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"This,” I gestured at the set up, the whole room. “All this. So elaborate. Impressive for someone applying for charity. Yet you laid out your fancy plates and delicacy. Why? Am I your next shiny object to collect?"
There was a silence, except for a small gasp coming from where Olivia stood dutifully behind Emerson.
I sat back, assessing them as they’d done to me. I knew why I was here, but this…it was a lure. A trap. Why? “I’d say you like collecting shiny objects more than I do.”
Emerson laughed, his white teeth flashing in the dark room, sounding genuine and warm for the first time. “Oh, I like this one. You’ve done well, Olivia.” He spoke as if Olivia had anything to do with my decision. “Yes, I do think you'll be a good addition to the Magnolia.”
He didn’t answer my question. Had no intention of it.
When he was done, he tapped on a black leather portfolio next to his plate.
Olivia immediately responded, a small smile to her lips. Picking it up, she placed it by my plate, holding out a dark black and gold fountain pen.
It was heavy in my hand.
I curiously opened the folio.
The paper was crisp and thick, and felt like cloth. A magnolia flower was pressed into the top center, like it had in the papers I'd found in my father's secret office.
"Take your time," Emerson instructed. "Read over it very carefully."
Unexpectedly, I thought of Lux. The fear in her eyes. The way she'd gripped my wrist.
Staring at the paper, I placed the pen down and took a nervous sip of my water, trying to read it.
The words blurred under my gaze. It was suddenly hot in the room, and Olivia hovering over me wasn't helping.
I took another sip of my water, trying to let the words sink in.
The jargon confused me. What did ab initio and caveat emptor mean? I think clasula exire meant release.
But I wasn’t sure—I was definitely in over my head.
I should’ve pestered Terrance until he called me back, should have somehow forced him to come with me. I should’ve—there! Familiar wording,
…in exchange for a predetermined sum of money, the contracting party would be under obligation to perform duties as seen fit by its custodian… it went on. Assuming that custodian meant the man I picked, I understood that part. And that was the most important thing, wasn’t it?
The room was silent as I flipped through the thick pages, with only the sound of the swallow of Emerson's throat as he sipped his wine.
I finally got to the end, my hand clammy as I picked up the pen.
Two sets of eyes stared at me, and Olivia even leaned towards me, her eyes on the pen tip poised on the paper.
"I uh.." My voice came out a squeak, "I have a question?"
"Yes?" Emerson raised an eyebrow at me.
Had they turned up the heat?
I pulled on my dress top, fanning my face, noting the way Emerson's eyes tracked the movement. "Do I..." I tried to think of a question. Any question. Just something to seem like I had any clue as to what the heck I was doing.
"Do I, uh..." I stared down at the pages, the pen gripped in my sweaty hand, trying to think of something to say, "do I sign every page or...?"
“Right here," Olivia's bony finger landed on the small line with the word, 'initials' typed neatly underneath it. "An SD on each page will suffice, except on the last page, where both you and Mr. Forten will sign it. And then I will certify it."
"Oh." I stared dumbly at the line. "Of course." I felt very small.
My palms itched, my fingertips tingling. Sweat was pouring down the side of my face and my underarms. I didn't want to glance there, knowing there was probably a large sweat stain, and draw attention to it.
