The New Girl (Fantasy Heights) by Meg Silver Read Free Book Online Page B

he’s gonna do anything about it.”
    Thomas’s voice followed. “Don’t ignore this. Back in my old life, I could spot these guys a light-year away. I know what I’m talking about, Steph. The guy is dangerous.”
    “What if you’re wrong? Do you have any idea the damage such an accusation could do to him?”
    “I couldn’t give a single fuck less what happens to him. It’s everyone else I’m worried about. The resort, too. If something happened and the media got a hold of the story, what do you think might happen?”
    “You know what?” Steph snapped. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. You’re wrong, Thomas. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were jealous.”
    “Oh, for Christ’s sake, get over yourself. You’re one of the smartest women I know. How can you be so stupid about this one thing?”
    Amanda backed away, wishing with all her heart and any number of other vital organs that she hadn’t heard a single word of that exchange. She might dismiss it as none of her business if it weren’t for the threat of media exposure. Her anonymity mattered, and if Steph was harboring some kind of doomsday secret here at Fantasy Heights, Amanda’s time of refuge might have to end before it had really begun.
    She frowned all the way back to her car, wondering what ‘guy’ could be so dangerous. No one queued themselves up as a suspect. Everyone she’d met on the staff, with the exception of Thomas himself, had seemed pleasant enough. They did have to pass frequent medical and mental health checks. From what she’d experienced so far, management didn’t mess around with those.
    Maybe the guy in question was a client, or someone Steph was involved with? Josh popped momentarily to mind, but she just as quickly ruled him out. Of anyone she’d met at this place, he was the least worrisome. Besides. Thomas clearly wasn’t afraid to go after his employers. If he had a problem with Josh, he wouldn’t hesitate to take the fight straight to him.
    The taint of worry lingered through her days off. Monday came without the rumor mill producing anything juicy. Amanda was anxious and ready to get back to work. She didn’t have to go in until late that afternoon, and by then, she was derailed by something else entirely. The first piece of snail-mail she received at her new address was an invitation to her former fiancé and stepsister’s wedding.
    Standing at the mailbox, she shook her head and laughed. Just when she’d thought it safe to send Dad her new address... What was she supposed to do about this? The rest of her family didn’t actually expect her to attend, did they?
    She thought about it all the way to work. If she went to the wedding, it would be awkward. If she didn’t, everyone would think she was bitter, or a coward. And as much as she would like to say, “Fuck it, who cares what anyone thinks,” this was her family. There would be consequences whether she went or not.
    She was still preoccupied by the dilemma as she walked into wardrobe, where Kara attacked with hot-rollers, eyeliner and red lipstick. The same silk halter dress she’d worn for her threesome waited on its hanger until the rollers were out and Amanda’s hair flowed in dark, 30s-starlet waves down her back.
    Thinking she looked like the dark-side version of Veronica Lake, she had an extra sway to her step as she crossed the quad and headed for The Eastern Star where someone had booked a private party for the night. She would be the party favor once her client arrived. Until then, she was to take up position on the dance floor, put on a blindfold, and wait.
    The club was deserted, save for an unfamiliar observer hiding out in one corner. Over the rail between palm fronds was her blindfold. She fastened it carefully so that it wouldn’t undo all Kara’s hard work. Blind now, she followed the handrail onto the dance floor, getting her bearings, and slipping her shoes off. She was nudging them off to the side when