Page 54 of Unbidden

“I’m so sorry. All those things we said about you? None of them are even close to the truth, are they? You’re really a virgin?”

I roughly pull my hands from his. I don’t need or want the pity on his face.

“Don’t, Reed. Don’t act like if you had known it would have changed anything. The only reason you feel guilty right now is because of Tinsley. Keep your regret and apologies. I don’t want them.”

I stand and start to leave when I hear him get up. I swing around and point at him. “Don’t you dare follow me. I’m going to go back up and sleep for a couple of hours, and then I’ll leave. Then you can forget you were eavesdropping on our conversation and everything can go back to normal.”

Without waiting for his response, I walk briskly back to Tinsley’s room and lock myself inside.

As I crawl back into bed with her, I try to stop the tears falling down my face.

Chapter Twelve

Ididn’t run into any of the Yates siblings when I snuck out this morning.

While I like to think I’m tough, I was a little shaken after the confrontation with Reed last night. I tried to back out of tonight, but Victoria wouldn’t let me.

That’s how I ended up standing here, outside the Yates mansion, nervous as all hell in my burnt orange dress.

See, Ingram? I can look adorbs.

Victoria swats my hand as I go to straighten my dress one more time.

“Stop fidgeting. You look sexy as fuck. Come on. T is waiting for us.”

She grabs my hand, pulling me up the stairs and to the front door. I can feel the bass from the music before the door even opens. Once it does, I’m greeted by a man who’s dressed similar to how Thomas usually is.

“Come in. Miss Yates is in the den.” The man indicates a room on the right.

“Thank you. My name is Sage. Nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand to shake, and the man looks down at it before slowly reaching out to take it.

“You may call me Boswell.” He looks puzzled by me.

“Nice to meet you. Have a good evening, Boswell.”

Victoria laughs as we make our way into the other room.

“I think you broke the butler. They aren’t used to people talking to them unless it’s to bark an order.”

I frown and stop her. “And you think that’s okay?”

She shrugs. “It’s just how it is.”

I shake my head. “That’s the problem with this place. You’ve lost your humanity. Boswell isn’t a human to you. He’s an object. Something that performs a task but is expendable. I bet if he was broken, you would just replace him too.”

She meets my eyes, looking guilty. She opens her mouth to speak, but a voice behind us startles us both.

“Boswell has been with us since I was a child. I can say with confidence that if he were to become ‘broken,’ as you say, we wouldn’t be so quick to replace him. He’s family, even if it’s not by name. Yes, he’s employed by us, but he’s also much more than that. Before you judge, maybe you should get all of the facts.”

Reed doesn’t say another word before pushing between us and heading into the den. We stare at him before Victoria turns to me.

“Sorry, S. You’re right, but you’re wrong. Thomas is important to us, but I know not everyone treats their help that way.”

I give her a half-hearted smile. “I’m sorry too, V. That was judgmental of me to assume everyone treats their employees badly. Here I am thinking everyone is terrible for being typical rich people. I know it’s not much of an excuse, but I’m a little on edge. Sorry for being a bitch.”

“Everything is forgiven.” She reaches in for a hug.

I tense for a moment but then allow my arms to fold around her. It’s still weird to be hugged by someone other than my mom.

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