Elite (Empire High, #2)(27)

“It’s even better with your smile. Perfection. Before you get me too distracted, some delicious man just stopped by and said breakfast was ready. Aren’t you a lucky little thing to ogle that eye candy all day?”

Every word out of his mouth was confusing. But I was pretty sure he meant Miller had stopped by and announced breakfast. “Is it okay if I leave you here?” I asked. “Or did you need my help?”

“It’s my job to get everything organized. Until I can realize my true potential, that is.”

“What’s your true potential?”

He looked up from his work. He seemed surprised by my question. “I was born to be an event planner.”

“All events or something in particular?”

He was staring at me like I was an alien. “Weddings specifically.”

“That sounds like a fun job.”

He smiled. “Fun. Flirty. And fabulous. The trifecta of “F’s. It’s the best job in the world. The only one for me.”

I smiled back. I really didn’t know what he was talking about, but he seemed excited. “So is being Diane’s assistant a stepping stone toward wedding planning?”

“Absolutely. Diane has all the connections.” He gestured around the room. “Remember me when you’re planning the wedding of your dreams.”

I laughed. “Not any time soon I’m afraid. But I’ll certainly remember you.”

He stared at me for a moment. “I guess I can fold your pants and put them in a drawer for you. But only because I like you.”

I laughed. “Thank you. That will actually be a lot easier for me.” Especially since I had no intention of ever hanging them up again.

“You’re so welcome. What a breath of fresh air you are.” He started humming and turned back to his work.

I left him to it and wandered out of my room. For just a second I let myself think of Matt. He’d made a joke a few nights ago, about how he’d be my first husband, like he’d take all my firsts. It didn’t feel like a joke at the time. But now it did. How could he ever marry someone he refused to be seen with in public? Matt and I were done. We were. So why did I miss him so much?

I tried to push the thought aside as I walked down the stairs and made my way to the dining room. The house seemed less creepy during the day. But before I reached the dining room, I glanced over my shoulder. It really felt like someone was watching me. I ignored the shiver down my spine and walked into the room.

Mr. Pruitt was sipping a cup of coffee. He stopped mid-sip and looked up at me, a smile stretching across his face. Is was the most genuine smile I’d seen on him. “Good morning, Brooklyn.”

Was it a good morning? He’d kidnapped me. He’d kicked his family out of the apartment last night. Nothing about this situation was good. “Um…good morning.” It came out as more of a question.

He gestured to the buffet spread out on the table. “Help yourself. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I had the chef make quite a bit. I hope you’re hungry.”

I was starving. All I’d eaten last night was ice cream. And before that? I hadn’t had an appetite. So there was no way I could turn down this feast. I sat down and piled my plate full of fresh fruit, bacon, scrambled eggs, fluffy waffles, and syrup. I pushed the eggs into the syrup.

“Your mom liked syrup on her eggs too.”

I looked up at him. “Yeah. She did.” I wasn’t sure why it surprised me that he knew that. Clearly he did know her. My mom never made it sound like a one-night stand or anything. I was pretty sure she’d been in love with him. Had he felt that too? “You painted my room yellow.”

“You never told me what color you preferred. And it was your mother’s favorite. I took a gamble. If you want to change it…”

“No. I love it.” I tried not to wince. Loving my new jail cell wasn’t exactly the right thing to say. I still wanted to leave. But I did have a million questions for him. And right now seemed like the perfect opportunity. There was only one that really mattered though. “You could have reached out to me my whole life. Why’d you wait until now?”

“Your existence only just came to my attention.”

What? That was a lie. “My mom told me that you didn’t stick around after you found out that she was pregnant. I know that you knew about me.”

“Yes, but I gave her money to take care of it. And then I never heard from her again.”

It? I wasn’t an it. Of course he never heard from her again. She wanted me. I was never an it to her. “You never thought of following up? To make sure you didn’t have another kid out there?”

“I was married. It was complicated. And I had no reason to assume she didn’t go through with the abortion when I gave her the proper funds.”

How could he talk about it so nonchalantly? He’d tried his best to get rid of me. Didn’t he see how fucked up this situation was? Why would he think I’d want to be here with him? I tried to focus so I could get the rest of the answers I needed from him. “Did she know that you were married?”

He shook his head. “No. Not until the last time I saw her.”

When you told her to get rid of me. I took a deep breath. I’d never think differently of my mother, but it was nice to know that she didn’t know he was married. If she had known…that would have been a lot harder to swallow. She was the only role model I ever had. And I didn’t want my memories of her to be tainted by…him. God, how had she loved him? I couldn’t see it. My mom had been so full of life. And Mr. Pruitt was…cold and cruel. “So if you didn’t want me, why am I here?”