“Could you pour the wine?” He hesitated before asking, as if concerned he might frighten her away if he asked too much.
By the time she filled their glasses, he arrived at the table with two plates full of pasta. “I hope you like it.”
Charlie leaned forward, taking a mouthful. It tasted even better than it looked. A smile broke across her face. “This is great.”
Thayer’s mouth pulled up in a lopsided smile. “I’m glad.”
They fell silent, too preoccupied by the food for conversation. When Charlie finally tore herself away from the meal, she found Thayer watching her. Their eyes connected, catching her in his gaze.
Self-conscious under his scrutiny, she spoke to break the tension. “Tell me about yourself.”
Thayer’s eyes widened in surprise; clearly he hadn’t expected her to make conversation. “What would you like to know?” He recovered, taking a sip of wine.
She wanted to know why he’d entered the Lottery, but the moment didn’t seem right. Instead, she asked the first question that popped into her head. “What’s your favorite color?”
He startled her with a deep laugh. “Really? Any question, and that’s what you come up with?”
His laugh broke the barrier between them. She found herself laughing, too. “I don’t know what else to ask.”
“Green. I like green,” he chuckled. “And you?” His eyes danced with light and his smile softened the hard angles in his face.
Charlie shot him a sheepish look. “I don’t have one favorite color. I’m partial to cool tones.” She looked down and pushed her remaining pasta around the plate.
“Is that it, no more questions?” he teased when she didn’t speak.
“I’m deciding which to ask.” She thought for a moment. “How is it that you can’t fry an egg but you can make spaghetti carbonara?”
“Have you ever tried to fry an egg?” She shook her head. “It isn’t as easy as it sounds. There’s a precise science to it, one that I have yet to master.” He leaned back, taking a sip from his glass. “On the other hand, spaghetti carbonara is simple. Boiling water and cooking some bacon is a lot easier than flipping an egg without breaking the yolk.”
“Who taught you to cook?”
He spoke carefully, as if afraid to upset her. “Cornelia Prescott.”
“As in famous actress daughter of a Councilman? That Cornelia Prescott?” Charlie asked in surprise.
Thayer nodded, his expression remaining passive. “We graduated from University together.”
“Isn’t she younger than you?” Charlie took another bite, wondering if he’d learned to cook this specific dish from the starlet.
“She is. My Determining placed me in the military for three years. I didn’t go to University until after.”
Military training would explain your muscular frame. Charlie blushed at the thought. Thayer noticed the redness of her cheeks and quirked his head to one side.
She swallowed, speaking before he could ask about her blush. “Is it usual for someone to enter the military for such a short period? I always assumed the Determining would make a placement like that permanent.”
“Usually the military is a career, yes. In my case, it was a stepping-stone. I needed the training to take over my father’s company.” Thayer stared past her; his face filling with what she could only define as resentment.
It struck her that Thayer might have endured a Determining similar to her own. She wondered whether Councilman McLean had a hand in deciding his son’s future.
“It would seem our chips believe in keeping business in the family,” she said, more to herself than to him.
He looked back at her. His eyes searched her face, absorbing every detail; much like the night before when he’d noted her cuts and bruises. “It would seem so.”
Not wanting to end their conversation on a low note, she quickly changed the subject. “What use will your military training be when you take over for your father?”
The muscles in Thayer’s face relaxed. “My father owns Milites Security. We’re a private security company.”
“I knew your family was in security. I guess I just thought you’d focus on the business side of things.”
“My father believes in knowing all aspects of the business,” Thayer offered.
Charlie took a sip of wine. “Do you work for the company now?”
He nodded. “Mostly I manage the people. I do everything from overseeing training to handling any work orders that come in.”
“It sounds like you do more of the work than your father.”
Thayer smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “His job is harder than mine. I’ve always found people to be easier and more forgiving than the bottom-line.”
“But?” she prompted.
Thayer’s fingers began tapping out an agitated rhythm. “You know what it’s like, being expected to follow in your father’s footsteps.”
She did, so she didn’t press him any further. “You said you’re in the city for business?”
Thayer’s fingers stilled. Charlie got the impression he was measuring how much to share with her. “Yes. We have a few clients I needed to meet with before fulfilling our contracts. But, enough about work.” He leaned toward her. “What else would you like to know about me?”
Still wondering about the Lottery, she tested the waters. “I don’t think you’d like the question I really want to ask.”
“All you can do is ask. If I don’t like it, I don’t have to answer.” He leveled her with a steady look.
Steeling her courage, she took the plunge. “Why did you enter your name in the Lottery? You could choose any woman you want. Why throw that away?”
“You’re right, I don’t like that question.” He paused. “But then, maybe you’re the only person who would understand.” He said the last part to himself.
“Tell me,” she encouraged.
He hesitated. “I can’t have just any woman. I’m under the control of the chip, just like every other person. Not to mention my family’s expectations. I think you understand that.” He gave her a knowing look. “Rather than go through the hassle of choosing a wife from an approved pool of candidates only to find we are incompatible, I decided to let the Lottery choose for me. Either way, it wouldn’t be my decision. At least now I won’t have my parents pressuring me to marry. For better or worse, it’s done.” He shot her an apologetic look.
