looked completely out of place against the old-world elegance of the Blakely estate. She walked in

ff, awkward hug that smelled of cheap perfume. "You

g for Caleb. My father had sent her on a

nocent smile I had pe

e arranged for you to have the Rose Suite. I

f the mansion, far from the family' s private qu

us hostess. With Ms. Chadwick's expert assistance, we

they were closed for a top-secret project. When she suggested a ho

y, my face a mask of disap

ugh the endless gardens, and afternoon tea with some of the family' s oldest, most boring relati

fake smiles became strained, and her

oon as we sat in the conservatory. "I've been he

g a delicate sip of my tea. "Be

slipping. "You're doing this on pur

expression unchanging. "I

be there, and I knew Jennifer would see it as her last chance. She wore a red dress that was pract

eering the conversation in a direction

as she laid a hand on his arm and laughed a little too loudly at something he said. Cale

licker of amusement in his gaze. He caught my ey

moment, then walked o

aylen was just telling me about the new drone you

d away from Jennifer, eager to talk about somethin

ile frozen on her face. She looked from

ing escorted out by a stone-faced Ms.

u," he sa

, pretending to be

a hand through his hair. "She' s... a lo

ed," I sa

time in a long time. "Your father... he really wants

bitious man

of disgust on his face. "It's

. My little plan had worked perfectly. Jennifer left the estate humiliated and empty-handed,

was the end of