rator with a modest inheritance, looking for a quiet place to work. My clothes were replaced with a wardrobe of conservative, elegant pieces-nothing like the designer dress

at looked more like a fortress than a home. He led me through th

nroom with Daniel and Miss Mill

t the lord of the manor. Sitting in a state-of-the-art wheelchair was a man with the same dark hair as

de hair and a face that looked like it was made of porcelain. Chloe Miller. The "whit

oud, a little too cheerful. "Daniel, Chloe, this is Sarah Jenkins

a flicker of dismissive dislike in

venom. "I didn't know you had friends like... this,

calm but firm. He looked at me, his expression

s," I replied, keepi

Alexander's arm, pulling him toward the corner of the room. Her voice dropped to a harsh whisper, but I could still he

lexander placated her, his hand on her a

t of it made my stomach churn. This was the w

. "Daniel will show you to your room. It's right next to h

message. I was being place

, Alexander found

a family arrangement, a necessity to maintain the company's image after Daniel's... accident.

trying to possess her. He was using his brother's tragedy and my desperation

me to do?" I ask

with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Chloe is hosting a small get-together wi

hy

r place," he said with a shrug. "Just go along with

yes mansion. The "get-together" was a group of Chloe's snobbish friends, who looked me up and down like I was som

smiled sweetly at me. "Sarah, you like animals, don't you? My b

large, ominous-looking outbuildings. A strange, musky smell hung in the ai

r. "He keeps his new python

s soon as I stepped over the threshold, the heavy door slammed

s tr

on the door. "Chloe! W

ry, Sarah. My brother's friends will be here soon. They just want

room, and men were coming to "play a game" with me. Alexander had sent me into

eyes searching for a weapon, an escape route, anything. The only thing I could see was

n in Alexander's gam