Looking for conversation, any reason to say something, Mary asks, “Why did he go in without you?” She’s doing that thing where people act like they’re on my side so we have something to talk about. I’d respect her more if she just said, how are you? How have you been? What’s going on in your life? Show some real interest, not an act as transparent as a spotless window.

“I told him to,” I mumble, eyeballing the oak door and pacing. Mary gets the message and looks back to her computer after an awkward moment.

Rue Calliwell.

I’m not buying this chick. With all the people giving our pockets a dig, you’d think we were a destination point on an archaeological map.

I’ve seen it all.

If Sean believes what he just said to me, that she’s a good person, he’s a bigger fool than I thought. Well, I’m going to protect us if he won’t.

And mom.

This is a new feeling, wanting to protect her.

It reminds me of the first time I overheard someone slamming America when I was in Europe–all of a sudden I was the most patriotic motherfucker on the planet. This is a blow I can’t blame her popping pills for.

Dad really fucked up with this one.

Didn’t he think of us when he put this scheme together? I want to ask Tom about it, now that it’s occurred to me. Everything happened too fast, I haven’t asked all the questions that need asking. He’s not just our lawyer; he’s like part of the family. He’ll have to tell me everything.

With Sean holding the door for our newest family member, like she’s a delicate flower, they appear. Her eyelashes slide up from the floor and as I take in the sight of her, a knife pushes deeper into my gut. She has our nose. Fuck. “Well?”

Sean answers, “It’s done. Dad included a no backing-out clause. If she didn’t accept, the money would go to the K.K.K.”

I stare at him, pissed. “You’re fucking kidding me.”

He smirks. “Yeah, he did that.”

“Shit.” We all walk to the elevator and I’m too irritated to say anything. As we wait for the elevator to come, I cut my eyes to her nervously standing beside me.

She looks tired, but I know it’s an act.

She’s probably jumping for joy in there, and can’t wait to get home so she can keep hitting ‘refresh’ until the millions appear in her online bank account. Call all her friends and have a party. Go shopping on Rodeo Drive, the cheesiest place on Earth. The works.

The doors slide quietly open and we step on, as Sean asks, “Would you like to meet us for dinner later?”

“I don’t know…” she hesitates.

I push the button, wheels churning in me. She’s smiling up at him, her knight on a fucking white horse. “I’ve got plans,” I mumble.

Her eyes flicker to me. “Oh really?” She turns to my brother. “I’d love to. Thank you.”

“I’ll cancel them.”

They both look at me. Sean’s eyebrows go up. Rue glances to the numbers lighting up above us. “Great,” he says. “We’ll go to Boa.” Rue shakes her head, her mouth opening just slightly, to speak, but then she stops herself and closes her eyes for a heartbeat. Sean glances my way, wondering if he said something wrong. “That okay? The food’s great.”

The doors slide open and I walk off first, cutting my eyes to him. “She was going to say it’s too expensive, but then she remembered she could buy that place if she wanted to.”

“I did not think that!” Rue objects, following me with Sean pulling up the rear. “I was going to say I wouldn’t be able to afford it, but I never thought something as pretentious as I could buy the place!”

“Alright, down Turbo,” I laugh, throwing her the smile I always use for the press. Years of practice have it down pat and for a second, she falls for it, but then her eyes steel against me as she realizes I’m trying to charm her into submission. She lets out an exasperated sound and takes off for her car.

Sean and I stand side by side, watching her, and Sean calls after her, “We’ll see you at 10:00 p.m.!”

She spins around in surprise and walks backward, her light brown hair lit up by the midday sun. “That late? Oh, right. In your world, there is no sense of normal-people time.” She shakes her head and flips back around very gracefully to continue storming off.

“Well, it’s obvious she really is a dancer. Did you see that pirouette,” I mutter out of the corner of my mouth.

Sean exhales dramatically. “You’re not going to make this an easy transition, are you?”

Sucking in air between my teeth, I sigh fake-dramatically. “Nah.”

“You’re going to feel like an asshole at some point. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He starts for the car.

Watching her get into her beater and putt-putt off to her shack, I tell him, “I’m going to show you who she really is. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”