Chapter 27 #2
Sofia rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe I ever dated you.”
While Sofia and Miles argued over who was to blame for their breakup, Ellory loosened her grip around her fork.
Her nails hadn’t broken the skin of her palm…
this time. She wanted to be angry at Hudson for leaving her to suffer these people alone, but she had chosen to come, despite everything.
She was choosing to stay, in the hopes that all this would be worth it, and she was choosing to bite her tongue so as not to come across as the belligerent one.
But Miles’s accusation did more than make her feel small.
It made her feel like the basest sum of her sexual parts, worth nothing in his eyes but what was between her legs.
Her mind, her personality, her appearance—those things could not possibly have charmed Hudson. No, they had to have fucked.
It made her ashamed of every time she’d ever been aroused in Hudson Graves’s presence, and who was Miles to have that kind of control over her thoughts?
Carefully, she set her fork down on the table before she stabbed him in the thigh with it. She had been so focused on the dangers of magic that she had forgotten the everyday danger of a man who thought his money made him worthy of having stupid opinions.
Dinner wrapped up soon after. Ellory helped Colt’s cook clear the plates, mostly so she didn’t have to risk walking out with the rest of the group.
Her thoughts were a tangled wasp’s nest, buzzing with her anger, and she was afraid of what she might say to them.
By comparison, Colt—who had yet to do anything to her that she could prove—seemed like the lesser evil.
“I was hoping I could catch you alone,” he said, stepping back into the dining room. The table was clear between them. He rested his hands on the back of his chair. “I have an unusual proposal for you, if it’s of interest.”
“Okay…” Ellory’s hand hovering near her bag and the pepper spray concealed within.
“The spring semester will be here before you know it. I’ve looked into your transcript.
Your grades are impressive, even more so given you successfully juggle your coursework with your work-study.
If it wouldn’t be too much for your schedule, I’d like to take you on as a student assistant for my research next term. ”
Ellory blinked, all thoughts of sinister secret societies and overt misogyny forgotten. “Me? But—I’m just a freshman.”
“You’re hardworking and reliable. You manage strong personalities with an unexpected grace.
And, according to your professors, you already show a strong grasp of political theory.
You’re one of the most engaged students in your classes.
” Colt glanced toward the hallway. “I know you had some sort of disagreement with the others at dinner, but I hope you won’t let what one or two students think of you stop you from considering my offer.
It’s unorthodox, but I do feel you’re the right person for the job. ”
“I—I’d love to.” The agreement could not come out of her mouth fast enough.
It wasn’t exactly a recommendation, but it was an opportunity.
She would have the same access to him that she did to Boone on the Communiqué, a path to information she couldn’t get otherwise.
If he was innocent, it would look good on her résumé.
If he wasn’t, as she increasingly suspected, she could keep an eye on him, even stop him, from the heart of his own research lab. “What sort of work is it?”
“I’ll send you all the details so you can make an informed decision. But I typically spend my fall term teaching and my spring term doing field research with around four or five student assistants. However many my grant will allow. You’ll be the first.”
Ellory swallowed past the lump in her throat, unsure if the sudden onset of tears was because of the stress of the night, the emotional whiplash of getting everything she’d ever wanted, or the obvious trap he was trying to close around her.
“Not to talk you out of this…but are you sure? We’ve only just met, Professor. ”
“I trust my instincts about people.” He checked his watch. “Anyway, let me call you a car. It’s late, and you’d best get back to your dormitory.”
Ellory’s hands shook as he called a car service, but, thankfully, Colt didn’t seem to notice.
It would be a lot, adding something like this to her already-packed schedule.
She would have less time for dates and parties, and even less time to study for her actual classes.
But if she could do this—the work and the investigation, learning and spying—then her future would finally look bright.
“Hey, Colt,” she murmured, once the car was three minutes away and she could slip back into her coat. “You said earlier that Hudson was one of two students you’ve seen potential in. Who was the other?”
“Oh, that was so long ago.” A shadow passed over his face, like he was remembering something unpleasant. “It was a boy by the name of Malcolm Mayhew. Sadly, he died young.”
Ellory froze with her arm only halfway through the sleeve. “Malcolm Mayhew was a part of your salon?”
“Yes. Did you know him?”
“No. I just met his niece, I think.” She yanked her coat all the way on, her heart pounding.
Somehow, she hadn’t expected him to drop this lead into her lap, and now she wasn’t sure if he suspected her or if his confusion was genuine.
Idiot. Idiot! “Would it be strange if I asked you for a list of all your attendees? I’m…
working on something, a research project of my own, and I think it might help. ”
“I suppose that would be fine,” Colt said, his eyebrows drawing together. “It’s hardly private information.”
Ellory thanked him and hurried outside to meet her car before he could ask follow-up questions. Or worse.