Page 14 of Shadow Lies
She realized Charley had yet to respond. “Charley? Did I lose you?”
“No.”
“Oh. You didn’t say anything.”
“I was wondering why you weren’t eating with him.”
“Because monks can’t talk when they eat, apparently.”
“Is he a monk?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so.” At least the teenage girl with a crush on him that still lived deep inside her hoped he wasn’t. “He was dressed like one though.”
And how the hell had he made that outfit look so damn sexy?
Shit. She shouldn’t be thinking things like that here. She glanced at the ceiling of the monastery office. It didn’t crack and fall on her so she hoped she hadn’t incurred the wrath of God—or Buddha—and it was okay.
Another moment of silence answered her. Charley was probably thinking the same thing she was. That there was no way Kane could accept her job offer if he was a legit monk.
The thought of Kane Lee actually being a monk had her heart breaking a little. There were too few smart, hot guys in the world as it was.
“Get back to me after you speak with him,” Charley said, breaking the moment of silence.
“Will do.”
“And Alexis, don’t leave there until you’ve exhausted every opportunity to convince him. I don’t care how long it takes…or what you have to do.”
Was Charley insinuating what Alexis thought she was? That she should seduce Kane to convince him?
Damn. Now the image of that was in her head and she liked it.
How far would she go? And exactly how far did Charley really expect her to go?
There was one thing she knew about Charley and that was that she was a control freak.
That was evidenced by the fact Alexis was currently wearing the outfit chosen and bought for her. And that she had a suitcase full of similar clothes, also chosen and purchased for her.
She’d never in her life owned a pair of wool tailored pants. She did now and was wearing the brown houndstooth bottoms with a black cashmere turtleneck and black heeled boots.
Alexis had been allowed bare minimum input during the makeover, which had turned out to be a whole reimagining of her. Inside and out, because there was no doubt when she was coiffed and dressed in what she guessed was Charley’s image, she felt differently on the inside too.
Professional. Confident. Determined.
Maybe that was the whole point. But her agreeing to dress differently didn’t mean she’d do everything Charley asked.
Before Charley said anymore, such as providing her with specific seduction instructions, Alexis said, “I’ll call you as soon as I’m done speaking with him.”
She disconnected, relieved to be done for now with the mystery woman who had too much control over her.
After putting the cell down, she concentrated back on the bowl and forced the last few sips of soup down her nerve-tightened throat.
Wasting food seemed like it would be not only rude to her hosts but also a sin around here so she did her best to finish. The only thing left was a bit of broth when Kane walked in.
He reached for the bowl. “Done?”
“Yes.”
Glancing down, he saw what remained in the bottom.
