Rowan
As much as I wanted to say the view was the only thing Arete had going for it, that wouldn’t be exactly right.
There were several things I had grown to like over the past few weeks, not least of which was their appreciation of quiet.
There were enough places in the resort where people were encouraged to be loud, even rowdy.
Yet there were also designated quiet areas, and anyone who knew me knew I would seek them out before more social settings.
I wasn’t sure what the room was supposed to be other than a Quiet Room.
Considering the people who had come in occasionally sat in a corner to talk quietly, I suppose ‘quiet’ was the only thing that mattered.
Not silent, of course; if someone truly wanted silence, there were always the noise-cancelling headphones they offered.
A bit of noise was exactly what I wanted.
Too much quiet felt like the back of my brain was getting itchy, and I could hear my own heartbeat thundering in my chest, the sound enough to make me understand a murderer obsessing over their victim’s heartbeat under the floorboards.
I wanted just enough noise to cover up the unnerving silence, but not so much that it disrupted any rhythm I had built up while keeping myself occupied.
I looked up from the report I had been writing about the past week and frowned when I saw a message on my device.
It was from Hannah, and after a moment of consideration, I slid one of my earbuds into my ear, keeping the other free so I could hear how much noise I was making on the phone.
Conversations were permitted, but you had to be mindful, something I would have done anyway, even without the reminder posted at the entrance.
She picked up on the third ring. “Wow, so you can use your phone there. I thought they were keeping you hostage.”
“It’s a wellness retreat, not a cult,” I reminded her as I brought my report back up, pulling the keyboard closer. “Which means you aren’t required to check up on me every chance you get.”
“I’ve texted you once a week, if that, since you left.”
“And considering your schedule, that constitutes ‘every chance you get.’”
She laughed. “Smartass. Well, I’m just glad you’re alive.”
“I am.”
“And...well.”
I snorted, taking a sip of my tea and frowning when I found it cold.
I didn’t want to get up, but it wasn’t like this place had people to serve you.
Their belief in freedom also encouraged it, since most activities you had to join of your own accord, and there was no set schedule.
The closest facility was a self-serve where you could brew your own coffee and tea.
Standing up, I exited the program on my tablet and locked the screen, which was probably unnecessary. That wasn’t going to stop me, however, as I left the tablet there, trusting no one would mess with it but unwilling to risk someone seeing something I didn’t want them to.
I always kept my phone on me and kept a close eye on it for years now, even when I was off the clock.
I had been told to fit in with the people at the resort, so it made sense not to have my phone.
Reality was, I was enjoying not being tied to the damn thing all the time.
I had no idea what was going on in the world, and since I hadn’t heard of anyone getting hurt via text, I didn’t know what was happening with my family or the business either.
“I’m well,” I assured her as I walked around the corner to the station to brew a cup of tea. “It’s strange being here.”
“You sound strange,” she said, sounding like she was trying to find the words to describe what kind of strange.
“I’ve been here for a month and have been...I don’t know, I suppose you could say I’m enjoying myself.”
“Oh, that’s what it is; you sound relaxed,” she said with a laugh. “Normally I wouldn’t have to remind you that you’re there for a job and not a vacation, but it sounds like I might need to.”
“No,” I said with a snort. “I haven’t forgotten.”
“That’s a shame. I would have loved a chance to remind you that you have responsibilities and shouldn’t be screwing around. Oh well, maybe there will still be time,” she chuckled. “Been keeping up on your reports?”
“Yes.”
“I would love to see them.”
“No.”
She sighed. “You’re so stubborn.”
“No one sees my notes; you know that,” I reminded her as I went back to my table. “You’ll see my final report.”
“It’s notes and reports, not a diary.”
“You know my feelings on the matter.”
I suppose someone else would call it a stubborn quirk, just as Hannah had .
My preliminary reports were strictly for my records because I put things in them that didn’t always make it to the final one.
Sometimes, my initial impressions changed with more knowledge.
Other times, I put personal commentary in there to express something I usually wouldn’t.
My final report covered my true assessment; everything before that was simply for me.
“Do I at least get a glimpse into how you feel overall?”
“You do not.”
“Ugh, why do you have to be this way?”
