Page 21 of King of Desire

And the champagne. I’m not much of a drinker, but I’d give anything to taste it. It’s another world and it sparkles like this chandelier.

I let out a sigh as I pause in my work.

“What is it?” Mrs. Raith asks from her watch at the bottom of the ladder.

“Will the benefit be as wonderful as I imagine?”

Mrs. Raith clears her throat. “They are very beautiful and filled with lots of self-important people.”

I laugh a bit, as I come down the ladder, ready to move to the final chandelier. “That makes sense. And thank you for the dose of reality. Every experience is only as good as the people you share it with.”

Mrs. Raith steps back to allow me to come down. “Excellent way to phrase it.”

“Mrs. Raith.” Triston’s deep voice calls from the entrance to the ballroom. “Honeyeh. What are the two of you doing?”

I turn as he strides across the large space, a scowl on his face.

Mrs. Raith lets out a long slow breath, her eyes shifting up to the ceiling as though she’s preparing herself before she turns to Triston. “We are cleaning before the benefit.”

His scowl deepens as I step forward, wishing to protect Mrs. Raith. “It was my idea. The other chandeliers looked so dull…”

“The two of you are the last two people who should be completing this job. Anyone else on staff can be the person on the ladder or the person holding it in place.”

Mrs. Raith winces. “Right. Apologies.”

I open my mouth to protest again. I’m not trying to get myself fired. I just want to explain.

But before I get a word out, he holds up a garment bag he has draped over his arm. “Did you have plans for Honeyeh during the benefit?” he asks Mrs. Raith.

My stomach quivers. Why is he asking that? Fear slides down my spine. Did I just talk myself out of a job?

Mrs. Raith shakes her head. “No. Her attendance is not required within her current position.”

“Good.” Triston turns to look at me, but I sway on my feet. He is firing me. “Honeyeh, I’d like a word.”

“Of course,” I answer, my hands clasping together, over my stomach, as I look at Mrs. Raith with panic surely draining the color from my face. She winces back.

He reaches out his free hand, and for a moment I just stare. Then, unlocking my clenched fingers, I slip my hand into his.

A shock of electricity zips through me as our hands touch. “I…I didn’t mean to directly disobey.”

His eyes meet mine. “Of course you did.”

That makes my stomach bottom out because he’s right. “I didn’t want to push my job on anyone else on the staff. I’m new and…”

“It’s all right, Honeyeh. I’ll assign the last chandelier to someone else personally, so they know you’re not responsible.”

For a moment, my shoulders sag in relief. That doesn’t sound like I’m getting fired. But then a new worry makes me worry my lip. “They’re going to think that I’m your favorite.”

He stares down at me. “They are. Yes.”

My lips part as I search for the right words. “But…I’m new and…”

In answer, he tugs my hand, pulling me out of the ballroom and up the grand stairs I never use. When we reach the top, we turn into his office, where he closes the door.

The room looks over the front of the house, out onto the drive and sweeping lawns. Like every room, it’s well appointed, and beautifully decorated. But I’m starting to realize that the whole house lacks any sort of personal touches.

There are no pictures, mementos, pieces that look like they have meaning instead of just suiting the décor.

---