Page 37 of Say You Will

I snatch the folder toward me and look at the list. “I know when his birthday is. You can’t be serious. If I want to buy him a present, he expects it to be approved?”

Spencer shrugs. “It’s an exhaustive list and quite flexible. For example, if you wish to purchase a sweater, you would cross-reference that with this yellow tab to find the sizes, designers, materials, and brands he prefers. But you may purchase anything within those parameters. And that leaves a great many choices for you.”

I grit my teeth. “What if someone wanted to get him something that isn’t on the list?”

“Acceptable as long as it falls under the heading ‘sentimental’ or ‘need-based.’ Though if you give him something sentimental, please explicitly state its purpose and why he should appreciate it, so he doesn’t needlessly reject it.”

I swallow a sip of tea, my muffin suddenly dry and sticking in my throat..

“You’ll find a list of Henry’s preferences for entertainment, food, etc. here. You may find it useful to memorize these, so you don’t need to refer to the folder constantly.”

“Is this a prank?” I have a terrible feeling it isn’t, but hope springs eternal.

Spencer purses his lips. “As long as you live in the same residence with Henry, I expect you to cooperate with the established protocols of this household. You’re entering his sphere, not the other way around. The least you can do is be respectful of his preferences.”

Dante mutters, “Whoa. Ease up.”

Spencer tugs at his bow tie. “Back to your binder. Here we have . . .” On and on he drones.

“And that,” he finally says, dusting his hands, “is that.”

He pulls up his iPad. “Now, we need to go over your gift, entertainment, and food preferences.”

I shake my head, my mind working on a plan to go back to Charlotte and Arden’s house. I can’t stay here. “Move on to my job, itself.”

He steeples his fingers. “Certainly. Your primary function is to be available, as necessary. However, Henry is generous and would prefer to know what things he can offer for your comfort.”

Available to translate?“Financial bonuses based on performance are more than enough,” I say warily.

He scrunches his face like he smells something terrible. “I’m not certain exactly what you imagine you’ll beperforming, but that’s not how Henry operates. I imagine he would find an exchange of that nature”—he rakes his eyes over me—“distasteful.”

I frown as his implication sinks in.“What is that supposed to mean?”

Henry swoops into the kitchen from the hallway. One moment, he’s nowhere to be seen. The next, he’s snapping the rose-gold binder closed, swiping it off the counter, and smiling at me without showing his teeth. “Franki. You’re up early. I expected you to sleep for at least another hour.”

“Really? Inspector Javert over here said I was half an hour late for work already.” I cross my arms and throw Spencer under the bus so fast it’s not funny.Fuck this dude.

Henry lifts an eyebrow. “His name is Spencer.”

“If I were starving and stole a loaf of bread, I don’t have a doubt in my mind that he’d chase me for the rest of my life to remind me it was against the rules.”

Dante snorts. Spencer sniffs.

Henry cringes and pushes the white ceramic cookie jar toward me. “Have some more sugar. Do you need caffeine?”

I reach into the jar, but resent it mightily. I want a cookie. But I don’twantto want a cookie. This is nothing like what Henry sold me last night at dinner.

I select a chocolate chip cookie, but when I bite down, I taste raisin. I force myself to chew and swallow and not spit the mouthful into the trash.

“This is the list of approved jewelers from whom you may select your engagement ring.” Spencer slides a laminated piece of paper toward me.

I drop the cookie on the counter.“What?!”

Henry slaps a hand down on top of the paper. “Don’t look at that. How ridiculous. I hired you to be mytranslator. For my company.” He laughs. “Spencer enjoys practical jokes.”

Spencer turns his head in his employer’s direction. “I must say—”

“I need you to leave,” Henry says in a rush.

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