Page 24 of Her Wicked Plan

“Different?” Dr. Bennett finishes my sentence.

A small laugh escapes me. “Yes, she is different.”

“Veronica is an extraordinary young lady.” The man before me leans back into the leather chair as he explains, “Although she never thinks before she speaks, always says whatever is on her mind, not caring if it gets her in trouble.”

“I gathered that.” I swallow hard.

“Dr. Madden, take nothing she says personally. It’s just how she is,” he advises. “Also, I know she looks like an angel, but don’t let her beauty fool you.” He leans forward in his chair now, like he is about to reveal a secret. “Because her mind works like the Devil.”

Chills flush over my entire body as he tells me this. Even though I had already guessed how her mind worked from reading her files, hearing someone else say it felt strange.

“She also has quite the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality. She can be the sweetest person you have ever come across, or she can be the nastiest.” Dr. Bennett settles back in his chair. “But there is no doubt you will be on her good side. I think you will help her out, Dr. Madden.”

“Please, call me Leo,” I offer, to which he dips his chin. “I am hoping I will be a good fit for her. I see a lot of potential from my short meeting with her.”

“That is what I like to hear!” His voice is full of excitement and hope. Before he can say anything else, his phone rings. An annoyed groan fills the room as he holds his finger up to let me know he has to take it. I sit there as the phone presses to his ear. A bunch of “okays” and “yeahs” come from his mouth until he eventually hangs up. “So sorry to cut this short, but I have some business to take care of.”

“Not a problem at all!” I stand up from my chair. “It was nice to officially meet you, Dr. Bennett.”

“Call me Henry, please.” He holds his hand out for me to take. I firmly grip his hand, giving him a little shake before leaving the office.

He goes wherever he is needed. I head towards my office.

I need to make a phone call.

CHAPTER 7

Veronica

I used to hate reading. Actually, I would use the word loathed. Whenever the teachers assigned a reading in school, I’d get bored with the story and start tearing out the pages.

Sketches would block the words, and then I’d tack them to my bedroom wall.

When it was time to return the books to the teacher, they would only receive the front and back cover with a few pages still intact if they were lucky.

My parents always grew angry with me because they would have to replace the book.

They were so upset that they had to spend their hard-earned money on a bound stack of papers to make the school happy again.

It’s not like they were going broke from my choices. My parents both had well-paying jobs. My mother is a doctor, while my father does whatever he does.

Does anyone know what their dads do for a living? For the life of me, I could never remember when anyone asked. Does he work with computers? No, maybe he is a scientist. Hell, if I know.

The only thing I know is that he makes a shit ton of money. How else could they send my sister to private schools and an Ivy League college?

My lovely sister went to medical school, following in my mother’s footsteps. Massive eye roll.

Stephanie was the golden child. The apple of my parents’ eyes. Blah, blah, blah.

She did everything right.

Stephanie studied hard and got good grades—well enough to get her into that Ivy League school. Me? I barely graduated high school, gave it the old college try, and then realized it wasn’t for me.

I dropped out, making my parents disappointed with my decision, and they never missed a moment to tell me just how disappointed they were. I still wound up getting a job without a college degree.

Jobs. Plural.

The first few didn’t work out. I’d work for a day or a week before someone pissed me off on an extreme level. I wasn’t kind like every other person out there. I didn’t give the employer my two weeks.