The Innocent by Kailin Gow Read Free Book Online Page B

to meet up with Sebastian were quickly dashed as reality met her head on.
    Price’s private driver, Mr. Su was waiting in front of the school, ready to take her home, or wherever Price had instructed.  Serena had no place to run, no place to hide.  These last few days, Price barely let her out of his sight.
    Price, she thought with clenched fists.  Was it possible? Could he be behind Sebastian’s new assignment at USC?  “What have you done?”
    “What was that, Miss Sorensen?”
    Furious that he would go so far, she wanted to hurry home to confront him.  How could he play with Sebastian’s career in such a cavalier fashion?  Shaking off her blinding anger, she looked at the older man in front of her.  “Sorry, Mr. Su.  I’m just going over this last lesson.” As she spoke she realized there was no point talking to Price.  He’d already made it clear he’d do anything to keep her out of Sebastian’s arms.  Fear gripped her as she wondered just how far he really would go.
    “Of course. It’s good to review a lesson.  Keeps it fresh in your memory.”
    Impossible to be mad at the man, Serena smiled.  He was only doing his job and he was always kind to her.  “Where are you taking me this afternoon, Mr. Su?”
    “Just home.”  He opened the door to the elegant black sedan.
    Home, Serena thought.  It was the last place she wanted to go.  Not only did she have too much on her mind, but she knew Price wouldn’t be home for a few more hours.  If she stayed cooped up at home alone, she’d go stir crazy.
    “Since Mr. Turnsby and I have no special plans…” Serena said as the gears in her head worked double time.  She needed a plausible story that Mr. Su would buy without question.  “A friend of mine is home sick and I haven’t had a chance to stop by to see her in a while.  Do you think we could take a little detour and stop at her place for a few hours?”
    “Mr. Turnsby said I was to take you straight home.”
    “Yes, but Mr. Turnsby won’t be home for a few more hours.  There’s no point in my being home alone all that time, and my friend has been very lonely since her illness.”
    Mr. Su considered her argument a moment then nodded.
    Smiling, Serena got in the car and gave Mr. Su Laura’s address once he got behind the wheel.  She was a bundle of nerves as she sat in the back seat going over what Price would do if he found out.  When they pulled up in front of Laura’s home, she was relieved to see her car parked out front.
    Serena stepped out of the car when he opened the door, and she flashed him a broad and innocent smile. “Come back in four hours, Mr. Su.  I want to fix her a light dinner and have a nice chat.”
    He hesitated, checked his watch then nodded.  “Four hours.”
    As he drove away Serena let her frazzled nerves out in one long, shaky breath.  Four hours of freedom was the breath of fresh air she desperately needed.  Only when he disappeared around the corner did she turn to walk up to Laura’s front door.
    “What brings you here?”  Standing in the doorway with a concerned smile, she had a glass of wine in one hand and a box of tissue in the other.
    “You know me too well.”  Serena walked into the house and gratefully accepted the glass of wine Laura offered.  In three quick gulps the contents were gone and Laura dutifully filled it.
    “Who dropped you off here?”
    “That was Price’s trusted chauffeur.  He has strict instructions to bring me straight home after class.  I had to make up some cockamamie story about you being sick.”
    Laura grinned and coughed.  “How sick am I?”
    Serena smiled.  “I knew I could count on you.”
    “So how long do you have?”
    “He’ll be back in four hours.”
    “So, what’s going on that has you sneaking over here?”
    “Price.”
    “Yeah, I pretty much figured as much.”
    “Sebastian wasn’t in class today.”
    “What does that have to do with Price?”
    “I know this sounds farfetched,