Page 39 of Room Service

“Of course, sir. Please hold for a bit.”

I was left on hold for a full five minutes before she came back to tell me she’d had no luck.

“Damn,” I muttered to myself as I cut the call. “She’s going to be harder to find than expected.”

If I couldn’t find her at home, then finding her wouldn’t be easy. When she’d called at my office, I hadn't checked her number. I didn’t know if she had my cell number but I didn’t have hers. Mason or Kevin might, but then I’d have to ask them about it, and they might ask why I wanted to see her.

They were back before I could manage, and I was pretty sure they hadn't taken the full hour.

“We’re back,” Mason called out, strutting in first. “Did you miss us?”

Kevin followed after, a kitchen staff member with him.

“We came back with the food,” he called out, moving to sit at his desk as the food was brought over to me.

I put my plans on hold, only making quick inquiries here and there to be told when Emily was sighted.

***

I didn’t getanything by the time I went back to my room—after stopping by Jessi’s place again, only to get no response.

Then there was a knock on my door. I opened it, surprised to see Emily on the other side.

“I heard you’ve been looking for me,” she said as she side-stepped me and walked into the room.

I gaped at her, and after a second remembered to snap my mouth shut and close the door. I followed her to where she’d moved to drape herself on my couch. I took the single seat that sat diagonally to it and looked at her in disapproval.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, not exactly being polite about it.

She arched an eyebrow at me. “Were you or were you not looking for me all day?”

“I wanted them to let me know when they found you so that we could talk over the phone.”

“Or you could have come to the mansion to look for me?” she said, arching an eyebrow. “You do have a room there, don’t you?”

I sniffed. “I’m set up in both the mansion and the hotel, but I have more work to do here.”

She shrugged. “Fair enough. Now, why did you want to see me?”

I watched her carefully, wondering how to broach the subject. Then decided the direct approach would be best.

“I want to talk about Jessi,” I said.

That had her going on the alert. Her gaze was suddenly intense, and she sat up slowly, almost primly, arching an eyebrow at me.

“What about Jessi?”

I took in a deep breath as I settled back, wondering what to say so I wouldn’t give too much away.

“For one,” I started, “is she seeing anyone? It’s been a while since she and I… saw each other. And I was surprised when Dad told me she was working here.”

She nodded slowly. “That’s right. You’ve probably known her longer than me, right? You’re about the same age.”

“We knew each other as kids,” I said vaguely. I wasn’t very nice to Jessi by the time Emily grew old enough to start to understand things. “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to.”

She considered me through narrowed eyes for a minute.

“Well, for one, I doubt she’s seeing anyone. She’s never had a boyfriend that I know of, though there is someone she likes.” She folded her arms across her chest and sent me an accusing look. “Jessi is sweet and one of my best friends. I hope you haven’t taken advantage of her, big brother, just because the two of you knew each other before. If you’re thinking about it, I would ask that you please leave her alone.”

Her words were polite, but her tone was hard. It was the first time she’d spoken to me while meeting my gaze, and she didn’t look like she was backing down, though neither of us looked away. She held her ground, and I was coming to another realization.

Just what did I think I knew about Emily?

It was all wrong. I didn’t know her very well because I’d thought getting information from her would have been the easiest avenue, yet she was looking at me like she would rip me a new one if I did anything to her friend she didn’t like.

Well, shit.

I couldn’t help feeling impressed at how loyal she was.

“If that was all, brother,” she said, getting up. “I’ll be going back now.”

With a flip of her hair, she flounced out of my room, and I wondered to myself with pursed lips just how much of my life wasn’t how I’d always thought it was.