So, that's the first thing I do when I enter. And inside, is a phone. I smile. "Thank you, Lance," I say out loud, picking up the note that's tucked beside it.
Don't turn this on while on campus. They will find it. As soon as you can, CALL ME. ~ Joey
"Look into my eyes, tell me what you see," the handsome man requested. "What is it that my heart desires most? What is my intention?"
Thaylina struggled to move within the wrap of the silken fabric. But she still did not fear him. Not until she peered into his eyes and saw the truth.
I barely roll out of bed in time to make my life advisor appointment. After a quick brush of my teeth, I throw on a pair of cut-offs and a tank top and rush out the door. Thankfully, I'm faster at crossing the Court, otherwise I'd really be late.
When I reach the second floor of the administration building, I find a woman sitting at a desk at the top of the stairs, where the common room is located in the dorms. The rest of the room is filled with club chairs where a couple other students are waiting. From the petrified looks on their faces, they're either in trouble or they're new.
"Hi, I'm Lana Peri. I have an appointment."
"Take a seat."
I hesitate a second to make sure she's actually human, considering how detached and flat her tone sounded. She didn't even look up at me, her eyes fixed to her computer screen. Someone hates her job. Or people.
I haven't even reached a seat when I hear, "Lana?" I freeze. I know that voice ... too well. I slowly turn with a ginormous smile plastered on my face. Queen Warden would be proud.
"Mr. Garner. Wow. Are you stalking me?"
He flounders, "Wha-What? No." He lets out a forced laugh, his eyes glancing nervously to the woman behind the desk. Her attention torn from the screen, she studies him suspiciously. "You're funny. Um, why you don't follow me."
I whisper as I pass her desk, "Totally stalking." Her suspicion darts to me, and I practically jump back from the assaultive glare.
"Lana," Mr. Garner scolds from down the hall.
I follow him into an office the size of a dorm room. They really weren't original with their building designs, were they?
There's absolutely nothing on the beige walls and there's barely any furniture in the room either, other than a desk and few chairs.
"Minimalist. Who knew," I say, spinning around.
"I haven't had a chance to do anything yet. I arrived late last night. It'll look different next time we meet."
"Why are you here, Isaac?"
Mr. Garner's face remains expressionless but his eyes harden just enough to let me know I p
issed him off. Then he shakes his head and rubs the bridge of his nose under his glasses, like I've already given him a headache. "Can we please not start off this way?"
"What do you mean? We go way back."
"You know exactly what I mean. Why don't you have a seat."
"Not until you tell me why you're here. I don't believe in coincidences." Then it occurs to me. "Niall Harrison got you hired here, to watch over me, didn't he?"
"He may have let me know about an open position and provided a letter of recommendation. It's a great opportunity, so I accepted the offer."
"How do you know Niall?"
"I told you, I grew up in Oaklawn. It's hard not to live there and not know the Harrisons in some way. His wife was actually one of my professors at Dartmouth. They're a very--"
"Powerful?"
"I was going to say influential family, but even that sounds wrong. They're ... invested."
"In what? Me?"