Page 15 of Terror Tuesday

“Olivia! You have to look at this. The catering schedule isnotright.”

I close my eyes and take a deep, cleansing breath, then throw on my robe and head to the door. Sora, our secretary, saunters inside while tapping repeatedly on a tablet. “They said they would charge us less than this for the party, and now?—”

“I’m sorry, Sora. Can we talk about it after the luncheon? I don’t want to be late.”

“Oh, shit! I forgot that it was today. Do you think you’ll be able to change this before tonight’s meeting?”

Placing a professional smile on my face, I try not to think about my upcoming midterm grades. The paper I have due. Data I need to collect for my senior project. And asking my best friend what’s wrong with her. “Yes, of course I can do that. Probably around four this afternoon, okay?”

Ever the task-oriented robot, Sora nods and drops the subject—a rarity—and I finally relax some tension in my shoulders. “I’ll come back at four p.m. sharp!”

“Great.”

I rush to the shower. Only hours have passed since my last one, but I’m still unclean… Dirt lingers beneath my skin, and everything has to be perfect. If I keep Naomi by my side and do my makeup well enough, I could avoid letting anyone see the cracks in my countenance. Because if I slow down now, I’ll break.

Images from last night threaten to fracture my psyche. The bodies. The blood… Was it real? And if it was…

Why did the masked man let me go?

Hurriedly, I grab my phone and delete the video from everywhere, even from the trash files, then shoot off a text to Hunter as an alibi.

Me

Where are you?

There. That’s what a concerned girlfriend would do. If anyone asks where he is, I can claim I don’t know.

Pink suit in place. Pumps polished. Lips plumped. I set my shoulders back and head down the curved marble staircase where Naomi and Malik wait.

“You lookgorgeous, darling,” Naomi says with an exaggerated cheek kiss.

“Where’s your boy?” Malik Thornton,Thetamember and heir to a literal gold mine, asks, as if he actually wants Hunter to show.

“I’m not sure… I guess I’ll see him there.” I pull out my phone, pretending I’m just checking messages and not steadying the shake in my hand. “He-he wasn’t answering his texts earlier.”

They shrug like it’s not a big deal. As if the boy I’m supposed to love not texting me back is expected.

We head toward the president’s house on the far side of campus, and I focus on each step like the earth might crumble beneath me.Keep it together, Olivia.

It’s a familiar and daunting sight, the garish entryway into opulence. Guests file through the foyer into an overly decorated parlor leading to a light-filled conservatory. An old bar takes up the stretch of the far wall, which is where most of the board members cluster. Including my father, Xavier Cardell, CEO of Cardell Enterprises, who greets me with a forehead kiss.

“Where’s Hunter?” There’s no escaping Dad’s piercing blue eyes. I worry he sees everything. Because he usually does.

But I give him my best loving daughter smile while glancing around the room. “Is he not here yet? I thought he would be. Well, maybe he’ll show up soon.”

“Are you two not getting along?” His jaw tightens with hope, I’m sure. It’s not a secret that he and my brothers hate the man. Well,hated…

My chest tightens with panic until I turn away from his penetrating gaze. “Fine, yes.”

Slipping away from him, I mingle deeper into the crowd, spotting a few regulars from my classes and Greek Life. Naomi and Malik are busy talking with the president, and I try to weave through the chatting guests to get to them…so I’m not alone.

The thickness of people becomes too much. It’s difficult to breathe. Despite it being October, the air feels humid. I aim for an open door near the back of the room, hoping to find some space.

As I do, I spot a woman I’ve been trying to avoid. The light catches her gleaming blonde hair as she turns her head, and I dash toward whatever room is in front of me. At the raised threshold, I trip over the edge of a rug, dropping my bag and all of its contents.

A tall figure bends to scoop everything up before I can even make a move.

“I’m so sorry!” I exclaim.