“I am compelled by forces beyond your understanding,” I told her calmly as I grabbed my tablet, then decided to leave it there.
I wasn’t going to get anything else done while on the phone with her.
“Perhaps one day your mind might ascend to the level where it can comprehend what motivates me, but until then, you will have to live as an ignorant mortal.”
“How dramatic,” she said dryly. “And the fact that you’ve rediscovered your sense of play means you really are relaxed. Are you getting laid?”
“I have not had sex since arriving,” I said.
I didn’t count a mutual jerk-off session as sex.
It was an inherently sexual act, of course, but it wasn’t sex as far as I was concerned.
Such a technicality wouldn’t impress her, but God, she was a lawyer; she won her bread on the back of technicalities, so she couldn’t be too upset.
“Not that it is any of your business, so thank you for prying where you are not welcome.”
I could hear the grin in her voice. “What can I say? I like to make sure you’re being taken care of. But you’re going to tell me—”
“Nothing,” I interrupted. “I’m going to tell you nothing. And you’re going to have to deal with that somehow, but that’s okay, I believe in you. I have faith that you’ll find a way to cope with this new disappointment.”
“Spoilsport,” she grumbled, but I could hear the smile in her voice.
“Well, whatever the case, I’m glad you ended up going there.
Because it sounds like it’s doing something to help you.
Maybe not turn you into a normal person, but definitely help you sound like you don’t have a stick lodged firmly somewhere uncomfortable. ”
“Charming,” I said. “Did you call to pry into my business and give me a hard time, or did you have another reason?”
“Uh, am I supposed to have any other reason to call you?”
“I would hope so.”
“You clearly don’t get this whole sibling thing, do you?”
“I think you and I have very different definitions of what makes a sibling relationship.”
“Maybe, but that could be shortened to you’re wrong, and I’m right; it would make things simpler.”
“Considering you have never tried to make my life easier, why should I show the same courtesy?”
“Seriously, though, are you doing well?”
Leave it to a lawyer to start strong, distract you, and then loop back to the original point with a determination that takes you off guard. I frowned. “You yourself have commented on my state of mind; is that observation not enough?”
“A little confirmation never hurt anyone. Believe it or not, my dear Rowan, when you care about people, you sometimes want to hear them say they’re doing well, not just figure it out. People crave simplicity, especially when it comes to the ones they love.”
I sighed, knowing she wasn’t trying to make me feel guilty but hating the feeling all the same. “Yes, I’m doing well. I’m enjoying myself while also doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
I tensed as a new but familiar voice piped up behind me. “I certainly hope you’ve been doing what you’re supposed to be doing.”
I swiveled around to find the head of the resort, Mr. Shepherd, standing behind me, looking amused. “Uh, hello, Mr. Shepherd. I hope I wasn’t being too loud.”
“No,” he said with a tilt of his head and a small, polite smile. “Not at all, I only caught the last bit of your conversation. I was hoping we could talk. It can always wait, of course.”
“Mr. Shepherd?” Hannah said in my ear, her tone tinged with worry. “As in Marc Shepherd? The guy who founded and runs the place? Hell and damnation, I hope it’s a courtesy call.”
I knew the feeling. It wasn’t the first time our family had used subterfuge to conduct an investigation or audit, but it was the first time I had ever had to play a role. So long as I didn’t give away the game, it should be easy; all I needed to do was act like myself.
“Hannah, I’ll have to let you go,” I told her, checking my tone and finding it didn’t sound nervous or tense. “I believe I might be in trouble.”
“That had better be one of your badly timed jokes,” she grumbled. “Never mind. Unless you’re being a smart ass, your jokes are always badly timed, so it probably is. Let me know. Bye.”
“Bye,” I said, tucking my phone away. “Sorry about that.”
“No, no, I was the one who interrupted,” he said with a smile as he gestured to the chair opposite me. “Do you mind?”
“This is your place,” I said, but gestured toward the seat all the same.
“What would be the point of a place where my guests are encouraged to feel at home, and have privacy, safety, and autonomy, if I take that away every time I want to talk to them?” he asked as he sat down, crossing one leg over the other.
“And you’re not in trouble. Not that we typically do ‘trouble’ around here, unless of course you’ve done something that merits it. ”