man who hated me, who was cruel to me, who had plans for me he wouldn’t share no matter how I begged.
Callan Rose didn’t owe me a damn thing. And why should he? He’d climbed up from nothing to be where he stood, while I’d done everything in my power to knock him back down.
And remembering what I’d done, I knew I hadn’t yet seen the worst of it.
His patience in taking revenge was the worst of all, because I knew what was coming.
“All finished?”
I’d been so lost in thought that I missed the telltale click of sensible shoes stalking up behind me. Half of my food remained untouched on my plate, but it didn’t matter. Already, I was fighting the urge to vomit, every bite I’d managed to force down sitting like a boulder in my stomach.
I began to turn so that I could push to my feet, but Gretchen placed her hand on my shoulder to keep me in my seat.
Our eyes met as she rounded the table to take the chair opposite me. It was only the two of us in the dining room, the rest of the staff having already finished their meals to run off to whatever it was that occupied them at night.
She glanced at my food pointedly, her gaze drifting back to mine with disapproval.
“I’m not sure what is going on between you and Mr. Rose, and I won’t begin to guess. But, what I will do is remind you that allowing your strength to wane only tips the situation in his favor. As a woman, you can’t allow that to happen.”
Utterly shocked by her words, my mouth parted slightly, brows locking together to see Gretchen’s resilient expression, stunned to be part of a conversation where she was actually attempting to what? Help me? Inspire me to do better?
Interpreting my shock, she rolled her eyes and glanced about the room, eventually pinning me in a stare that spoke volumes.
“You’re in a poor position. I know that, and while I can’t help you, I can remind you that this is the plight of every woman since the beginning of time. We’re a kept gender, Lisbeth, although the methods of keeping us are different. For some, we’re nothing more than a pretty flower, pampered and cared for, as I’m sure you know from your past. But for others, we’re given the illusion of control while assigned meaningless titles. Meanwhile, men still believe they hold all the power due to a chunk of flesh hanging between their legs.”
I cleared my throat. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I hate to see any woman relinquish the power she does have regardless of whether men know it or not.”
“What power is that?”
“To continue valuing herself regardless of whether we’re valued by anyone else.” She paused, clicked her tongue and looked at my plate again.
“Eating like a bird and sitting over your plate sulking won’t solve any of your problems. I don’t know what dangers you’re facing or what the end result will be when all is said and done, but I do know that you’re giving up your power over yourself by allowing your circumstances to destroy you. Everybody in this mansion is well aware of what goes on here, but we each suck it up and tend to ourselves with the strength we refuse to let go. I suggest you do the same.”
Although I was grateful for her attempt to rouse my spirits, it still angered me that she didn’t appreciate the position I’d been put in by Callan. I knew nothing of my future here except to expect retribution for the past.
“And what if he destroys me regardless of how well I take care of myself?”
Gretchen laughed. “Learn the fine art of manipulation, dear. Women have also been doing that since the beginning of time. Callan isn’t a one-sided monster. His attitude toward the staff is proof of that. Learn to manipulate all sides of him.”
“How?”
Standing from her seat, Gretchen planted her palms against the table and stared down at me.
“I don’t know the answer to that question. That’s for you to figure out. My only advice is that you do so quickly.”
Silence fell between us, my body tense against whatever message she was trying to give me. If this was her best effort at making me feel better, she’d failed miserably.