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I took the stairs halfway down, stopping on a dra painting Larger than life and most definitely an artist I kneell A portrait created by none other than the hand of Sir Tristan Mallerton hanging on the wall in a private houe with this family

I pulled outat," I spoke to a thick sounding "hello" that could only be my roommate but didn’t sound at all like her usual confident self

"Oh? What would that be? And it’s a little early, isn’t it?"

"Sorry, Gab, but I couldn’t resist You would be drooling if you could see thisohnot a foot from me I could rub my hands all over it if I wanted to"

"Better not do that, Bree Tella bit more like herself

"Well, it’s probably about seven feet by four, and gorgeous as hell A family portrait of a blonde woirl She’s wearing a pink gown and pearls that look like they belong in the Tower’s croels collection He looks like he’s in love with his wife God, it’s beautiful"

"Hht to take a photo so I can see?"

"I will, as soon as I nature?"

"Of course It was the first thing I looked for Bottoht, T Mallerton in those distinctive block letters of his It is, without a doubt, the real deal"

"Wow," Gaby said, in a very uned voice

"Is everything okay with you? Last night was insane and I never saw you after that alarh stress mode from some other stuff that happened"

"Like what?"

"Ue on h and Ethan had it on hi fromahthat video they made of me"

"Shit, are you serious?"

"Yep I a her made my stoht now Avoidance had worked well in the past for ain I was certain

"No wonder Ethan was stressed, Bree Why aren’t you?"

"I don’t know I just want to believe that nobody is after me and that this is just soo ahen the election is over Trust ood that soht then that I wouldn’t share Ethan’s "proposal" of the previous night I needed sonitude Better wait about telling her of Ethan’s ulti her opinion on things And at thenoise it would bring

"Hey," I asked her, "you didn’t answer ht was so e done, but still"