o the silence of the massive house. The a

mpty staircase, then back at Ava. Her eyes inst

did you speak to me like that

her natural empathy kicking

er eyes locked on Cristin. She watched the tears spill

n sniffled, reaching into her pocket for a t

n's left wrist. "Tak

d her sleeve down over her wrist

d of any emotion. "You bought it last Tuesday. You use

She stammered, "You... you told m

ess. You claim you were just listening to Warren's advice." Ava tilted her head. "Your father was the executive

eyes. The soft, victimized expression mel

opping the tissue. "You are a stupid, spoiled bra

ly. "I was stup

chain resting against Cristin's collarbone. It was a cheap friends

round the metal. She

ratch before giving way. The cheap plastic beads strung along the chain sca

neck. She dropped to her knees, instin

el down hard on one of the blue plastic bea

the top of Cristi

, the estate's head butler, was making his usual rounds to report on the evening's dinner pre

"Escort Miss Kerr

stions. He extended his arm toward the stairs, his

ion. She looked at Ava, her chest heaving. She grabbed her

lway. She looked down into the grand foyer below

, her voice echoing loudly off the marble walls below,

at the stairs. Cristin's shoulders jerke

e. She let out a long, slow brea