Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
I shot him a look. “You’re an insult to the species.”
He raised his smug face from the face hole and smirked at me. “Now use this same energy to grovel your life away, Zachary.”
“I do not grovel.”
“You’ve been glancing at that Go board like a photo of a lost loved one.”
That was because the little witch hadn’t even bothered making a move this morning, and it was her turn.
She never missed a move.
“I. Will. Not. Grovel.”
What did groveling even look like? What did he expect me to do?
“Better clean that mess up.”
How?
“For the last time, I do not—”
Oliver waved me away, sticking his head back in the hole. “Natalie, hey, yoo-hoo. Please make yourself useful and bring me another cocktail.”
Icouldn’t find Farrow.
She’d gone missing since last night’s engagement party, not bothering to show up to work in the morning.
By the time Oliver left, I’d convinced myself she’d gotten cold feet and moved back to Seoul without handing in her two-week notice. After all, irresponsibility seemed right up her alley.
I sulked, barked at Natalie to find her, reviewed the surveillance cameras again, then finally resorted to showing up at Vera’s doorstep.
The entire drive there, I told myself this wasn’t about missing her. This was entirely about accountability. An employee of mine had taken a leave of absence without giving me notice.
I refused to let her get away with it.
When I pulled up the Ballantine driveway, double-parking in front of a Mercedes, it became clear that Farrow had not moved to Seoul.
Two shiny roadsters flanked her dirty old Prius, barely leaving room for her to slip inside.
The entry door swung open before I cut the engine. One of the sisters—for the life of me, I couldn’t remember which was which—rushed to my door, gasping at the sight of me.
I popped it open, using the heavy metal to force her away.
“Mr. Sun.” She batted her lashes, pushing her tits out as she arched over my hood. Another thing to disinfect once I returned home. “How can I help you?”
You can vanish into the ether.
I kicked the door shut behind me. “I’m looking for your sister.”
“Reggie?” Her expression melted into a grimace. “She’s in New York, shopping for the season. I don’t even know why. She’s too short for anything worth wearing.”
“Not Reggie. The one who is not a complete waste of space.”
I’d forgotten her family completely disowned her.
“Farrow?”
“That’s the one.”
“Can you believe the little shit disappeared on us? The house is a total mess.” Tabitha pouted. “You know… we’re worthy, too.”
“Beg to differ.”
“Don’t be so harsh.” She giggled. The hyena laugh screeched down my ears like nails on a blackboard, reminding me I only ever liked Octi’s. “You know what you need, Zach?”
“A conversation partner who doesn’t have the IQ of a dead starfish.”
“Someone to complete you. A girl who’s simple and easy.” She flung her hair over one shoulder. “Like me.”
If only empty minds came with mute buttons.
“Free advice?” I locked my car, not trusting any of the Ballantine women not to steal it. “Describing yourself as low hanging fruit? Not as appealing as you think it is.”
“You’re not as tough as you think you are, you know.” She followed me to the gaping front door. “You’re an open book.”
“And you’re illiterate.” I strode right past her, inviting myself in. Apparently, I could add trespassing to my list of negative influences Farrow had on me. “Where is she?”
I went from room to room, noticing the layers of filth. Every inch reeked of rotten food.
The crack in the dining room wall—only a small fissure when I’d last visited—had metastasized, slashing from end to end. Dirty dishes sprouted from piles of clothes, peppering the stained carpet.
Did these people do anything when Fae wasn’t here to serve them?
Tabitha tailed me, shimmying her miniskirt down her thighs. “Is it true that you’re engaged now?”
Unfortunately.
I started taking the stairs to the second floor.
“I hope you don’t think you have a chance with Fae.” She panted, trying to keep up with me, white-knuckling the banister as I poured into the hallway. “Because you don’t. No one does. She… she’s incapable of emotions. She’s always been like this. Unsympathetic. Unloving. Weir—”
I spun, getting so close to her I could see the pink blemishes staining her face. “Don’t finish that sentence if you value your meaningless life. Farrow Ballantine’s pinky nail is worth more than your entire being. Now make yourself useful.”
She blinked, stunned by my reaction. “H-how?”
Good question.
Her breath fanned across my cheek.
I wanted to tear the flesh off.
“Get the fuck out of here. Take a walk.” I reared back, putting as much space between us as the narrow hall would allow. “I need to talk to your sis—” No, she wasn’t her sister. “To Fae.”
Aside from the obvious indicator of her presence, her car, I knew Octi lurked somewhere within these walls for the simple fact that she didn’t have anywhere else to go.