Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

JJ

Yup, this place truly looked like someone had popped open a huge bottle of Pepto Bismol and poured it over the house. Like, I mean…why? Clearly, they didn't care if they were seen but again, and I couldn't state this enough…why?

"That's one ugly house." Gabe was clearly the mouthpiece to my brain.

"Hopefully it's different on the inside. There's only so much pink I can take." Mason was also vocalizing what I was thinking.

Gabe drove up the circular driveway, stopping at the main entrance. He got out, and Mason gave my hand a squeeze. It was brief but it screamed, "We're in this together." I returned the gesture, and he opened the door.

Two men approached our vehicle; the older of the two was welcoming. "Welcome to Alicia House. Mr. and Mr. Columbus?"

"Yes." There. I'd said a word.…Why was I so nervous?

"Lovely. Won't you follow us?"

"Uh, pardon." Mason got his attention, and he turned around. "My driver, where might he be able to wait for us?"

He glanced at Gabe, whose appearance was fairly big and scary when he didn't smile.

"He can either stay with the vehicle, or there's a sitting area by reception."

Mason beamed. "Wonderful. Come along, Conner, you might as well rest inside while Clark and I tour this beautiful house."

Yeah, good thing Mason had said that; I wasn't sure I'd have been able to call it beautiful without gagging.

The three of us followed the men into the house. The main room as we entered had plush couches, a large-screen television, and bookshelves filled with books. I was glad it wasn't pink and even happier that if this was where Gabe would be sitting, he'd be near the exit and able to get to us should we scream bloody murder.

"Beatrice, dear, Conner will be sitting here while Penny gives the Columbuses a tour. Please be sure to offer refreshments," the younger man said, and I noticed that Beatrice was maybe around the same age as Four.

"Yes, sir." She rose from her chair that was behind an ornate oak desk. She walked over to Gabe, who had just sat. "Mr. Conner, sir. Would you like coffee, tea, something cold, perhaps?"

"Let's leave them to it, shall we? Penny asked us to bring you to her office."

Gabe wasn't regarding us in the slightest—he sat talking to Beatrice, but I knew he was watching us out of the corner of his eye.

We took a spiral staircase up to the second floor. As we were led, I took in as much as I could of my surroundings. It was a Victorian home, definitely older but well maintained. The woodwork on the banister was exquisite, the dimly lit sconces similar to ones my grandmother used to have in her house. Simple but elegant. There weren't any photos of the girls of the house but a lot of artwork, paintings. Some small sculptures but nothing that screamed too rich to me.

The hallway was long, and every single door we passed was shut. Quiet…it was so very quiet. Were the girls even here at all?

"Here we are." The older man knocked, and Penny's voice rang out clearly.

"Come in."

The woman behind the desk was in her late sixties easily. Her blond hair was streaked with gray and up in a severe bun. She wore a light-pink blouse with black pants. Glasses were perched on the tip of her nose, and a strand of pearls rested on her chest.

"Hello, Mr. and Mr. Columbus. I'm Penny Ballard, so great to meet you." She tilted her chin to the men behind us. "That'll be all, John."

Once both men left and it was just the three of us, Penny motioned toward the two tufted chairs in front of her desk.

"I thought perhaps we could chat a bit. A few of the girls are setting up tea in the garden, so I don't want to get in anyone's way." It seemed innocuous, though I was sure it wasn't.

"That fine." Mason grinned, and we took our seats.

"So, tell me, what ventures do the two of you often invest in?"

Wow . A powerhouse question right out of the gate. I blinked but didn't want to stall, so I answered the question. "Pretty much in things that keep the world turning. We won't invest in anything that could cut our fortunes short, if you catch my drift." I'd pat myself on the back for answering that question so well, but it would look odd.

I was sure Noel and Nick were cackling at how uncomfortable this whole thing was. Assholes.

"Understandable, and what made you choose Alicia House?" Penny folded her hands on top of the desk.

"Mr. Reese explained that it was a suffering project, but with all the good it was doing for our female youth, Clark and I decided we'd love to help breathe life into it." Well done, Mason. We were kicking ass.

She chuckled, and was that a blush? "Mr. Reese is quite convincing, and charming."

Okay, eew. But I mean, sure, he was sort of a silver fox, but she was… No, eew I can't.

"He sure is." I plastered on a smile and died a little inside.

"Okay, let us take a walk, and then afterward we can discuss where we are most in need of help."

"Sounds like a plan." We stood and followed Penny out.

This time, all the doors along the corridor were open. "These are some of the bedrooms the girls stay in." Penny kept walking at a fast pace.

I tried to see as much as I could, but nothing screamed creepy torture rooms. They all looked like little girls' bedrooms.

We went downstairs. Gabe was sitting on the couch with what looked to be lemonade. There was a charcuterie board on the table in front of him and a football game playing on the big screen.

He shrugged as we passed by, and I didn't need to see Mason's face to know he was totally glaring at his man.

Penny showed us reading rooms, playrooms, the kitchen, quiet rooms for those who preferred them. Literally, everything was perfect. It all appeared to be a good and decent house.

"Let's head to the garden."

We followed Penny again, and the garden she referred to was stunning. Colorful, so many different flowers and trees. In the center was a large gazebo and a big table. Tea, small sandwiches, and little sweets were all laid out for us.

"This looks amazing." Mason sat and I joined him.

"The girls always go over-the-top for company." I watched as Penny fixed her tea.

Not wanting to be weird, I did the same. I really despised tea but didn't want to be rude. Once we'd snacked a bit, I broke the silence.

"Is there any way we could meet these girls and thank them?"

She dabbed the corner of her mouth and smiled sweetly. "That won't be necessary."

I glanced at Mason, who was as confused as I was. "Well, I mean, it would be nice to speak with them. No better way to know what a house needs fixed than to speak with the ones who live in it."

"I live in it; you're talking to me now." Penny was miffed, and that was a red flag.

"Yes, we are." Mason placed his teacup down. "But it's the girls whom this house was created for. We'd love to get their views on things. Sort of like a testimonial."

Oh, Mason was good. "Yes, precisely." I'd back up my bestie.

"Mr. Reese stated that you wanted a tour. He never explained to me that you'd want to talk with the girls. It's just not possible." She somewhat gracefully tossed her napkin to her plate.

It was time to push her a little. "My apologies that it wasn't made clear to you, Ms. Ballard, but while we were a little hopeful to speak with the girls, I feel at this point it is a requirement if you'd like our financial assistance."

It was a dangerous game I was playing but she was hiding them for a reason, and I wasn't leaving this house until I found out why.