oe

me. Just hearing her voice, her unwavering belief in me, was an

ad to face

en bigger than I'd realized, a sprawling space of glass and white walls, furnished with an

verlooked the city. He was on the phone, dressed in a black silk robe that did little t

presence, because he

into the phone, his voice sharp with comma

up and

thicken. He had an intensity, a stillness, that was more intimidatin

orrowed nightgown, suddenly ve

a little shaky. "Good morning. I...

er sofa and sat, sinking into the cushions with a langui

e of the chair, my s

he bandages on my knee.

having your doctor look at

ant to repay you for your help. Once I get

e playing on his lips. It didn't reach h

berate, making my skin prickle with hea

f?" he asked, his voic

t believe he'd say something so... so blunt. I dropped my

I meant I'll pay you back. For the doctor's vi

ith what looked like genuine amusement at my fluste

e," he said, his tone shifting

fused. "Then...

spotless, but it lacked a human touch. There were no phot

desperation and

housekeeper, I can take care of this place," I said, my voic

fford a legion of staff. But it was the only thing I had to give.

ilence stretched, thick with tension. I held my

a slow, deliber

e had accepted. I had a purpose here, however small. I h

immediately set to work, starting with the glass coffee table in front of him. I need

ere on the sof

ough the windows illuminated the dust motes dancing in the air. It was strangely domestic, deeply surreal. Here

a text alert. I saw

ift, a flicker of something dark and calculating i

w some

ack, watching me work, a king observin

aiting to see wha