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She’s already asleep when I tuck her in. I need to get back to my office and make sure no one is looking for me. There was a lot of special effects going on tonight and I’m sure Dalton and the crew are wanting to give me an update on the contestants. Last thing I need is for them to come looking and find me missing.
By tomorrow, the plan was for all the contestants to be gone. Either broken a rule or pressed their panic buttons and been escorted out.
Now, things have changed. I need to figure out how to work around Delia, because no way I’m having her scared out of the contest or otherwise. She can have the house, if there is any way I could just out and out give it to her I would. Only, she’d need to know she will be living here with me because this old place suddenly feels like home. With her. That’s another detail I’ll need to work out.
I dress in silence, watching her every second, but she’s dead to the world. After all the orgasms I’m sure she will sleep solidly for hours. I pull a blank page from an old book sitting on the dresser and leave her a note, letting her know if she wakes, not to be scared.
I’ll be back.
Somehow, I need to explain all of this to her before things go any farther. I already know I’ve found what I’ve been looking for my whole life, and nothing in this world will take her away from me.
Chapter 9
Delia
Sitting at breakfast there’s a thousand knots in my stomach preventing me from eating the decadent food set out in front of me.
All I’ve been able to ingest is my morning coffee.
“Ma’am.” Ashby stands next to my chair, looking as corpse-like as ever. “Is there anything else I can provide? You have not touched your meal.”
I shake my head, feeling the warm spot inside my bra where I folded up the piece of paper I found on my nightstand when I woke up this morning to Dalton’s voice on the speaker in my room.
“No, just not a morning eater.” I give him a forced smile and bring my coffee back to my lips.
“Very well. Congratulations to you both for making it through last night. The ball is tonight.”
“What happened to the others?” I ask, trying to sound nonchalant.
It’s taking everything I have to not bolt for the door myself. After last night’s dream…or whatever it was…I’m not sure about anything right now. Granted, it could have been a lot worse. At least it was a wonderful dream, sexy and comforting and so real. Was it real? I feel like I’m standing on my head. Reality and dreams seem to be tangling together and I just can’t wait for today and tonight to be over.
“I can only tell you that Mr. Wallace activated his panic button at 3:33 AM. He was escorted out of the house and returned to his home. Mr. Leonard, well…” Ashby looks down at his fingernails, pursing his lips before finishing. “He chose to not follow the rules. He did not remain in his room and in fact was found in the west wing, which is off limits to guests. He was removed and returned to his home.”
“So,” Charles starts, darting a look my way after not speaking the entire time we’ve been here at the table. “If both she and I make it through tonight…we just, draw cards to see who wins? Is that what I read in the contract?”
Ashby nods. “Correct. Simple, but final. It will occur at midnight if you both remain.”
Charles sits up in his chair, pushing out his chest, rubbing his hand over his mouth, still acting like I’m not even here. It’s weird, because yesterday he was protecting me and now?
“Better to be only one there tonight then,” he mutters.
The way he says it, sounds like a threat, and I guess the gloves are off now. But Ashby’s stoic manner gives no sign he’s taken it that way.
“In your rooms, you will both find another envelope with your second and final task. Failure to complete this task will result in your elimination. If you are successful, you will both have the afternoon to wander the manor, preparations for the ball are already underway. The public will be admitted at 6 PM. Dalton will be in touch with any other details. You should return to your rooms by 4 PM to dress and prepare for the evening.” He gives us both a nod and I swear he winks at me. “Good day.”
He spins on his heel and silently makes his way out of the hidden door panel in the wall, closing it behind him and leaving me and Charles in stone silence.
