Baited by Love novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: With a Raise

Lars's fever broke at four in the morning, and I know because I was awake for it.

I sat on the floor with my back against his bed until his hand went slack on my sleeve.

Otto came home at five, looked at us, and went to sleep in the hall closet without a word.

On Thursday night, the fever was gone and the Founders' Eve Mixer was in full swing.

It was held in the Great Hall, under portraits of dead donors, with two hundred students in good clothes holding glasses of something pink.

I had come with Otto and Lars.

I wore the green dress I had saved for a special occasion, and the occasion was that I had nothing to lose.

Lars stood next to me in a dark jacket with his hands in his pockets.

He had looked at the dress at the door, briefly, and then he had looked at the ceiling for a long time.

"You're staring at the chandelier," I said.

"It's a significant chandelier."

"It's a regular chandelier."

"Then I'm staring at it with regular interest."

Across the room, Preston Aldane detached himself from a crowd and started toward us.

He wore a navy suit and the face he saves for photographs.

Lorelei was a step behind him in white, smiling at everyone.

"Betsy," Preston said, loud enough for the nearest forty people. "I've been generous. I'm prepared to take you back."

"Back where?" I asked.

"To the arrangement."

"The one where I carry your water?"

"With a raise," said Preston.

The nearest forty people leaned in.

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