Read Online Anathema (Causal Enchantment, #1) by K.A. Tucker - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: K.A. Tucker
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screaming obscenities
at each other a moment ago.
The library was dim, but lamps of various sizes
and heights scattered throughout the room gave it a cozy
atmosphere. A giant ebony grand piano filled one corner while a
full wall of mahogany bookshelves filled another, reaching all the
way up to the soaring two–storey ceiling. In between was a
fireplace with a large oil painting above it.
“ Hard to avoid, isn’t she?” Viggo
asked, walking over to admire the piece.
I followed him. It was a portrait of a young
woman with plump auburn curls tumbling midway down her back and
framing a heart–shaped face in which olive green eyes twinkled. Her
smile for the painter was mysterious, and revealed sizeable dimples
that reminded me of Sofie.
“ This was Sofie’s sister,
Veronique.”
Was
Sofie’s sister. Past tense. I
hazarded a glance at Sofie, only to see her staring at the portrait
of her sister with admiration.
“ She was a real beauty, Veronique
was,” Mortimer said, adding, “It’s funny, how different two sisters
can be from each other.”
Sofie’s lips pursed.
“ When was this painting done?” I
asked, gazing at the woman’s vintage–looking sapphire–blue dress
that nearly exposed her breasts. They were accentuated nicely with
a black heart–shaped pendant identical to mine. Instinctively, I
reached up to touch the one around my neck.
“ So what do you have planned for
today, ladies?” Viggo asked abruptly.
My eyes darted to Sofie; I was wondering the
same thing. Her jaw tightened.
Before anyone answered, Viggo spoke again.
“Well, that doesn’t sound like fun! Why don’t you two go out and do
some shopping?”
“ Unfortunately I have several
errands I have to run,” Sofie answered briskly.
Viggo ignored her, pulling a cherry red purse
from a drawer and tossing it to me. “Just a gift from us. Prada.
Not available in stores yet. I believe some women have clawed eyes
out for one of those.”
“ Thanks. You’ve already given me too
much,” I stammered, looking down at the bag. It was fat and heavy.
Full of something
. I glanced questioningly at Sofie, only
to see her glaring at Viggo, her eyes narrowed
suspiciously.
“ Open it!” Viggo ordered, winking. I
hesitated. “Go on!”
I pulled the zipper. Like a Jack in a Box, out
popped money—bundles of bills with multiple zeros on their faces.
My legs buckled. I grabbed the back of a chair for support before I
keeled over.
“ Are you feeling alright?” Viggo was
by my side in seconds, his hand on my shoulder.
“ Yes,” I stammered, “it’s just …
you’re much too generous.”
“ Oh, nonsense. We’re billionaires!
We have wads of cash lying around this place,” Viggo boasted
casually.
“ Yes. This is nothing—loose change,
for us. Take it and have some fun. We insist,” Mortimer added,
standing.
“ We’ll just steal more when we’re
running low,” Viggo said, chuckling.
Sofie stood up abruptly, her face and voice a
mask of calm. “Evangeline, why don’t you go grab your coat. It’s
chilly out.” She didn’t glance in my direction as she spoke, her
pale eyes glued to Viggo’s face. Something was very
wrong.
“ We can go another time, Sofie, if
you have other things you need to do. It’s okay,” I
said.
An uncomfortably long pause ensued, Viggo and
Sofie exchanging silent looks. Then she suddenly turned to me, a
brilliant smile on her face. “Nothing is more important than taking
you out shopping on your birthday. Now go, get ready!”
I turned to Viggo and Mortimer. “I don’t know
what to say but thank you—again.”
“ Anything for such a sweet girl, my
darling,” Viggo said, winking a second time.
Max—always by my side—took that as his cue. He
was back on duty, leading me up to my room with my ridiculous stash
of money.
Was I greedy to accept it? But how could I say
no?
They had practically forced it on me. Well, I didn’t have
to spend it. I would leave it in the nightstand when we
at each other a moment ago.
The library was dim, but lamps of various sizes
and heights scattered throughout the room gave it a cozy
atmosphere. A giant ebony grand piano filled one corner while a
full wall of mahogany bookshelves filled another, reaching all the
way up to the soaring two–storey ceiling. In between was a
fireplace with a large oil painting above it.
“ Hard to avoid, isn’t she?” Viggo
asked, walking over to admire the piece.
I followed him. It was a portrait of a young
woman with plump auburn curls tumbling midway down her back and
framing a heart–shaped face in which olive green eyes twinkled. Her
smile for the painter was mysterious, and revealed sizeable dimples
that reminded me of Sofie.
“ This was Sofie’s sister,
Veronique.”
Was
Sofie’s sister. Past tense. I
hazarded a glance at Sofie, only to see her staring at the portrait
of her sister with admiration.
“ She was a real beauty, Veronique
was,” Mortimer said, adding, “It’s funny, how different two sisters
can be from each other.”
Sofie’s lips pursed.
“ When was this painting done?” I
asked, gazing at the woman’s vintage–looking sapphire–blue dress
that nearly exposed her breasts. They were accentuated nicely with
a black heart–shaped pendant identical to mine. Instinctively, I
reached up to touch the one around my neck.
“ So what do you have planned for
today, ladies?” Viggo asked abruptly.
My eyes darted to Sofie; I was wondering the
same thing. Her jaw tightened.
Before anyone answered, Viggo spoke again.
“Well, that doesn’t sound like fun! Why don’t you two go out and do
some shopping?”
“ Unfortunately I have several
errands I have to run,” Sofie answered briskly.
Viggo ignored her, pulling a cherry red purse
from a drawer and tossing it to me. “Just a gift from us. Prada.
Not available in stores yet. I believe some women have clawed eyes
out for one of those.”
“ Thanks. You’ve already given me too
much,” I stammered, looking down at the bag. It was fat and heavy.
Full of something
. I glanced questioningly at Sofie, only
to see her glaring at Viggo, her eyes narrowed
suspiciously.
“ Open it!” Viggo ordered, winking. I
hesitated. “Go on!”
I pulled the zipper. Like a Jack in a Box, out
popped money—bundles of bills with multiple zeros on their faces.
My legs buckled. I grabbed the back of a chair for support before I
keeled over.
“ Are you feeling alright?” Viggo was
by my side in seconds, his hand on my shoulder.
“ Yes,” I stammered, “it’s just …
you’re much too generous.”
“ Oh, nonsense. We’re billionaires!
We have wads of cash lying around this place,” Viggo boasted
casually.
“ Yes. This is nothing—loose change,
for us. Take it and have some fun. We insist,” Mortimer added,
standing.
“ We’ll just steal more when we’re
running low,” Viggo said, chuckling.
Sofie stood up abruptly, her face and voice a
mask of calm. “Evangeline, why don’t you go grab your coat. It’s
chilly out.” She didn’t glance in my direction as she spoke, her
pale eyes glued to Viggo’s face. Something was very
wrong.
“ We can go another time, Sofie, if
you have other things you need to do. It’s okay,” I
said.
An uncomfortably long pause ensued, Viggo and
Sofie exchanging silent looks. Then she suddenly turned to me, a
brilliant smile on her face. “Nothing is more important than taking
you out shopping on your birthday. Now go, get ready!”
I turned to Viggo and Mortimer. “I don’t know
what to say but thank you—again.”
“ Anything for such a sweet girl, my
darling,” Viggo said, winking a second time.
Max—always by my side—took that as his cue. He
was back on duty, leading me up to my room with my ridiculous stash
of money.
Was I greedy to accept it? But how could I say
no?
They had practically forced it on me. Well, I didn’t have
to spend it. I would leave it in the nightstand when we
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