Page 57 of Escorting the CEO
Miranda didn’t sit. She stood in the center of the room, regarding me.
I stayed where I was, near the far bookshelf, which felt strategic until I realized it meant she was still between me and the door.
“We haven’t had a chance to speak privately,” she said.
“Darn it.” I kept my voice light. “It’s really a shame.”
She frowned. “Sit down, Rory.”
I obliged, because my legs weren’t entirely steady, and I didn’t want her to know that.
Miranda took the chair across from me, crossing her ankles, perfectly composed. She looked at me for a long moment without speaking. I’d been on the receiving end of some uncomfortable silences lately, but Miranda was seriously a boss at it.
I held her gaze. My heart was hammering.
“You’re a pretty girl,” she said finally. “I’ll give you that.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s not a compliment,” she said pleasantly. “It’s an observation. Pretty girls show up in rich, powerful men’s lives all the time. But they rarely last.”
“I suppose that depends on the girl.”
“Yes. It does. Take me, for instance. I became my late husband’s whole world. I was here for him when no one else was, including Rhodes.” She smoothed an invisible wrinkle from her trouser leg. “Rhodes never cared about him. He’s a selfish young man, you should know that. He’s only here now because he wants the money. And to spite me, of course.”
I lifted my chin. “I don’t agree with you.”
“Well, that’s because you’re an idiot,” Miranda said. “What do you know about anything?”
“I know that Rhodes is a good man. And I know he loved his father,” I said.
“You’re wrong on both accounts. And that’s because your only source is Rhodes, who is more self-obsessed than anybody I’ve ever met.”
Her nostrils flared, two hectic spots of color appearing in her cheeks. “I’ve been with the family since Rhodes was a boy. William was the one who was devoted to his father. Rhodes was the one who only ever did what he wanted. My husband tried for years to bridge the gap with him, but all he ever did was push him away. He never accepted me, and he never forgave his father for marrying me.”
Maybe because you’re a scary bitch?“I’m sorry that you feel that way,” I said instead. “But why don’t you try talking to him?”
“Who says I haven’t?”
“I haven’t seen you trying,” I said truthfully. “I’ve only noticed you trying to undermine him.”
“Well, aren’t you Little Miss Observant?” Miranda scoffed. “Like I said, what do you know about anything? You don’t know the history. You don’t know how he’s hurt me, and how he hurt my husband.”
“I think Rhodes might have a different perspective.”
“Oh, I’m sure the spoiled brat does.” Miranda glared at me. “But enough about him—do you want to know whatI’venoticed aboutyou?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“You’re trying very hard to sell your little act.” She let that settle. “Most people in love don’t try that hard. They’re careless—completely oblivious to what’s going on around them.”
She looked at me steadily. “But you aren’t like that, are you? You always know what’s going on, how your audience is reacting. Because you’re looking to see if it lands.”
My mouth went dry. I said nothing.
“Rhodes is many things,” Miranda continued, “but he is not stupid, and neither am I. You appeared here out of nowhere,days after his father and brother died and their wills were read. There was no engagement announcement, no prior mention of a relationship, no photographs, no mutual acquaintances who knew you as a couple.” She paused. “I’ve asked around.”
“We were private,” I said. My voice came out steadier than I felt. “And it happened fast.”
