Billionaire Wolf's MateDate - Serena Meadows Page 0,17
way. Jacob hasn’t been able to tell us anything.”
She looked over at Jacob. “I figured you could tell them yourself,” he said, then took a sip of his tea and set the cup down. “If you all don’t mind, I have some work. I’ll leave you to get caught up.”
Janice nearly panicked as she watched him walk out of the room, her plans of escaping quickly going with him. When she turned back, Betty was still smiling at her, but the smile was clearly forced. “I guess there’s not really that much to tell,” she said, her voice shaking with nerves. “I’m a stylist at a salon in Stoney Bridge, and if I’m lucky, I’ll be purchasing it from the owner.”
“A stylist?” her father asked, his voice dripping with disdain.
She nodded her head. “Yes, you know, cutting hair, giving perms, manicures, pedicures.”
It looked like her father shivered with disgust. “Yes, well, you won’t have to worry about that from now on,” he said.
“Oh, I love my job,” she said. “I wouldn’t dream of giving it up.”
Her father opened his mouth, a displeased look on his face, but Betty jumped in before he could speak. “It sounds lovely,” she said. “Maybe you could do my hair for the party.”
Janice looked away from her father. “Party?” she asked.
Betty clapped her hands, making the diamonds that circled her wrist glimmer in the light. “Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you. We’re having a party in your honor tomorrow night,” she said. “The Stuarts have very kindly volunteered to host, and they always have the best parties; it’s going to be wonderful. All the best people, all the best food, and you’ll be the center of attention. Everyone is so excited to meet you.”
Janice was stunned. “A party? Tomorrow night? The Stuarts?” she asked, stumbling over her words, suddenly overwhelmed. “I didn’t...that is, I don’t have anything to wear...I didn’t expect...I can’t go—”
“Of course, you can,” Betty interrupted her. “I’m sure we can find something fantastic for you to wear.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want...” Janice started to object.
But her father interrupted her. “Good, now that we’ve settled that, I’ll leave you ladies to work out the details,” he said, getting to his feet.
When he was gone, Betty said, “You really do want to look your best for the party; everyone who’s important will be there, and, well, it’s important to your father. The Stuarts are dear friends of ours, and they’ve been so generous offering their home to us.”
Janice felt guilty. “I’m sorry, I was just a bit surprised, that’s all. I didn’t expect a party,” she said.
Betty reached over and patted her on the arm. “I’m sure this has all been quite a shock to you,” she said. “Why don’t I show you to your room and you can rest for a while before dinner?”
“I could use a little rest. I didn’t sleep much last night,” she admitted.
“I’ve put you in the west wing with us,” Betty said, getting to her feet and leading the way out of the library. “The east wing had to be closed up a few years ago when the roof started leaking.”
When Janice walked into her room, the overpowering smell of rot and decay met her, but it cleared out quickly when Betty bustled over and opened the window. “Stupid maids. I’ve told them over and over to keep the windows open; they just won’t listen,” she said, slamming the window open. “I should fire them all and get new ones.”
She was relieved when Betty didn’t seem to expect an answer, moved carefully into the room, and looked around. “There’s a bathroom behind that door, but I have to warn you, it will take forever to get hot water, so be patient. Just another one of those things we haven’t gotten around to fixing yet,” she said, gesturing to the peeling paint.
“I suppose it is terribly expensive to keep up a house like this,” Janice said, relieved that at least the room was clean. “I think it’s quite lovely, in an old-fashioned way.”
“You can’t believe how much those workman charge, and for something I could do myself,” Betty said, waving her jewel covered fingers in the air. “They're all just cheats and liars, out to steal your money to pay for their fancy trucks and tools. It’s just shameful that people like us have to live this way.”
“Yes,” Janice said, trying to find a way to change the subject. “I suppose...”
“But of course, that’s all going to change. You