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“I need more details than that, Miss Sutton.”
“I’m sure you do.” She shrugged. “But as I said, brainstorming. I don’t have any more details.”
She made for the door, but he blocked her path. She looked up, dumbfounded, then narrowed her eyes at him.
“That’s not how deals work, Miss Sutton.”
“You know, hearing Miss Sutton with that righteous voice of yours is starting to annoy me. Maybe you should just call me Pearl.”
“And hearing you dismiss my family’s issue is starting to irritate me. Maybe you should stop being a brat and start acting professionally.”
Ryan made a choking sound, but they ignored him. She crossed her arms.
“You’re always irritated. Always overbearing. Always judgmental.”
“And you’re always so careless. Reckless since you walked into my home.”
Pearl’s eyes flashed with something bright but were smothered by her visible wrestle with control. The look she gave him was one filled with scorn. “You forgot irresponsible, flighty, and a headache to the rest of my family. Just like my brother, remember?”
The words didn’t make sense…and then they did, spoken from his tongue just last night. He jerked back as if slapped, thunderstruck. It was Ryan who reacted quickly, his face pale as the younger man took her hand.
“Pearl, I’m sorry. Whatever you overheard, he didn’t mean it. I was there, and Henry’s stressed out…”
“I know you were there.” The scornful look softened as she smiled at Ryan. “And you’re a sweet boy.”
“Stop flirting with him,” Henry found himself blurting out. “He’s not immune to you.”
Just like that, all traces of amusement left her face. She ignored him, continuing to speak with Ryan.
“And there’s no need to defend him, Ryan. I know what I heard and have decided.”
“Decided what?” Ryan asked.
“You’re a sweetheart and your cousin’s a bastard.”
Ryan made another choking sound while Henry remained silent. No one said it to his face, but Pearl’s voice was firm. Belatedly, it registered that she was already looking at him, those white-gray orbs brimming with challenge. Silence filled the space before he shrugged.
“I don’t care what you think of me.”
Amazement glissaded in her features, then was gone. She lifted her chin to match his. “That makes two of us. Anyway, that’s beyond the issue. I never dismissed your family’s problem. You being a bastard doesn’t change the fact that I accepted the task on behalf of the Council.”
“Miss Sutton—”
“Pearl,” she cut in, matching his earlier cool tone. “You might as well call me Pearl. I will see you again tomorrow with results. That’s all you need to know.”
“Pearl—”
She ducked under him before he could protest and was soon at the door. Henry spun to face her, out of his depth and not liking how much she got under his skin. He was always in control. Always.
But you hurt her with your careless words.
The apology swirled in his throat, refusing to come out. Ryan drew closer, studying them uneasily.
“Um. Should I intervene before this gets…?”
“No,” he said firmly.
“No,” she called out at the same time, backing away. Not looking at him. But it felt like she was looking at him when her words rang loud and clear. “And I will get the job done for you if it’s the last thing I do, Mr. Lyra.”
