Chapter 0265

While the princes were giving interviews with the camera crews, Terry and a few of his servants

escorted the candidates, including myself, on a tour of his mansion.

When the plan had been suggested, I had seen the worry in both Nicholas’s and Julian’s gazes, but their

concern was merely blinding them to the benefits of such a move. If I could take the tour, perhaps Terry

would show us to some of his more private offices. And if I could slip away…

I tried to convey as such with my eyes, unable to privately speak with Nicholas and Julian, but my efforts

only seemed to double their worry. I wouldn’t be waylaid from my plan, however. This was the reason we

had even pushed to have this event.

We needed the dirt on Terry, and this was the perfect way to find it.

Terry led the way, with the candidates behind, and the servants following. I had hoped there would be

enough of us that I would have a chance to slip away. As it was, Terry kept me in his shadow. He touched

my wrist when I dared stray too far from his side.

The gleam in his eyes made me nervous to openly disobey, almost like that was what he wanted me to

do, so that he could put into practice his promise of… breaking me.

I shuddered at the thought. I could only imagine the horrors of what that would entail. From what it

sounded like, my consent was not a part of the equation.

Finally, after several long minutes of waiting for Terry’s guard to drop, Jessica stopped him and asked

one of

These brushstrokes

face went red with outrage. “I can assure you this is legitimate, young lady.”

in question. He reached out, tracing the

actually touching the painting.

is his early work.

up until I was even with the servants. None of them looked at me.

when I

to move backwards until I was near a corner of a hallway. Then, just

I had no idea where

not to ask too many questions when

open door. I found many bedrooms, some closets or storage rooms, a few

and then finally an office.

the office to make sure

with every pen in its place and no stray

one filled with manila folders, and began flipping through them. They all seemed innocuous: copies of electric and water bills, a statement

next year’s insurance

was mostly signed by Terry’s accountant, which made me wonder if this was even Terry’s office at all. The walls were trimmed in gold, but I was learning from the tour that Terry

in gold, even rooms he rarely visited.

this room could easily be his accountant’s office, or just an office used to store

similar results. One drawer held a fancy paperweight with no papers underneath. The drawer nearest

written on the notepads. The pens were all symmetrical

away.

be incriminating in the slightest. Or, if it was,

not that good.

to the door. Maybe I still had time to check another room before my absence would be noticed enough for me to be actively looked for. My bathroom excuse would only

might stop believing.

close to the door, suddenly, it slammed shut. A lock turned. I heard footsteps

my breath, scared even the sound of breathing too loudly would bring back

that closed the door.

to cease, and then I waited a minute more to be safe.

had heard the lock, I hadn’t panicked, expecting there to be a knob to turn on the inside. There’was no lock on the inside. The only

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