeable first thing in the morning.”