Then he pulls a small bag from behind his back and holds it out to me.
“You forgot this after checking out of your suite this morning,” he says. “I didn’t see any notebooks or anything from your university in there.”
“Why would you see that?” I ask. “Are you admitting to invading my privacy?”
“I saw script sheets and a printed schedule of auditions.” He pauses. “Is there a reason you’ve highlighted and underlined some of them?”
“No.” I swallow. “Not at all.”
“And should I assume that the ‘Temp Janitorial Services’ employee badge is part of the project you’re working on at Harvard?”
The words ‘at Harvard’ linger in the air between us, and from the way he’s looking at me, I know he suspects something, but I refuse to confirm anything.
“Yes, you should assume that.” I feign a smile. “That is where I’m attending school, and I’ve already told my father—your boss—all about this private project.”
“Good for you, Miss Hunter.” He moves out of the way, allowing me to board the elevator.
And then he joins me, hitting the lobby button for us both.
“Your father is hosting a party in the Hamptons in a few weeks,” he says. “I’m sure I’ll be assigned to pick you up from school.”
“That’s usually the case, Francis.” The hairs on the back of my neck begin standing up one by one. “Why are you telling me now?”
“No reason.” His eyes meet mine. “Just letting you know.”
The doors slide open, and I step into the lobby.
“It was nice seeing you,” I say. “Until next time.”
He doesn’t respond.
He simply follows me across the marble floor and through the revolving golden entrance, but he stops behind the valet sign.
I pick up my pace and walk as fast as I can.
When I’m certain his prying eyes can’t see me, I pull out my phone and call Jameson.
It rings once.
It rings twice.
It goes to voicemail.
Ugh…
I try again.
It doesn’t ring at all.
“You’ve reached Jameson Tate. Leave a message.”
Beep!
“Jameson, it’s me,” I say. “I know you see me calling you. Please call me back.”
I stare at my screen, waiting for what feels like forever, but his call never comes.
I make it all the way back to my dorm, anxiously anticipating the sight of his name across my screen.
