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“When the boss says jump…”
Her smile was close-lipped and humorless.
“Thanks for understanding.”
She took a shower in the bathroom, the porcelain tiles reminding her of a fancy hotel, ran a brush through her dark, chin-length hair, and tugged on a black satin dress with her denim jacket.
Saber’s dad wore a pair of jeans and a well-tailored blazer, and when he saw Saber’s short dress, he startled.
“Sorry, am I dressed weird?” she asked. “Should I change?”
“Uh, well, you don’t see a lot of girls in dresses here, especially as the weather changes. But you look very nice. Sorry, I’m not used to seeing you as… an adult. It’s a nice dress. Come on.”
“I know it sucks to travel all day and then have to do something like this, but you’re young, you can handle it.”
“You could totally leave me at home.”
“I told him you were coming. It would have worked out a lot better if you hadn’t missed that connection.”
“Sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
No, it certainly hadn’t been.
The plane from Detroit to Seattle had been canceled due to staffing issues. She’d had to spend the night in a hotel room, and all her travel plans were pushed back by twelve hours.
The car snaked through dark, mist-velveted, tree-lined roads, giving Saber her first look at the island. She glanced out at the dark silhouettes of the trees, farms with ghostly outlines of cows, and dimly lit houses.
There were, she noticed, a lot of really,reallynice houses.
“There are a lot of rich people here,” she murmured.
Her dad laughed a little, like her comment was an understatement.
“It’s an affluent place.”
Saber sighed.
“I can buy you nice clothes and stuff, Saber. You’ll fit in.”
“I wasn’t worried about that. I don’twantto fit in here.”
“Well, don’t be intimidated.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re not now. Wait till you get to my boss’s house.”
He flashed her a smile, and she tried to smile back. They slowed down, and Saber saw they’d pulled up to a huge iron gate, drawn across a curving driveway lit by small, glowing lights.
Saber’s dad pressed a buzzer on a column next to the gate.
“This is Jim, Jim Warren, to see Ansel.”
“We’ve been expecting you, Mr. Warren. Welcome. Wait for the gate, please, and proceed slowly up the drive.”
“He has servants?” Saber said, and her dad nodded.
