A Cursed Bloodline
Page 39

I looked across the vast expanse of Misha’s office to the closed door. “Edith, go get Michael. I’d like him here.” She stood there as if she hadn’t understood my request. “Edith, get Michael.” She didn’t move. “Edith.”
Before I could ding her in the head with a paperweight, Michael knocked and poked his head in. “You wish to see me, Celia?”
Okay…“Did you hear me call you?”
Michael crossed the room and stood at parade rest before the desk. “No. But as our mistress, whatever you desire of us is merely a thought away.”
Someone else knocked. Chef entered, pushing a rolling tray filled with Philly cheesesteaks and onion rings. He set a plate in front of me and poured me a tall glass of ice water. “Here iz the meal you desired,” he said in his thick French accent. “I shall return with your milkshakes. Did you decide on cherry vanilla or blackberry?”
“Uh, cherry, please.” I pushed a curl behind my ear nervously and stared at the mountain of food. “Can you, um, hear all of my thoughts?”
A hungry and sinful smile split the expanse of Edith’s face. “Only if you want us to.”
“I don’t, actually.” I took a few gulps of water before speaking. “Okay, look. There’s no way I’m qualified to run a dynasty. Therefore, you’re going to do it.” Funny enough, the vamps lacked the enthusiasm I was hoping for.
“Why us?” Hank asked.
“Because young vamps or not, you’re the strongest and most trusted in Misha’s keep and have firsthand knowledge of his business ventures.” I pointed to Maria. “I know for a fact you advise him on his financial affairs and that you sit in on meetings.”
“Only when his business involves Portugal and my native Brazil.”
I slammed my palm on the desk. “Good to know. You’re in charge of Misha’s European empire with the exception of France. Liz, you’re originally from Iceland, right?” She nodded. “Then you help Maria. Hank, do you want Asia? You’ve traveled there with Misha the most.”
“Ummm.”
“Excellent, it’s yours. Michael, you studied business while human, correct?”
Michael nodded. “Finance at Howard. You wish me to assist Hank?”
“No. I want you to handle the American companies—all of them. Ying-Ying and Chang can help Hank. Agnes, since you and Tim both speak French I’ll put you in charge of the Canadian companies and France.”
Tim raised his palms. “Celia, slow down. There’s no need for this. The master has appointed board members to handle each company.”
I dipped an onion ring in ketchup and took a bite. “That’s nice. But it will be your jobs to keep them in line. If there’s even a hint of corruption I want you to—”
“Kill dem?” Maria offered.
“I was thinking you could fire them, but I guess that could work, too. Now, Edith, as for you…”
Edith bounced in her thigh-high boots, eager with anticipation. “I’ll do whatever you want, Celia. You’re really turning me on right now.”
“Er, thanks, but why don’t I just put you in charge of all of Misha’s homes. Make sure they’re maintained and don’t fall into disarray. I want this empire to function like a well-oiled machine—even if it’s only on the surface.”
Emme walked around the desk and held my hand. “What about us, Celia? How can Danny and I help?”
“You can keep me from tearing my hair out.” Emme’s face paled to chalk. Perhaps I could have picked a better choice of words.
The vampires dispersed, ready to set my plan in motion. Emme called our sisters to update them on the latest threat to my life while Danny and I tore into the food like it was our damn job.
We’d almost finished when Edith sashayed back into the office. “Your room is ready, Celia.”
I wiped my hands on the cloth napkin. “The contractors are done repairing the guesthouse?”
It probably took everything Edith had not to ram the last onion ring up my nose. She swallowed hard and tried to smile. “I meant your room upstairs. As head of our family, you can’t possibly reside in the guesthouse. I’ve prepared the master’s room to fit your tastes so you’ll be more comfortable.”
Edith was taking her assignment seriously, so I felt bad refusing. “Thanks anyway, but I need to stay near Bren to look after him.”
She pursed her lips tightly before forcing another smile. “We’ll place the mongrel in the suite next to yours.”
“What about Danny and Emme?”
Her protruding fangs made it difficult for her to speak. “They can sleep here as well.”
Danny eyed her warily. “Just do it, Celia. It will be safer if everyone stays close.”
I stood and stretched. “Fine.”
Edith rushed around the desk and clamped on to my wrist. “Wait until you see your room!”
I let her lead me up the grand staircase. Danny followed close behind. With the assault by the wolves, the invasion of the psycho shape-shifters, Aric’s hideous behavior, and Misha’s kidnapping, I couldn’t wait to lie down and put the day behind me. And yet when Edith threw open the double doors to Misha’s suite, I wasn’t sure how I’d manage to sleep. Let’s just say Edith had a different take on what I liked.
Dark wood furniture and different tones of brown, white, and gold made up the décor of my Dollar Point bedroom—pretty, but not overly feminine. Misha’s room was the epitome of Mountain Craftsman elegance—high beamed wood ceilings, slate stone fireplace, tones of brown and red, heavy dark mahogany furniture, and a bed roughly the size of Vermont.
I don’t know how Edith did it, but she’d somehow painted all the furniture white. Instead of the more traditional and classic colors there were about seven different shades of pink. Yes, pink. Girly, lacey, and frilly fabrics covered the bed and floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading out to the terrace. Yet what threw me over the edge were the unicorns. Yes, unicorns. A dozen or so stuffed unicorns fought for space amid the lip- and heart-shaped giant pink pillows. Not to mention the immense velvet painting of a unicorn at full canter, hanging over the bed.
Edith clapped her hands together. “Do you love it?”
Danny gnawed on his lip, appearing more unnerved than amused.