Friday morning, my phone rings at 8 AM.
Eleanor Knight.
“Ms. Bennett. I’d like to take you to lunch today. Just the two of us. One o’clock at The Garden Room.”
My stomach drops. “Today?”
“Dinner with Marcus is this evening. I know. Which is why we should talk first. I’ll have a car sent at twelve thirty.”
She hangs up before I can refuse.
I immediately call Adrian.
“She invited you to lunch,” he says before I can speak.
“How did you—”
“She called me at seven thirty to inform me. And to tell me I’m not invited.” He sounds amused. “Just be yourself. She values honesty over performance.”
“That’s ironic considering tonight.”
“I know.” His voice goes quiet. “Zara, about tonight. After dinner. Can we talk? Actually talk.”
My heart does something complicated. “Okay.”
“Thank you. And
