Kacy entered the boardroom, carrying a freshly poured glass of wine. Lolita didn't even bother looking up from her papers.
"Sterling will be watching you," Lolita said coolly.
Kacy hesitated. "Why?"
"Because we're crossing international lines, Kacy, and the temptation to defect to the host country is always high for someone with nothing left to lose. I won't have you slipping away into the crowds." Lolita's glare didn't waver.
"I could just leave the recipe for the Sangria."
"It wouldn't taste the same," Lolita cut her off, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
She paused to sip from her glass. "And Sterling seems to have taken a liking to you… for some reason. I can't explain why he enjoys the company of trash."
Kacy swallowed. "I barely see him. I'm always working."
"As you should be." Lolita waved her off. "The wine doesn't pour itself."
"I don't need to be watched; you can trust me—"
"Trust has nothing to do with it," Lolita said. "Being watched is hardly new for you. You work in a castle, Kacy. There are eyes on you everywhere."
"Will Artemis be going-"
"No," Lolita cut her off smoothly. "I don't have room on the plane to take every single one of my committee members. Only those who have earned my trust get a seat." She swirled her wine, her eyes cold. "And I was deeply unimpressed with Artemis after I found out about his little visit to Maxell's wife."
"But he only went to visit because he was worried about Maxwell—"
"Maxwell's safety doesn't concern him," Lolita murmured, her eyes narrowing. "Artemis had no business asking questions about the welfare of a ghost."
Lolita set her glass down with a definitive click.
"I want your service to be flawless on the flight. I find that ghosts multiply whenever people start disappointing me."
Kacy couldn't help but feel as if a phantom had climbed up her spine. Stepping forward, she cleared the empty glass from the table and made her escape.