Truth or Lies? by A. Gomez (book club recommendations txt) 📗

and go. It fueled my hate for Victor Chang. It made eating with him and holding a conversation with him all the more repulsive. He was a repugnant, sorry excuse for a man and I so wanted to shoot him. Some of the girls would take one or two of the special chocolates from the bowls and eat them on the way out. They were addicted to the drug and the chocolate made it more enticing.

December was upon us and Christmas was fast approaching. This would be my first Christmas without my family and poor Betty… did she still believe in Santa?

There was no snow on the ground yet, as far as we could tell. I would manage to get a glimpse of the outside at breakfast and at my dinners with Chang. He allowed those shutters to stay open. Probably because his watchdogs were always around in every part of the house except for the girls’ rooms. Actually, they weren’t allowed upstairs at all, since that little incident I had with Gator Leg, and me pointing out he was stealing from Chang. Ever since then, Chang wasn’t quite sure about his men’s urges so he took extra precautions and ordered all his men to watch one another. At least we knew they weren’t going to give us any trouble.

It was almost dinner time… time for me to get dressed in one of the obscenely expensive cocktail dresses and a pair of stilettos. Chang had bought me a few more dresses and shoes since our first dinner together. He said he didn’t realize how much he enjoyed dressing me so he decided to buy me more. I was thrown back by the admission but graciously thanked him for everything.

Betty Lou and I finished our chores a little early one time. We headed back to our room together, her hand in mine.

“Isabel Grace? I’ve been praying and I haven’t stopped, just like you told me and so far, everything’s been okay,” Betty paused. “But how long do I have to keep praying for? I mean, I don’t mind and I really like talking to God but how long is this going to go on for? How long do you think we’ll be here?”

I bit the side of my lip. These were all valid questions. I felt a spasm of fear and despair in my gut. I had the same questions.

“I wish I knew, Betty Lou,” I muttered. “I was hoping someone would’ve come to get us by now but it doesn’t look like that’s happening.” We must have been very well hidden in here if the FBI, or anyone else for that matter, couldn’t find us. I felt a pang of sadness for Betty. Christmas would be here before we knew it and she was missing out on the fun activities they have for the kids at school. Not to mention, she was also missing out being with her friends during the holidays. “Hey, instead of doing your evening reading and math, why don’t you have some fun tonight and make some Christmas bracelets or flowers with Caroline and Lilly? We can try and decorate our room with that.”

“That’s a great idea!” Betty jumped up and down with excitement. “I’ll tell Lilly and Caroline to bring only Christmas colors.”

I quickly dressed and did my hair and makeup while Betty was getting her things ready for the evening. Lilly and Caroline, thankfully, had no appointments and were able to stay with Betty all night. Debbie no longer fetched me for dinner. Chang told her to let me come on my own once he realized she was beginning to get jealous. I supposed he didn’t want to deal with an irritated, jealous female.

I was almost to the dining room when I heard voices coming from Chang’s office. Debbie was talking to Chang; it sounded more like scolding. I paused by the hallway, just close enough to hear their conversation.

“…but why are you procrastinating? You can’t keep putting him off, you know. This is more money than you ever thought! Let her go and be done with it! A chance like this won’t come up again.” Her Midwest accent sounded so nasally and annoying.

I didn’t hear Chang say anything. Silence followed and then what sounded like Debbie’s footsteps. I quickly ducked into the dark hallway so she wouldn’t see me. I stayed there for a few more minutes, waiting to see if Chang was going to follow her. He didn’t. I could hear him pounding on the desk and exhaling heavily. I didn’t move. I heard light switches being flicked and then the sound of his door closing. I peeked around the corner and saw him heading to the dining room. I watched as he disappeared around the next corner before I headed out.

Was he upset? Angry? What was Debbie talking about? Let who go? My imagination started to run wild. My stomach clenched.

35

As I walked into the dining room Chang smiled warmly at me. He walked over to me, handed me a glass of wine and kissed me on the cheek. I was thrown back, blanching at him and blushing. The most he’d ever done was hold my hand in his, and that was just to say goodnight. Never anything like this. I didn’t know how to react. I was speechless. Was this what Debbie was talking about? She was afraid he was getting too close, too attached to me. Say something, Isabel Grace, for the love of Pete! Don’t make this more awkward than it already is.

“Mr. Chang,” I whispered, “you’ve taken me by surprise. This is very unexpected.” I cupped my hand around my cheek. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything, Dr. Langley.” His tone sounded detached. “Let’s eat and enjoy our evening.” I nodded, biting my lip. “You look stunning as usual, Dr. Langley.” He pulled my chair out for