Page 55 of Things I Read About

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I lock eyes with Fergus as I enter. “Clear.”

Fergus nods. “Miss Canton, since you are…”

I tune him out and scan the room. I see everyone I expect, with the exception of a male. One of the husbands is absent. The oldest, Canton 1, is on her own. My eyes keep moving. There’s the famous writer, Canton 2. The Painter, 3. Mrs. Clark, 4, is the client’s daughter-in-law and married to Emerson. And then my charge, the youngest, Canton 5.

I look at Fergus.

Wait.

What the hell?

“Sally Canton?”I think out loud, while looking at my boss.

And Sally—my Sally—faints.

I freeze, trying to process what I’m seeing.

The family erupts.

“Sally?”

“Sally!”

“Sal?”

I lock my legs, fighting the urge to rush over to her. There’s plenty of that already going on. Dean, Jon Canton, the four sisters, and the three husbands hover around her, freaking right the hell out.

And Sally? She doesn’t even look like herself. My brain didn’t even register it was her at first. She’s pale and thin and clearly exhausted. Dehydrated. Maybe even ill. But she was blending into the wall when I walked in, which is not something my Sally could, or would, do. Her hair is a different color, and her flirty little bangs are gone. But my chest sure as hell recognizes her. My heart is about to explode.

Grip Nate, get a grip.

I glare at my boss.“A word?”

“Sure.” Fergus waves Dean over.

I regulate my breathing.

Time to take control of this shit show.

14

NATE

When we hit the hallway, I start to pace. “I can’t take this charge.”

“What?”

“Conflict of interest. I’ll take that horrible tween in Florida. Mark can swap with me.”

Fergus holds up his hands. “Nate, you know it’s not that easy. It was already hell pulling you out of Phoenix for this.”

I put a hand to my head. “This girl is a nightmare, Ferg. I can’t do it.”

Fergus grabs my shoulder, hard. “I know you’re tired of these jobs, but this is your last one.”

Dean chimes in. “This family is not like the others, they’re pretty normal, not fifth generation magnates. And what do you mean, nightmare? Sally’s a good kid.”

“She’s a med school student, some kind of genius, you saw the file. How bad could it be?” Fergus adds.

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