“Lincoln,” the man said, holding out his beer-free hand to shake mine.
I took it carefully. “Nice to meet you all.”
“Can I get you a drink?” Caleb asked from behind me. I turned to face him.
“Oh, sure.” Rule number one, already broken. Thanks, peer pressure. “Whatever you’re drinking is perfect.”
He nodded, moving to the bar and picking up the open bottle of chardonnay on the counter.
Before he handed me my glass, I heard heavy footsteps moving down the stairs and turned around, holding my breath to see who would make an appearance next.
“Hey-o!” the man called, his voice carrying through the room with a frat-boy-like quality. He, like Lincoln, was dressed in a suit, though his was light gray and he wore no tie. He grabbed Lincoln’s hand first, pulling him in for a one-armed hug. “The gang’s all here,” he said, his face glowing as he made his way around the peninsula to take Vanessa’s hand. He kissed her knuckles, but missed the grimace on her face as he turned to me, offering me the same…courtesy. I studied his face, the wide-set eyes and too-high brows. He wasn’t handsome like Lincoln or Caleb, but he carried an arrogance that made him in control of the room. He shook Caleb’s hand next, and Caleb began the introductions as he handed over my wine.
I took a sip, waiting for my turn to introduce myself. “Lark,” I said last.
The man nodded his head back and forth rather than up and down, his eyes searching the room. “I’m Victor—to the victor go the spoils, amiright?” He howled with delight, though no one else did. I was suddenly feeling much better about my chances at this position.
Without waiting for an offer, he made his way around the bar by Caleb and opened a beer. I was surprised he didn’t try to use his teeth.
A few moments later, we heard the last set of heels clicking into the room. I hadn’t heard her descend the stairs, I was so focused on Victor’s obnoxious entrance, but when I turned around, hers was another face I recognized from the lobby where we’d waited to be interviewed. The red of her dress caused her green eyes to sparkle.
I smiled at her, though Victor beat me to saying hello.
“Hello, hello, hello,” he said, his thick Italian accent rearing its head. He scooted his feet across the floor in a rush to get to her. He grinned, taking her hand and planting a lingering kiss on her fingers. “I’m Victor. And you are?”
“Claire,” she said, tucking a piece of her dark, chin-length hair behind her ears in what looked like humiliation. She was nervous—probably the most nervous of anyone in the room. “Nice to meet you.”
I wondered then if we’d all remembered to use our code names. Hopefully. I wasn’t sure what would happen if not.
Victor put a hand behind her back, ushering her toward the bar as we all called our names to her. “What can I get you, sweetheart? We’ve got white wine, red wine, bourbon, champagne, beer, vodka, gin, tequila—”
“Water’s fine,” she said, cutting him off. Why hadn’t I had the nerve to say that, too?
He clicked his tongue, staring at her slyly from behind thick brows. “I knew you were a good girl.”
Everything about him caused my skin to crawl with disgust. I watched as he poured her a drink, handing it over with bravado as if he’d personally climbed a glacier to procure it.
Once she had the glass, she stepped in between Caleb and me, and we both seemed to get the hint it was in an effort to keep away from Victor. I moved half a step closer, eyeing him as he walked around the counter. He glanced at the space between us, and for half a second, I thought he might try to make the squeeze, but decided better of it.
“Everyone’s here, then?” Elijah’s calm voice carried into the room from behind us, and I spun around. He appeared from a hallway, still dressed all in black. We nodded in unison. “Great.” He clasped his hands together and walked past us to stand in between the two groups—one group: Caleb, me, Claire, and Victor; the other: Vanessa and Lincoln. Already, I could see bonds forming. It felt like we were on a reality television show. What would I be screaming at myself to do if I were at home in my bed? “Let’s make our way to the table, then, to get ready. I believe Sue’s finished with our dinner.”
We followed his lead into the formal dining room where seven places were set at a large oak table. “For the first night, you can all choose where to sit. After this, your seats will be randomly assigned.”
He stood, waiting for each of us to take a seat at the table. I looked to my left and right, wondering who would go first. To no one’s surprise, Victor took a seat instantly, to the right of the head of the table. I moved to the opposite side, sitting at the last chair with a plate in front of it, so at least one of my sides would be free. To my surprise, Claire and Vanessa followed me, taking up the last two seats on my side.
“Guess this is the boy’s side then, huh?” Lincoln teased as he and Caleb took a seat beside Victor, across from us, and Elijah took the head of the table.
“I trust you all settled in well?” Elijah asked, his eyes moving to the far side of the room where a woman wheeled in a cart. She hadn’t come from the kitchen, but a separate entrance, and I wondered where she could’ve cooked our meal. I wouldn’t have suspected the house large enough to have two kitchens. The smell of food wafted in, and my stomach growled as if it were offering encouragement. I realized then I hadn’t eaten all day, but I still wasn’t sure I was hungry. Or that I could eat regardless.
“Yes, very well,” Victor said, his arrogance suddenly wiped away. “Thank you again for hosting us, Elijah. This place is,” he placed a hand on his chest, “stunning.”
“Well, I’m not the one hosting you,” Elijah said casually. “But I’ll pass the remark along. It certainly is something, isn’t it?”
No one stood or helped Sue, a plump, middle-aged woman wearing a black dress and apron, as she hurried into the room, removing silver lids from the platters. “Duck breast with apricot chutney,” she said, her voice chipper as she set a plate in front of Lincoln with the most exquisite-looking food I’d ever seen. I’d never had duck and I had no idea what chutney was, but I was suddenly ready to dig in. She reached for a bottle of pinot noir at the bottom of her cart and held her hand out for Lincoln’s glass.
“It looks delightful, Sue,” Elijah said.
“It really does. Mr. X is lucky to have someone so talented on his staff,” Victor chimed in.
I considered drinking the rest of the white wine in my glass before she got to me so she wouldn’t have to dirty the extra glass in front of my setting, but on an empty stomach it was not a good idea. I so desperately wanted to help her. It was awkward at best, sitting and watching her work in silence, but no one else offered assistance, so neither did I.
“Thank you,” Caleb said when she served his food, and I felt a little better at the display of manners. I’d worked in a restaurant long enough to know how she must feel. It was a thankless job.
“Thank you, Sue,” Victor said, taking his plate and offering her his glass. “And what a great pairing.” He tipped his full glass toward her when she gave it back. “My compliments to the chef.”