My own money, to squirrel away for when his insane generosity stops. Because it will stop. I can’t get used to all my finances being sorted out for me. I need to keep a semblance of normalcy in all this madness.

“Lisa will be delighted to hear it,” he assures me. “Claudio says dinner will be ready at eight, tonight, by the way. A little later than usual—but he’d planned on doing a surf and turf Wednesday, so he had everything on hand for your steak. Come downstairs in an hour? The dining room is next door to the study. You know the way.”

* * *

I spend the next hour alternatively pacing the room and throwing myself on the bed. The duvet is so comfortable, it might as well be made of clouds and happiness. I don’t trust it, so here I am again, walking the length of the room.

Occasionally, I look at the credit card. It’s still in my hand, solid. It exists.

It takes a good thirty minutes for me to decide to try it. Except, my phone in hand, I don’t know what to buy.

He told me to decorate. This place is absolutely gorgeous, but the monochromatic dark colors aren’t me. I google pink cushions, and scan through the results.

But I don’t need fucking cushions! I don’t need anything. This room is perfect as-is.

I’m pacing again.

Eventually, I pinpoint the problem.

I was given the room. I have a credit card. I have the damn brass key-ID thing. But I haven’t done a single thing to pay for it yet, have I? Yesterday doesn’t count. That was another deal, one with the board, not Keller directly.

I’m flushing all over.

Nothing’s free in life.

…come inside one of your holes twice a day.

Why hasn’t he gotten started with that already? I’d feel less out of control if he had. I’d know what to expect.

You know. He did it yesterday.

My insides start to tense as all those memories yet again come to the forefront of my mind.

Seven fifty-five. I start to make my way downstairs.

There are only two doors on the left of the elevator, and I know the first is the study, so finding the dining room is easy enough. Feeling awkward, I knock before pushing the door.