Sora walked past the foyer and into the massive living-dining room to release a hot stream of air while leaning against a white leather couch to collect herself.
“Hmm… Thanks, Howie… M-Mary.” Recalling the psychiatrist’s comment, she did a quick glance at the expansive ocean view, and a worried sting struck her chest at the possibility of someone getting to her, but the fact that she’d conducted her investigation for the last several weeks without her catching on at all, and how everyone’s opinions were already changing, told Sora the cat was out of the bag.
Sora’s vision shifted to the front room’s granite floor, which gleamed beneath the natural light streaming through the colossal windows, before settling on the stunning, vast ocean view.
Even if Kari has powers, she wants me gone… This has to be real… It has to be!
This is the time for me to not back down… I won’t be Lori’s pincushion anymore; I won’t back down!
Taking a deep breath, she let it out with a grin as her focus shifted to the large balcony and infinity-edge spa visible through one of the dining room doors; a long, charcoal-black granite countertop bar with padded chairs sat at the center, overlooking the vast view.
Should I get cleaned up and go get some chicken to grill tonight?
I could order room service, but… where’s the fun in that?!
Humming cheerfully as she went to the stairs to reach the second landing, she passed through the flex room to the second master bedroom; it was time to set her feet in and start fighting back in this battle if Lori’s alpha general and whoever backed her weren’t going to interfere.
Should I call Dad tonight about homeschooling?
She felt a wave of relief pass over her at just the thought.
Yes!
I just need to fight against Lori’s bullying for the week, and then I’ll be free… I’ll get Wendy to join me, too.
Somehow.
No!
Whatever it takes!
This isn’t for me now; it’s for Wendy!.
She opened her immense wardrobe to pick out a white-and-gray chiffon strap dress that fell to her ankles and placed it on her bed.
Selecting white undergarments, a pair of brown heels, and a silver bracelet, she took them to her bathroom.
Sora undressed and threw the garments Frank had given her in the laundry chute; the staff downstairs would clean them, and she could return the articles the following day.
She activated the tablet embedded in the dark-tiled wall and opened the calendar.
Wednesday is picture day… But that doesn’t matter now; I’m out!
Turning on Spotify, she played the pop station as she washed, getting out partway through to find scissors to even out her hair in the fogless shower mirror, and, once satisfied, put on her chosen attire.
Returning to her room in high spirits, she took her purse off the dresser—not taking the expensive items to school for obvious reasons—and moved to sit on her bed to extract her phone; she should have left it on the wireless charger but forgot the night before.
“Hmm…” She frowned while looking at the front screen; she had a voicemail from her father.
As the recording activated, her dad’s deep, Irish-accented voice came through the speaker, adding their cultural endearments that made her giggle.
“A mhuirnín, how are you?
I, uh, got a rather shocking text from Mary.
No more meds?
I have questions, but that will have to wait; I’m swamped at the moment—eh…” His voice cut out as someone hesitantly spoke to him, sounding as if he had the same stuttering speech problem that her meds had caused and a Chinese accent.
“The hell you mean the files aren’t complete?
Dammit, I got places to be in a week, man!
What do ya think you’re bein’ paid for, huh?!
“Ahem, sorry, Darlin’,” he mumbled, making Sora giggle.
“Aye, I can’t be happier if I understood what Mary’s text implied, and… Aye, I have questions, of course.
I, eh—I know I didn’t call much the, umm, the last few days, but I have a massive gift for ya this year regardless—it’ll be great.
“On that note, I have a massive deal this week, which will require me to go dark—ugh, worst time possible—believe me, I know.
It’s such a major deal that they want everyone involved to hand over their phones and hash everything out.
“Only the CEO and Chairman will have theirs to communicate.
I love you so much, a chroí, and I will do everything in my power to get done as soon as possible!
I’ll move heaven and hell to make it back for your birthday—believe it!
“The company is sending me back on their private jet Monday, so I’ll be there Tuesday morning!
Sorry, you know how long a flight it is from Seoul.” He cut out for a second.
“Ahh, got to go, a chuisle—heh, people not doin’ their jobs, which cuts out on my time with you… Ya hear that, Kazuko?!” “Yes, Mr.
Moore!
Apologies, Mr.
Moore!” “Just get it done; we’re on a tight schedule!
Eh, sorry, again, a chroí!
I’ll see you next Tuesday!” Sora couldn’t stop her chest from shaking with laughter; her father sounded like the man he was hassling about getting all the company information to him—stumbling all over the place—as if his daughter were his boss.
“Hmm… No, t-that’s f-fine, Dad,” she brightly replied to herself, flipping to her phone’s front page to smile at the last picture she’d taken with Wendy; her dad’s large smiling grin behind them on their last Tahiti vacation.
“I can be strong like you, too.” “Mmgm.” Loosening her neck, she couldn’t find anything from Mary—it would probably come later—so she stood up and set her resolve.
“Nothing t-to worry about!
Okay, pull yourself together, Sora, and let’s go get some stuff to celebrate!
Whatever Lori has planned—whatever—I can h-handle it!” Placing her cell phone inside her purse while looping it back around her left shoulder, she made her way to the elevator.
Let’s do this!