that. Nice hearing from you,” he said and hung up.
I thought of Ollie and how we normally caught up almost daily at the beach. I hadn’t seen him that week and made a mental note to call.
9
MIRANDA
Britney regarded me as though I was the devil incarnate. “I can see you’ve made an impression on Lachlan. Let’s get one thing straight. He might say he’s calling the shots here, but he needs me more than ever, and you’re disposable.”
The cold look in her eyes sent a shiver through me.
She continued. “For some reason, he thinks you’re useful. But I can change all of that in a flash. This best friend act has got to stop.” I mumbled an apology, but she spoke over me. “Don’t speak. Listen. No more of that girl-next-door shit.” Her eyes wandered to my chest and she scowled. “And no fitted tops. Lay off the boss. Now, I need you to get to work.” She pulled out some files. “Go through each of these lists and delete anything highlighted. With every document you delete, make sure you clear the recycle bin. Without fail.”
Britney’s abrasive tone stung. I hadn’t been flirting with Lachlan at all.
She placed the large stack of files on my desk. “I need this done yesterday.”
“Sure.”
“You’re going to have to work through your lunch break.”
I nodded, sensing something was off about what she’d asked me to do. It was only for Lachlan’s sake that I worried. Knowing he’d driven on a suspended license, I did wonder if he was reckless. But I couldn’t dislike him, because he struck me as a genuinely nice guy. Especially how he’d protected me against the jeering society girls by staying close and showing no concern about being seen with someone dressed in an ugly dress. Lachlan had treated me kindly and paid attention to every word I uttered. That wasn’t what I would have expected from someone as good-looking and wealthy as Lachlan Peace. He’d been so sweet around Ava, and he hadn’t looked down on the way my sister and I lived, which was a far cry from the privileged splendor he’d obviously enjoyed all his life.
I’d just started with my first file when my phone buzzed. Seeing it was Lachlan, I took the call.
“Is Britney within hearing distance?” he asked.
“No,” I answered. The urgency in his tone had me gripping the phone tight.
“Good. What has she got you doing?”
“I’m deleting files,” I said.
“Can you do something for me?”
“Sure.”
“Copy everything onto a USB before deleting. And whatever you do, don’t let Britney see it.”
“All right.”
“Good. See you later.”
He hung up and my finger trembled as it hovered over the delete button. I found a flash drive and did as Lachlan had asked. When I heard Britney’s heels clicking rapidly as she approached the office, I pulled out the USB.
She arrived just as I’d managed to slide it under the files, my palms sweaty.
Two hours later, a couple of men in matching gray suits and buzz cuts walked in. They looked very official and Britney strutted up to them immediately in her tight-fitting pencil skirt.
“You can go to lunch now. Take two hours.” It was more an order than anything.
After bathing in the sunshine while taking a pleasant stroll around the vast, flourishing grounds, I returned to my desk.
The two men from earlier passed by me. Their cheap aftershave shot up my nose, leaving a lingering reminder of their unwanted presence.
Britney stood by my desk and watched them leave. After they were out of sight, she handed me a file. “Here’s an inventory of the estate’s art collection. I want you to check on current market values.”
I nodded.
Shortly after she left me alone, Lachlan strode in and, stopping at my desk, asked, “Did you do it?”
I retrieved the USB from my purse and handed it to him.
“Nice work. Thanks.” He looked at the Whistler still life displayed on my screen. “That’s one of ours.”
“Britney’s asked me to check what they’re all currently worth.”
“Good. That reminds me, I’m taking the Monet to an expert.”
I nodded, biting my lip. Britney had returned, hovering in the doorway expectantly.
Lachlan turned to her. “We need to talk.”
Watching them head to his office, I released a tight breath.
He returned a few moments later and handed me a credit card. “This is for you. The family stylist should be on a list of contacts you’ve been emailed. Give her a ring and make an appointment. We have a ball to attend tomorrow night. Assuming you don’t