SUNBURN | JOHN B ROUTLEDGE

035

As Sarah pulled up to Tannyhill, The three of them stepped out of the car and made their way to the front door.

John B his voice low, "Sarah, I, I cannot be here."

"Okay, well, you have to trust me."

John B felt a sense of unease, "Yeah, I did that one time already."

"We've already been through this. I didn't rat you out, okay? So suck it up, buttercup." She scoffed, opening the door.

"Hey, I don't think your old man would be happy if an ex-employee was bleeding all over his house." Gabriella added.

But as they entered the grand foyer, Sarah's sharp ears caught the sound of footsteps on the stairs. Her heart jumped when she recognized the deliberate, heavy tread, it was Ward. Without a moment to lose, she quickly pushed John B into the adjacent room, hiding him from view just as Ward descended the final steps.

Ward was mid-conversation on his phone, "D, don't tell me we can't renegotiate the rate. We can absolutely renegotiate the rate. That's what we're doing right now." Gabriella felt a sense of unease, she had heard her dad's friends and colleagues in the past calling him D, a small and stupid nickname she thought. Was it just a coincidence that Ward was saying that nickname?

Sarah had shouted a hello to her father, he paused, his eyes narrowing towards Gabriella. "And who might this be?" he asked, his voice smooth yet probing, but Gabriella had thought Ward already knew who she was.

Before Sarah could respond, Gabriella stepped forward, her voice calm but laced with a slight edge. "Gabriella Fairey," she introduced herself. "My dad is Dean Evans." Seeing if she could strike a nerve with Ward.

The name seemed to strike a chord with him. For a brief moment, his polished facade cracked, revealing a flicker of something deep and unreadable in his eyes. Gabriella couldn't quite place it, was it recognition, surprise, or something darker?

Ward's face had turned white, once he had studied Gabriella's face. It was as if he'd seen a ghost, seen something that had rose beyond the grave. Whatever it was, it passed quickly, replaced by the same charismatic smile Ward was known for.

Ward's eyes flickered all around the room, avoiding Gabriella's eyes. "Dean Evans is a lovely friend of mine," Ward replied, his tone almost too warm, too welcoming. "I'd love to get to know his daughter more." He gave Gabriella a lingering look, his gaze holding a weight that made her stomach churn with unease. There was something off about the way he said it, something that set her on edge.

As he turned to leave, continuing his phone call, he told Sarah to shut the door behind him. His words carried a subtle command, a reminder of who held the power in this house.

Sarah and Gabriella exchanged a look before they slipped into the office where John B was waiting. He was sprawled out on the couch, looking a little worse for wear but still managing a smirk. "So you're gonna have a tea party with King Kook?" he teased.

Sarah rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. "I'll pour the tea, don't worry," she quipped back, her laughter easing some of the tension.

Gabriella forced a smile but couldn't shake the weird feeling Ward had left her with. "Grab the first aid kit," She told Sarah while the idea of learning more about his connection to her made her uneasy, but she couldn't deny the curiosity bubbling up inside her.

Sarah passed the first aid kit to Gabriella with a knowing look, and Gabriella felt a rush of warmth in her cheeks. She turned to John B, who was lying on the couch, still wincing from the pain. "Okay, lift up your shirt," she instructed, her voice trying to stay calm despite the fluttering in her chest.