Page 19 of Hollow House

After the Wraith, Damon, left again and another waiter passed a drink off to me, I found myself standing in a new hall.

It was one I had not been to yet, darker than the rest. This section of the house was far removed.

It led to a single door at the end, and curiosity won me over, every other portion of the house a work of art.

I let myself wander to the only door and push it open. He said to help myself to the house, and I certainly was. Although, I imagine he meant the party still going on elsewhere. Or perhaps it ended—I hadn’t passed it and couldn’t hear the music any longer.

It didn’t matter.

The second I stepped inside, I realized it was an office, the large desk covered in papers, shelves lined with books gave it away.

It was straight out of a movie.

It certainly beat my old, beat up plastic desk as home. This belonged to someone important, someone of standing, not some measly journalist.

The Wraith claimed to be just that.

And he was serious…

Pictures hung all over the walls of every imaginable influential person—politicians I recognized, men in expensive business suits, women with more power than I would ever have, all standing with the same person.

Damon .

I didn’t recognize him. I hadn’t seen his face all night, but even like this, in a normal setting, I had no idea who he was.

The puppet master, the one pulling the strings, the person controlling this version of society.

A small sound behind me caught my attention, and I turned to find nothing.

I turned my focus back to the pictures, dismissing it as noises in the hall.

I set my cup down and glanced over every single picture, some with articles and awards next to them. He’d swayed elections, helped secure accolades for major actors, and even held favor with men on Wall Street.

Another sound, and this time, I froze. It was closer. Louder .

Floorboards creaking beneath someone’s feet. I turned around, sure I would find Damon, but no one was there. My body refused to move for a few seconds until I found my courage again. I twisted back to the wall but felt a small chill down the right side of my body.

I let my head turn slightly and spotted nothing but a crooked frame.

I squinted, spotting a woman in the photo and instantly recognizing her: the person I had idolized for years. She owned the largest magazine in New York City. How could I not recognize her?

I pulled the tiny frame off the wall for a better look, to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me.

“I had a feeling I would find you here, love,” Damon crooned.

I turned, dropping the photo in my hands, completely startled. Stunned wasn’t even the best way to describe how I felt. Overwhelmed, in denial, perplexed…those all came close, but it still wasn’t enough.

I shook my head as my heart settled from the scare the second my eyes landed on him.

There was nothing to be afraid of with him. This was his house. No one would be allowed to harm me, and there likely weren’t any actual threats out there, just a combination of exhaustion and being tipsy that kept my mind active and overthinking every little sound.

“How did you know?” I asked, trying to focus on something else.

“A dear friend mentioned they saw you heading in this direction,” he answered.

The waiter.

It had to be—who else would have even noticed me? Maybe others were watching closer than I thought.

“Have you finished with whatever called you off?” I asked.

“I have,” he answered with a slight nod.

My hands drifted behind my back, clasped together. I glanced to him with hooded eyes, imagining every way we could make use of this office.

He let out a chuckle that warmed me.

“Patience, love,” he answered. “I have one last place I want to show you before the night ends,” he said, holding out his hand.