Page 35 (1/2)

I mean, with Brynn Our family

I can’t afford to dilute myself or my wealth

Can’t afford to have other people like Mike Whit my money from me

From us Brynn and me

Before any of that, I decide I’ll get up, get dressed, and get the house feeling and looking more like a home in time for when Brynn decides to wake up

I’lad to see the kitchen and pantry are well stocked

We won’t go hungry and I don’t have to thaw anything from the freezers

Next, I check the ancient greenhouse that joins the house beside the library

It’s in full bloom Roses too, which is perfect for what I have in mind

There’s a bathrooest and oldest Theone is down here

I laid the diamond pattern black and white tiles myself Acid dipped the old cast iron claw tub and re-enameled it so it looks like it was o

The place is spotless, which I have the staff to thank Even though I’ perfect because they just never knohen I will drop in

Reminds me…

I fish forthe house phone

How it got there I can only iine, I smile to myself

There’s es

I ure I should get his side of the story

Filling the tub sloith hot water and suds, I crush rose petals in the water and around the tub when he picks up

“Mr Masters Thanks for getting back to—” he says

“I’h “What can I help you with?” I ask, deliberately sounding as brash and uninterested as I can

Hoping it’s not too over the top

It’s not

Mack spills his guts It’s after hours so I iet his confidence or to forget so entirely

“Those“Well, they were only acting the way they did because they thought it was you in danger,” he says with a genuine note of finality

His case for the men has been put forward