The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy #2)

“I’m going into the presentation with my ego pumped.”

“Good. You should. I want you to do something for me.”

“You know I will.”

“I’d like you to order me this display. I want to have it.”

“Sure, but—”

“It’s your work, it’s your art. I want to hang it in my office. And now,” she said, “let’s go shopping.”

That night in the manor, Trey split a pizza with Owen.

“Dobbs wasn’t happy when I came back.”

“Yeah?” Owen shrugged. “Screw her.”

“Clover was. My phone played for half an hour. How’d the cat handle it?”

“She was fine. Jones was a little miffed, but it’s all fine.” He glanced around when the doorbell bonged. “Expecting someone?”

“It’s nobody. The dogs are out, and they’d’ve barked. That’s one of her new deals. It’s gone off—that makes the fourth time—since before you got here.”

“I could turn it off.”

Trey tilted his head. “You figure that’ll stop it?”

“You got a point. How about when we’re done here, we go down, find a flick where lots of shit blows up. That’ll piss her off.”

“Sounds good.”

While shit blew up on-screen, the cat curled on the chair between them, and the dogs sprawled on the floor, the servants’ bell rang incessantly. The doors to the theater opened and shut twice.

Trey ate some popcorn. “Pretty weak sauce from her.”

“Flick’s got better action.”

And at three, Trey stepped out on the balcony. Owen opened his window, leaned out.

Together they watched Dobbs jump.

Trey looked over at Owen. “See you in the morning.”

“Yeah.”

Trey went inside; Owen shut the window.

And the manor settled into quiet.

The next day, Sonya put on the coral dress, Cleo’s gold beads, her twisty hoops. She spent twice as long on her makeup to be absolutely sure it wasn’t overdone or underdone.

She’d skipped breakfast—her stomach wouldn’t take it.

Cleo walked in with a tray holding half a bagel, a small bowl of berries, and two Cokes.

“I know,” she said before Sonya could refuse. “Didn’t I room with somebody who couldn’t eat if she was worried about the exam she was about to take? But your presentation’s not until two, and you need something in your stomach before that.”

“You’re right. I know you’re right. I swore I’d get done with the nerves before today. I’ve failed.”