Page 27 of The Liar in Room 5

When I first arrived, I’d been given a laptop to use, and if Henry was going to be paying for my upkeep, then I needed to find a way to pay for my own life. Letting myself be kept was what had gotten me here, and even though Phoenix hadn’t actually said it, that’s what it meant, wasn’t it? I was still being kept.

I didn’t know how I felt about that.

And since I didn’t, a job seemed like a good place to start. Actual employment would prove I wasn’t totally useless and incapable of handling my own business.

Although I didn’t have a résumé. Or experience. Or much of anything else. Or a car. Or a driver’s license.

Oh God, this was bad.

On a scale of one to ten, I was definitely looking at an eight. What nine and ten might look like, I wasn’t sure, but I couldn’t let myself go all the way to the top of the scale because then I might never leave this room again.

I was knee-deep in job listings I wasn’t remotely qualified for when my phone started buzzing on the desk.

While it was tempting to think I could do anything I set my mind to, unfortunately, that wasn’t reality. There wasn’t anything listed that involved keeping rich people company through boring dinners or arranging seating charts for maximum entertainment. There were a few receptionist jobs, but most of them mentioned talking to people and being public-facing.

Just those words sent shivers down my spine.

It sounded like literal torture.

My first instinct was to ignore the phone, but then I reconsidered.

What if it was someone trying to sell me an extended car warranty?

I should definitely pay attention to that urgent matter.

I dove for the phone, decisively closing my laptop in the process. That was enough adulting for one day.

Henry’s name lit up the notification screen.

Obviously, I should look at the message, but I couldn’t remember whether my read receipts were on. If I read it and didn’t answer, he might know.

Or maybe he wouldn’t.

But I’d know.

Plus there was the small matter of him apparently becoming my benefactor at Halo House. Would he expect something from me? Did Phoenix? If I’d stayed in my room, none of this would be happening, and I’d still be living in happy, peaceful ignorance.

Those were the days.

Curiosity did me in.

Hey, sweetheart. Having a good day?

Yeah, just getting some reading in.

Sounds good. Whatcha reading?

Well…hell.

I glanced around the room because I wasn’t ready to admit I was reading help-wanted ads. My eyes landed on a book that had been sitting on the shelf since I’d moved in. I’d never actually opened it, but it would do in a pinch.

Loving Yourself When Life Is Shit.

Catchy title.

I picked it up, so I guess it did its job.

Now that I was actually looking at it from across the room, it did sound kind of interesting.