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We decide to leave the listening devices in place, using them to feed information to whoever is receiving it. The idea is mine, and I stand by it, even though I understand why the thought of it fuels Xavier’s anger.
“Stop stressing, brother,” I walk past, bumping him with my shoulder.
“Easy for you to say. Not your bedroom that some sick fuck bugged.” He’s right, but I was able to review the data on my laptop so I know he’s got nothing to worry about with these ones.
“About that, they were new. Nothing on them. There might have been other ones, but until we find your asshole uncle, we won’t know.”
Some of the tension leaves his body with my reassurance, but I know it isn’t enough. I don’t blame him. If someone was spying on me and Ellie, I’d be hard pressed to not make them disappear somewhere. As it is, this is too good of an opportunity to not take advantage of it.
Chapter Twenty
Ellie
Not being free to tag along with Faye and Ana while they look at wedding dresses for Faye bummed me out, but when I was offered the chance to work a double shift, it was hard to turn it down. I never turn them down. The pay raise has meant that I don’t have to work as much, but a little overtime is still nice. Plus, I’ve been doing my best to avoid Blake and I can’t deny that the possibility of him being with Travis and Xavier today was a big part of why I opted to work.
As much as I miss him, Lawrence catching us kissing in the parking garage was too much for me to handle. I know that I need to talk to Blake about what happened, and why it freaked me out so bad, but I just haven’t been able to bring myself to face him yet. Every time I think about the confusion and hurt in his eyes when I walked away from him anxiety tig
htens my chest and ties my stomach in knots. I messed things up and I wouldn’t blame him at all if he doesn’t care what my reasons were. It’s what I deserve.
Lawrence’s verbal jabs have been constant, even though I haven’t been working in the café at all. He seems to have a sixth sense about knowing where I am and keeps cornering me just long enough to toss insults at me before walking away. As bad as Lawrence has been the Rosewoods are worse, and today I’m assigned to their floor. I had hoped they’d be gone by now, but unfortunately, they aren’t. Must be nice to be able to live in a hotel for a month to celebrate an anniversary.
I’m wrestling to get my heavily burdened cart off the staff elevator, and of course, they’re leaving their room directly across from me. Dropping my gaze to the floor I do my best to make myself inconspicuous, busying myself with straightening my supplies and hoping they don’t notice me. People like them rarely pay attention to the help unless they’re blaming them for something. I just got here, so is it too much to ask that they will just walk right without paying attention?
Just wishful thinking on my part.
“Well, well.” Mrs. Rosewood’s shrill voice drawls as she slithers up to where I’m standing in her too tight leopard print shirt and matching heels. “I thought you were long gone. I need to have a talk with management about correcting that.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say meekly, doing my best not to let her see how much her palpable animosity rattles me. How can someone hate a stranger the way she seems to hate me? It’s beyond my comprehension. I don’t hate anyone. Not her and not even Lawrence. I just don’t have it in me.
“You stay the hell out of my room,” she spits, her heavily made up eyes burning holes through me.
“Yes, ma’am,” It’s like my whole vocabulary has shrunk to just those two deferential words under the malice in her eyes and I hate it. Hate myself for being so weak all the time. Broken bits of retorts battle in my head, trapped in my throat, begging to get out. For me to speak up, defend myself. It’s no wonder that Blake felt that he needed to step between me and Lawrence that morning. He obviously knows what a weak idiot I am.
“Good. See that you do as you’re told and maybe I will let you keep your little job for another day.” She sniffs through her turned-up nose. I wonder idly how she can see where she’s going with her chin lifted so high in the air. Following close on the heels of that thought is another one. The quiet, almost unheard from voice of my inner mean girl, I hope she trips and falls on her snooty butt.
Sucking in a calming breath I fight to halt the trembling of my hands and knees, swallowing back the bile in my throat. I hate confrontation. I always have. I’ve always thought how unfair it was that Lizzie got all the bravery and I got all the timidity and now, with her accident I don’t even have her to take my hand and help me be brave like she always did before.
Bah! I’m so ridiculous! Ignoring the pang in my chest, I berate myself for not telling that wretched woman off. Just like when Lawrence says nasty things to me, I froze, and now that she’s gone I can feel my mind and body thawing. Now I want to defend myself. Now I want to fight, but the opportunity has passed. Just like it always does. One time. Just one time I’d like to not cower when someone pushes me around. To be strong enough to stick up for myself and to take back the power I always hand over. My father would be so ashamed of me. He didn’t raise me to be such a pushover. I don’t even realize that tears have spilled out of the corner of my eyes until I feel them splashing down onto my hands.
Swiping them away angrily, I muscle the hefty cart to the end of the hall and knock on the door to the first room I’m supposed to clean. When no one responds I let myself in with a sigh of relief. The room is almost untouched and will be a breeze to clean. I want to get done as quickly as possible so I can have someone else come up and do the Rosewoods’ room before they return.
“Ellie!” Ana’s voice yelling my name down the hall brings a smile to my face. They are back already! That didn’t take long! I stop and turn toward her. Faye is beside her. They are hustling as fast as Ana can go these days. She looks so happy that she practically glows, or maybe that’s just being pregnant. Seeing them lifts the dark cloud that has been hovering over me. I should have sought them out for a little girl time days ago.
“What’s up beaches?” I laugh, making Ana laugh too. She’s never quite understood why I don’t use bad words. I just don’t. It’s as simple as that. I don’t get offended if anyone else does. It’s not a religious thing or even an Auggie thing. I’ve never used cussing to express myself. Mama doesn’t and neither does Liz. It wasn’t considered acceptable in our house growing up and I’ve never seen any need to change that now that I’m an adult. There are plenty of other words I can use to get my point across.
“Puh-leaze say you can take a break!” Faye wails dramatically before bursting into laughter.
“I can. I was just going to get my lunch.” I’m so excited to spend time with them that I give a little booty shake and dance around for a second. I can’t wait to hear about the dresses they looked at. “I just need to put my cart away.”
I grunt and get it moving again, heading for the big double doors with Ana and Faye right behind me. The sound of a raised voice stops me in my tracks. Putting my finger to my lips I motion for them to be quiet and I glance around to see if anyone is close enough to see us eavesdropping.
“That’s Ms. Smith,” I whisper as quietly as I can, all three of us cramming as close to the door as possible before pushing it open the smallest amount.
“Yes. Today. I will get them for you today.” A male voice replies, but it’s indistinct and I can’t tell whose voice it is or what is being said. Ms. Smith must be standing closer to us than whoever she is talking to. “Yes. No one will be there. They were going out today. Dress shopping or something Mr. Cerelli said.” More muffled words respond to her.
“No one suspects me.” Her voice is even closer now. She is coming this way! Looking at my friends I mouth the word hide and turn my back to the doors, dragging my cart and making as much ruckus as I can while backing through it. Faye has Ana’s hand, dragging her back in the direction of the busy casino. When they round the corner and disappear from sight, I sigh with relief.
“Oh, hello Ms. Smith!” My voice is ringing with what I hope sounds like genuine cheerfulness, “I was just going to park this thing and take my lunch break! Do you need me to do anything before I go?” I inquire, hoping desperately that she can’t see how uncomfortable I am.