“You’re right. I may be the only person who understands. Maybe we really are meant to be paired.” She looked at him, wishing that somehow this would be a point of common ground for them.
“Maybe.” He smiled. “While we’re sort of on the subject, I have something for you.” He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a small, black velvet box. “To make things official.” He slid the box across the table toward her.
She knew it held a wedding ring, but that didn’t stop her hands from shaking in nervous anticipation. With slow movements, she opened the box to reveal the ring inside. A flawless princess cut diamond sat between two smaller diamonds. All three were mounted on a white gold band. Small diamonds covered the accompanying wedding band. The two locked together so perfectly that at first Charlie thought the box held a single double-banded ring.
“It’s beautiful.” Charlie swallowed the lump rising in her throat. Seeing the ring reminded her of Drew and his simple offering. Could that only have been a week ago? It seemed like lifetimes.
Thayer reached for the box, removed the ring, and took her hand. A shock traveled down her arm when their skin touched. She wanted to pull her hand away, but controlled the impulse. He gently slid the ring onto her finger. It fit. He held her hand a moment longer than necessary before letting go.
“Where’s yours?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion.
He reached back into his pocket, pulling out a simple silver band. “Did you want to put it on?” he asked, uncertain.
She didn’t want to. Wearing the ring was
necessary for pretense but exchanging rings like this made their marriage tangible. But she couldn’t say no. Taking his hand in hers, she slid the ring onto his finger.
Almost as soon as she’d pushed it into place, a shrill alarm echoed through the apartment. She pulled away and clamped her hands over her ears. Wide eyed, she shot him a questioning look. Thayer seemed to have grown even taller and broader. Every muscle in his body tensed, at the ready.
He said something to her that she couldn’t hear. She shook her head in confusion, and he motioned for her to stay at the table. She nodded, watching him leave the kitchen. Minutes passed before the alarm cut off.
Removing her hands, she half expected the alarm to start screaming again. She strained to hear anything, but her ears continued to ring, preventing her from picking up any sound.
“Thayer?” she called in a whisper. No reply came.
Another minute passed in silence before footsteps sounded from the entryway. The sound grew louder, heading toward the kitchen, closer to her. Heart pounding, she grabbed the corkscrew and hid it in her lap. It won’t kill anyone, but it could buy me time to get away.
Thayer appeared around the corner. She let out a sigh of relief, loosening her grip on the corkscrew. He wore an annoyed expression. “Nothing to worry about. A pest found its way into the apartment.” He looked over his shoulder, drawing Charlie’s attention to the man behind him.
“How was I supposed to know you’d have the alarm set?” Charlie detected a slight drawl in the words. “You never keep that thing on.” Logan McLean walked into the kitchen, amusement playing across his features. He spotted Charlie and all playfulness drained from his face.
Like his brother, Logan’s eyes took in every bruise and cut. Charlie watched his expression pass from shock to anger. It surprised her how similar the two brother’s reactions were.
Logan glared at Thayer. “What the hell did you do to her?”
Thayer ignored him, turning his attention to Charlie. “Charlotte, this is my brother Logan. Don’t listen to anything he says. We may have been raised by the same mother, but somehow he missed every lesson on manners and tact.”
“Your brother isn’t responsible for my appearance.” Charlie stood and extended a hand to her brother-in-law, discreetly placing the corkscrew back on the table.
Logan took her hand absently, his eyes riveted on her face. “Now that you’re a part of the family, I feel obligated to ask: is there someone I need to take care of for you?” His voice came off teasing, but Charlie didn’t miss the sincerity in his eyes or the look he shot Thayer.
“It’s been taken care of,” Charlie assured him with a small smile.
He nodded, though the expression on his face told her he wasn’t convinced.
“What brings you over?” Thayer interrupted.
Charlie sat back down and the two brothers followed her lead. Her appetite gone, she sipped her wine.
“I came over because of Charlotte.” Logan glanced at her, but he couldn’t meet her eyes. His gaze kept flicking back to her injuries. “Congratulations, brother, you’ve done well. Though this puts me in a bind. Mom will turn all her attention to marrying me off next. And I’ll have no hope of sneaking off in the night like you two lovebirds.
“But enough about all that. I’d like to get to know my new sister.” He turned expectantly. His blue eyes were a deeper shade than Thayer’s, but still had the ability to see right through her.
Charlie didn’t even know her husband yet. The idea of having to impress his brother overwhelmed her. “Ask away.”
Logan tapped his fingers on the table, a thoughtful look on his face. “How old are you?”
“I’ll be twenty-one in a few weeks,” she answered.
Logan’s eyes widened a little. “What are you doing married to this old man?” He slapped Thayer on the shoulder.
Thayer glared at his brother. “Careful, Logan. In two years, you’ll be old, too.”
Logan ignored Thayer, continuing with his questions. “How did you end up married to my brother?”
Charlie’s heart throbbed, but she kept her face calm. “Good luck and a little pressure.”
Logan laughed. “Is that the secret formula to marriage?”
