My eyebrows crease. “Here? In the living room? What if I get crumbs on your rug or stains on your couch?”
Gavin chuckles. “That’s what the maids are for.”
Right.
“We can watch a movie while we eat,” he adds, glancing at my laptop that’s still on the coffee table. “You should stop working anyway.”
I sit up. All of a sudden, I seem to be rejuvenated.
“Yeah, sure.”
Gavin smiles. As he walks to the kitchen, I put my bra and panties back on and fix my dress. I’ve got a big smile on my face as well.
I don’t know what’s gotten into Gavin. Is it guilt? Is it some realization? Has he decided it’s pointless to treat me like an object? I don’t know. All I know is that he seems different. He’s… nicer. Warmer. He doesn’t seem to be hurting anymore.
That’s good.
I place my hands on my stomach as I sink into the pillows on the couch. My eyes gaze on the ceiling and my lips curve into a smile.
I have a feeling things will get even better.
Chapter Twelve
Gavin
I have a bad feeling about this, I think as I walk down the hallway of gilded mirrors to the Council Room at the top floor of the Club. My Testonis don’t make a sound on the blue and gold carpet.
Then again, maybe I’m just thinking that way because I don’t like being here. How can I when I received such terrible news the last time I was summoned here?
I wonder what news I’ll be getting today. I’m sure Elias didn’t call me here just for a chat. Or is this an interview for the Council Seat?
Getting a seat on the Council might do you some good. Fiona’s words come back to me.
And she may be right about that, too. If I’m on the Council, I’ll be in a better position to help Leah, to protect her and make her happy, which are all important to me right now. Besides, I won’t ever have to worry about being summoned.
The glass doors at the end of the hallway slide open as I come near. Inside the room, a man and a woman are at their desks. The man looks up from his computer.
“I have an appointment,” I tell him. “Scotsfeld.”
He stands up. “Good evening, Mr. Scotsfeld. Mr. Grey is expecting you.”
He gestures to the next set of doors. I walk over to them, aware of the watchful eyes of the sentries standing in the corners. I make contact with one pair so they can see I have nothing to hide. I don’t smile, though. Fraternizing with the guards has never been my thing. I take their job seriously, they take me seriously.
The man nods. I proceed to the next room. As soon as I’m past the doors, I see Elias sitting on the couch. He’s smoking a cigar and watching baseball on TV. Thomas is next to him. I’m not surprised.
As I go down the short series of steps, Thomas turns his head first.
“Scotsfeld, how nice of you to join us.”
Like I had a choice not to.
I return his fake grin. “Evening, Mr. Heath. Mr. Grey.”
“Just a minute,” Elias answers as he lifts a hand. His eyes remain on his baseball game.
Thomas shakes his head. “Even after all these years, he’s still crazy about baseball. Me? I’ve never understood it. I’d rather bet on a horse.”
So I’ve heard.
“What about you? What do you bet on?” he asks me.
I touch my beard and shrug. “Stocks and business deals?”
Thomas snorts. “You’re no fun, Scotsfeld.”
Straightforward as ever.
He pours two glasses of scotch and hands me one. “Here. Drink.”
It doesn’t sound like a request, so I take the glass.
“And for God’s sake, sit.”
He gestures to the other couch. I unbutton my coat and sit.
“Yes!” Elias interjects suddenly as he raises his fists.
I glance at the screen as I take a sip of the scotch. The Mets are playing the Giants and the batter from the Giants has just struck out.
“Should I come back another time?” I ask. “When there isn’t a game, maybe? I don’t want to interrupt your fun.”
“It’s fine.” Elias turns the TV off. “I’ve already seen it.”
And he’s still watching it with such enthusiasm. Wow.
Thomas catches my eye. “Told you.”
Elias takes a final puff of his cigar before extinguishing it on the crystal ashtray. Then he picks up his glass of wine and takes a sip.
“How is your prize doing?” he asks me afterward. “What was her name again?”
“Leah,” I answer.
Is this why they called me? To ask about Leah? No, they’d ask Fiona if they really wanted to know. Maybe they already have.
“She’s doing good.”
I thought Leah would hate me after what I did to her. She had a right to. Yet she seems even warmer towards me now. Of course, the job I gave her probably has something to do with it. I can tell she’s loving every minute of it. Still, I didn’t expect her to just forget everything so quickly.