Chapter Forty-Seven
She entered the house through one of the side entrances and found Brooke at a table in one of the attached lanais, arranging a vase of vibrant bluish-purple hydrangeas.
Isla had kept a distance from Brooke ever since the almond incident, unsure of how to best deal with someone who would go to such lengths to force her out. She tried to pass by unnoticed.
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable if I were you,” Brooke’s voice rang out, stopping Isla just as she was passing. “Your time is growing short.”
Isla stopped just in the doorway. “I wonder if you also said that to Eden after you framed her for setting off Holland’s allergy to almonds,” Isla chanced. “Who will you use those on?” She motioned to the poisonous flowers whose errant leaves Brooke had snipped.
Brooke gripped her gardening shears, her head snapping up. She would likely use them on Isla if she had the chance, but Isla left before anything more could be said or happen.
Dixon was waiting for Isla outside Victor’s office. She tried to read him and failed, which was maddening. He could have given master classes on the art of maintaining a poker face.
She motioned for him to bend closer to her height. He hesitated, casting her a curious look before he obliged.
“Am I fired?” she asked, trying to get ahead of the problem and come up with a quick solution.
She might be able to come up with something to save herself if she had a little heads-up.
“Just let me know so I’m prepared. I didn’t purposely poison him. Honest.”
For a split second, there was a crack in Dixon’s facade, and humor shone through, shocking Isla.
She’d thought the man was devoid of all human emotion.
“Only way to know is to go in, Miss Thorne,” he said, his polite refusal to give anything away annoying her even more.
He was too damn loyal. “Let’s not keep him waiting any longer. ”
Victor was standing at his desk. Papers were spread out before him as he studied one he was holding in his hand. He didn’t move as she approached. Usually, she was cool under fire, but the night before had done a number on her.
“Are you going to stand there staring, or are you going to have a seat?” He put the paper he was holding down and moved around the side to his chair. She took a seat, but not before her eyes swept the documents; she recognized ledgers and printouts of what looked like account transactions.
“I can explain about the drink,” she began, wanting to get ahead of everything.
He waved her off dismissively, taking a quick look at her. “You seem nervous. Aren’t you supposed to be some intrepid journalist? What happened to her?”
Isla’s mouth opened and closed; she was at a loss for words.
He shook his head disappointedly, removing his black-framed glasses. “Are you nervous? Because the Isla Thorne I know doesn’t look like she’s about to jump out of her skin. You stood in my kitchen and told me to hire you.”
“I almost killed you.”
He smirked. “Takes more than a few drops of almond extract.”
“How can you be so cavalier about a severe allergic reaction?”
“Because sometimes you have to choose your battles, and this isn’t one you were waging.”
She was confused.
“There hasn’t been almond in this house ever since Holl had a reaction.
Suddenly it makes an appearance and is used by someone who had absolutely no idea about it.
The only people who know are staff, some employees, and family.
Maybe there’s someone who doesn’t like me.
Have you noticed that during your interviews?
Who have you spoken with, and do they hate me? ”
“I’ve asked around here. Also at your offices downtown and around town with locals. I’ve even visited the Foundation’s headquarters on Fifth. But I’d like to shadow you one day. See you in real action.”
He asked, “Really?” He laughed. “That’s the Isla Thorne I hired. Who does that come from, your mother or your father?”
“My father is dead, and my mother isn’t in my life,” Isla said quickly, wanting to stay as far away from her history as she could.
Victor said, “Can I be frank?”
“Please,” Isla encouraged.
“You’re good with words, Isla. You can talk your way into and out of just about anything.
I know that from dinner. A family like mine doesn’t intimidate you.
And like I said, Holl likes you, and she’s rarely gotten close with anyone ever since Edie left.
You managed to finagle your way into my home, spend the night, and ask for a job.
Did you really think I needed someone to interview me for an award that means nothing to me? ”
“Mr. Corrigan,” Isla stammered, caught off guard by his bluntness.
“Whatever your reasons, you shake things up. You shake this family up, and I’m curious to see who falls and who rises to the top.”
She had no words. She was confused about who had been playing whom all this time. “You’re—you’re using me as your sword?”
He smirked. “Ask me your questions.”