Page 14 of Willowbrooke
“I tried,” I admitted, “but design was my passion.” I tried to focus on the positive, rather than my failures.
“A new passion, though?” Margot corrected me. “Leo said this is your first project of this size.”
“Not a new passion.” I paused, trying to work through exactly how to give her information without making myself sound less than—both Mina and now sometimes Leo had been after me to work on my self-confidence.
“When I graduated, my parents needed help at their firm, so I worked there for a while, but eventually—I just…” I stumbled over my words. “I wanted to find my own career—my own path.”
“A risky gamble,” Margot commented, her eyes firmly on the road ahead of her. “Quite admirable.”
“Thank you.” I blushed at the compliment.
I found Margot intimidating, but because Leo cared for her so deeply, I couldn’t deny wanting to impress her. I felt it was important that she think highly of me—maybe I was scared that if she didn’t like me, Leo would change his mind,and all of the good fortune I had stumbled upon would be lost.
“Tell me, what are your honest thoughts about Willowbrooke?” she simpered.
I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the home, haunted or not. “I love it,” I said simply.
Margot nodded in response, but said nothing more as she pulled into the driveway of an ivy-covered building that housed the restaurant. She waited for the valet to open her car door, whereas I didn’t have the manners or experience to realize I should have followed her lead and done the same.
“Do they have a dress code here?” I tugged at my oversized blazer and pursed my lips, trying not to look down at my sneakers, which were covered in dust from the kitchen construction.
“Probably,” she said flippantly. “But the owner is a dear friend—so nobody will give you any trouble.”
I had to smother a grimace when we crossed the threshold to a sea of blue bloods dressed in their finest, as Margot had clearly taken me to a fancy dining establishment.
“Pierre!” Margot gushed, giving air kisses to an attractive older man wearing an immaculate black suit and a thin mustache. With the way he carried himself, he had to be the owner she’d spoken of.
“How was Europe?” Pierre beamed.
“Oh you know, nice for a while, but there’s no place like home,” Margot chatted. “I hope you kept my table open forme.”
“But of course, right this way.” He allowed her to politely rest her hand on his arm as he escorted her to the back of the dining room. I followed like a dope, as the man had never even made notice of me.
“Madam.” He smiled, pulling out Margot’s chair for her. Once again, I committed a faux pas by seating myself. I didn’t think I’d ever been to such an expensive restaurant before. I hoped Margot wouldn’t count it against me.
“Shall I bring over your usual?” Pierre asked Margot.
“That would be lovely.” She smiled up at the gentleman. “And she’ll have the same.”
Pierre nodded without a glance in my direction before he was off.
“Bit of a social climber, but an excellent contact to have nonetheless.” Margot neatly folded her cloth napkin over her lap.
I laughed at the remark because I got the impression that was the response she had wanted. And indeed, she smiled in acknowledgement.
“In the car—you didn’t tell me, what doyouthink of Willowbrooke?” I tried to start polite conversation.
Before she could answer, a waiter brought us both glasses of red wine.
Margot sighed appreciatively, “Chateau Gardelier, Cabernet, 1978 vintage.” She swirled her wineglass. “It’s where I was staying in Europe—one of my friends ownsit. Stunning vineyards and gardens. You’ll have to visit sometime.”
I found the offer hollow, but nodded politely anyway.
Following her lead, I also gently swirled my glass. I enjoyed a glass of red every now and again, but was far from an expert in anything having to do with wine. Leo likely would have been appalled to know I had a box of red sitting in my apartment as I dined with his aunt.
I took a small sip—it wasn’t as dry as I had expected. “It’s good,” I said genuinely, eyebrows raised in delight.
Margot seemed pleased and inhaled the scent of her glass before drinking from it. “It’s odd staying at the cottage now—since the divorce a few years ago. We were never allowed to go near the cottage growing up, as the groundskeeper lived there at the time. You’ll have to come by and visit, give me your advice on the design. It’s a bit too homey for my liking. I prefer residences that are more stately.