“It’s worked so far.” She crossed her arms against her chest.
“What are you studying at University?” He changed direction.
“Business and economics.”
“What will you do with your education?”
“Whatever my chip tells me.” She shifted under his scrutiny.
His mouth turned down a little. “Do you always do what you’re told?”
Charlie scoffed. “If you only knew.”
“What—”
Thayer cut off Logan’s next question, slapping him on the back and shooting him a warning look. “Logan, stop interrogating my wife.”
“I actually have a lot of work to do for classes.” She stood and the brothers followed suit. “It was nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”
Logan reached out, shaking her hand. “Goodnight, Mrs. McLean.”
She clenched her fists at the title and pulled back from Logan.
Thayer shot her an apologetic look. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
She nodded, retreating from the room. Although they were normal questions, Logan’s probing was unwelcome. She didn’t feel the need to reveal all her secrets, and the fact that he seemed to want to know them annoyed her. The sudden urge to march back into the kitchen and yell at him nagged her. She ignored it, trudging up the stairs.
The guestroom had its own bathroom, modeled to match the bedroom’s simple and modern décor. Charlie went straight there. She grabbed the bottle of pain pills next to the sink, taking one before stripping down and getting in the shower.
The hot water ran down her back, relieving her aching muscles. All her energy flowed out of her body and escaped down the drain with the water, leaving an empty ache behind. She wouldn’t cry again, not today. Taking a deep breath, she pushed aside her raw emotions and finished her shower without shedding a tear.
She slipped into a pair of sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt. She looked at herself in the mirror as she brushed her teeth. Thayer had been right; the bruises were fading and her nose looked closer to its normal size. Spitting out her toothpaste, Charlie examined her split lip and the few cuts around her eyes. Those would be the hardest to cover, but if she continued healing at her current rate, she might be able to go back to classes before the end of the week.
Buoyed by this small improvement, she returned to the futon and her work. Pulling out her tablet, she started researching for her paper. None of the sites she visited had any information about her, Thayer, or their wedding. It was a relief to escape from the situation, even if the break was only momentary.
Eventually, Charlie heard Thayer ascending the stairs. He stopped outside her room and she paused, waiting for him to knock. Seconds passed before his footsteps continued down that hall.
She worked for a few more hours until her eyes grew too tired to continue. With a sigh, she powered down the tablet and turned the lights out. In the dark, she reached out to the empty side of the bed, thinking of Drew. If her father hadn’t interfered, would she be lying beside him now?
I never loved him.
The thought came out of nowhere. It brought with it waves of guilt. Wrapping her arms around herself, she fell into a fitful sleep.
~
A decaying door hanging by its rusted hinges beckoned to Charlie. Curiosity won over sense and she walked through the entry. As soon as she stood inside, the door slammed shut, plunging her into darkness.
Her heart hammered out of control as she fumbled to find the light. Before she found a switch, an orange glow illuminated the room. She wasn’t in the entryway anymore, but in an office. It took her a moment to recognize it as the Office of Interpersonal Determination.
The glow lighting the room came from fire crawling a
long the walls. It moved like a living creature stalking its prey. The flames devoured everything in its path, leaving an intricate design of black ash and glowing embers behind.
Movement caught her eye. Mr. Ross stood across the room, wearing a vacant expression. Shadows played on his face, making his eyes look hollow. His skin hung off his body like loose folds of fabric. Charlie took a step toward him and his eyes flicked to hers. The eyes she remembered as warm brown were now blood red and animalistic. Fear churned in her stomach.
“You’ve done this to yourself.” It wasn’t Mr. Ross’s voice but her father’s that hissed at her.
The flames traveled to the floor and licked at her from behind, pushing her closer and closer to him. She wanted to run, but the heat propelled her forward. When she stood within reach, he wound his arm back and hit her. Blood spurted from her nose, flowing down her face and staining her clothes. The warm, red liquid poured from her, pooling at her feet. She tried to stop the bleeding, but nothing stemmed the flow.
She needed to tell him that she didn’t do this. Everything that’d happened was her father’s fault. The burning walls and all the decay was his responsibility, not hers. But no matter how hard she fought, she couldn’t make a sound.
“You will pay for this, Charlotte. No matter where you run, no matter what you do, we will find you.” Black smoke seeped from his pores, curling around him.
Mr. Ross’s body jerked. He opened his mouth in a silent scream. Smoke flew from his mouth in a torrent. A loud crack echoed through the room. His jaw ripped away from his head, falling to the burning floor. When all the smoke escaped, Mr. Ross’s body looked like nothing more than empty skin. It collapsed, leaving a pillar of black smoke behind.
Richard’s voice surrounded her. It deepened to something guttural and demonic. “You can’t run from us, Charlotte.”
The smoke shot out toward her, knocking her back into the flames. Fire crawled up her limbs, burning her flesh. Smoke surrounded her, cutting off her oxygen. She tried to take a breath, but when she opened her mouth the smoke shot inside her. She could feel it slipping down her throat. It expanded like it wanted to rip her apart. She was going to die.
The Determining Page 17