Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

"What?"

"I heard Grandpa's been getting tougher on you. Are you still willing to leave with me?" Warren's eyes were earnest, searching Sylvia's face.

Sylvia set down her coffee cup and glanced at him he clearly wasn't going to get much out of her. She decided to stay polite. "I'm finished. Let's go."

She stood up to leave, but Warren suddenly grabbed her wrist.

She winced, staring at him-there was something strange and stormy in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Warren stood as well, sighing. He glanced at her collar, then gave a crooked smile. "Just so you know, your shirt's inside out."

"Oh." Sylvia glanced down at her collar as he fixed it for her, then turned sharply and headed for the door.

...

Across town.

Bailey propped her chin on her hand, staring at a plate of roast chicken and mashed potatoes. She barely had an appetite, thanks to the sour-faced man sitting across from her.

"Mr. Rupert, aren't you going to check on them? Your niece is pretty gutsy, still hanging around Warren."

"I heard he sold off the family's secret recipe. And now he's been offloading shares of the family company under the table. Looks like he's digging a hole for you before he skips town."

himself some tea, utterly unbothered. "Let's see who he sells to,

huh? Still, I've met a lot of men, but the first time I met Warren, he gave me the creeps. Sylvia doesn't stand a

she couldn't

unreadable, and stood. "I'm heading out

waved her assistant over. "What was the name of that actor last time?

for Mr.

a word

...

deliberately slowed her pace-she didn't really want

for a way to say

back!

up; she must have mistaken Warren for Rupert, the man

"Oh, Mrs.

smiled warmly and extended his hand. "I'm Sylvia's

to shake his hand, but

have something

waved at

with that, she practically dragged Mrs.

her again, but Sylvia changed the subject in a flash. "You're home early today, Mrs. Ward! No

turned pink. "No, someone gave me a

boyfriend?" Sylvia asked,