Page 74 of Bargains with Benefits
The hallway was empty. Now was my chance. I slid from the closet and let myself back into Father’s study. Quick steps led me across the room, behind the desk. I wasted no time finding the account books. Father was too meticulous not to keep a record of his payments. He was accurate to a fault. This was even easier than searching Darius’s study because I knew what to look for. I opened the account book and skimmed the last few weeks of entries. Finding those I was looking for neatly labeled, I tore the page from Father’s records and took it with me. I returned the book to its drawer, hoping Father wouldn’t notice the missing page tonight. It wouldn’t matter. I was going to the newspaper office now to draft this. He wouldn’t have time to stop me. The issue was off to the printer tonight.
My wind checked the pathway to the exit. I was clear. Quiet feet in my favorite boots led me across the office. I opened the door to the hallway and was halfway through when I ran directly into Skye.
“Vincent, what are you doing here?” I held her arms to steady us both.
“Keep your voice down,” I hissed.
She shook her head. “Father is in an uproar. He’s yelling at someone now. He won’t hear us.”
“He’s out of control. Trying to ruin Luna’s father and my job at the paper.”
Her face fell. “I’m so sorry, Vincent. What are you going to do?”
I held up my paper. “I’m going to fix it.”
She ushered me down the hall toward the front door. “You need to get out of here.”
“So do you,” I said. My parents had never given Skye a hard time like they had me, but living here couldn’t be good for her. I resolved to work harder to get her out of this house.
“I’m working on it, Vincent,” she said. “Don’t worry about me. Take care of this—of Luna.” She winked. “I liked her.”
My smile grew as something loosened in my chest. We were almost to the door when my wind alerted me to someone else in the hallway. Jeffrey cleared his throat behind us. “Vincent, Skye.”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Jeffrey.”
Skye held back a giggle. Jeffrey had always caught us getting into mischief. He had always been much more lenient on us than our parents, but this was different. He looked down at the paper in my hands. Though it was folded in half, it was still evident to anyone with knowledge of the household what it was. Father used red and black ink on the paper to track his ledgers.
“Do you know what you’re doing?” Jeffrey asked, holding my gaze.
I dipped my chin. “I haven’t been surer since the day I left this house.”
“Very good, sir.” He turned his back on us, freeing me to leave Andiveron House with my pilfered evidence.
Skye shoved me out. As the door slowly closed behind me, I let out a breath. I laughed, not believing my luck, not believing I’d gotten out of there with the document. I had no time to celebrate. The sun was setting, and I had to make it across town quickly. Tucking the paper in my jacket, I took off at a run.
34
Luna
My heart raced as I climbed the steps to the third floor of the newspaper office. I’d never had cause to go before. A receptionist pointed me toward Vincent’s desk. It was empty. I looked around helplessly, unsure what to do. I couldn’t believe he’d decided to publish a story he knew to be false. No matter what my father thought, I knew that wasn’t him.
I didn’t hold these beliefs simply because I was besotted, even though it was becoming increasingly apparent that I was. I shivered inadvertently as the memories from last night and this morning flooded my mind. I pulled my bright pink sweater tighter around my shoulders, fighting off the chill. I’d left in such a rush I hadn’t changed into my fae-approved wardrobe. This time, I didn’t care. Whatever was going on with Vincent was more important than the recommendation piece.
Something was wrong, and I needed to find him—needed to make sure he was alright.
“You look distressed, dear. Anything I can help with?” a familiar voice asked.
“Daisy!” I said, turning to see Earl’s wife. “I’m so glad to see you. I’m looking for Vincent. Do you know where he is?”
She frowned and looked around sharply before stepping closer to me and whispering, “He had a meeting with the boss earlier today. He did not look happy when he left. Stormed out of here like he was going to his own funeral.”
I worried my bottom lip. Where would he have— And just like that, I knew where he’d gone. “Andiveron House,” I said quietly.
“Isn’t that where he lives? Your face looks like his did. How can his home be that bad?”
That place wasn’t his home. It hadn’t been for years. Maybe it had never been, even if no one knew that but me.
“Thanks, Daisy, I appreciate the information,” I said without answering her question, and left the way I’d come.
