Chapter 0139


    | cock my head, curious about that.


    “Daniel,” Kent says, his voice even but unfriendly. “Don’t you have ss to attend?”? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Daniel just crosses his arms, ring at his dad and not responding. But Kent doesn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he turns to me.


    “Fay, I''d like you to go to lunch today at your father’s house.”


    “Really?” | ask, my eyebrows raising.


    Kent nods. “Yes, | need you to feel out the situation. Word has gotten out about the end to your engagement to Daniel,” he


    continues, looking briefly at Daniel to include him in the conversation, “and that you’ve been spending time with Ivan. I’d like you


    to see how your father feels about this change. And report it back to me.”


    | nod, agreeing but hesitant.


    “What,” Kent demands, his words clipped. “You don’t want to do it?”


    “Oh,” | say, surprised. “Um, no, I''ll do it...it’s just...one of the less pleasant tasks that I’ve been assigned.”


    Kent does an almost double take at these words, looking suddenly into my eyes with surprise on his face. | cock my head to see


    it — I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Kent truly surprised before. But then | consider the meaning of myst words and realize that, of


    course, our encounter on the third floorst night was an assignment of sorts. And that I’ve just implied that lunch with my dad


    will be worse...


    | blush, and curse myself again for my stupid tendency to do that all the time. Not only do | look like an idiot, blushing all the time,


    | also wear my emotions right on my sleeve.


    “No,” | blurt out, shaking my head and looking down at my breakfast, “I mean, it’s fine. I''ll do it. It won’t be so bad.”


    “Not every assignment is going to be a date with a sexy tattooed blonde, Fay,” Kent insists and | look back up at him in shock.


    Was he...did he just tease me? Did he just...


    “Did you just...call lvan? Your enemy? A sexy tattooed blonde?”


    Kent just smirks at me andughs a little, turning away. “Your car will be ready at eleven, Fay. Jerome will drive you. Don’t make


    me regret assigning him to you this time.”


    | say nothing as Kent walks away, just staring after him, wondering how he does this. Bnces it all, lives a life of such extremes


    with suchplete control. Hell, | get one knot in my ns and go to pieces, but Kent...


    “Wait,” Daniel says, leaning forward and interrupting my train of thought. “Did you go out on another date with lvan? When?”


    “Um,” | say lightly, picking up my fork and poking at my eggs. “Last night?”