Playing Devil's Advocate

Dinner

"This is your room," Colten tells me when we get to a room on the second level. It feels like its been an hour since I saw Garret. "There's a bathroom connected to your room and a closet inside the bathroom. The closet should have everything you will need during your stay. If you should need anything else you can come find Megan or myself and we will help you. Master Garret will expect you to eat dinner with him during your stay. He will send somebody to come get you at seven o'clock. If you are not dressed appropriately then you are expected to change. Any questions Annabeth?"

"How should I dress for dinner?"

"I will help you find a dress tonight but you will have to choose for yourself for the rest of your stay."

We walk into my room and go towards the bathroom. Directly across from the shower is the closet. He opens the double doors of the closet and I gasp. It's a walk-in, but that isn't what shocked me. I gasped because of the jewelry, and the shoes, and the ballgowns hidden away in there.

"You will need to wear a ballgown in a few days, Master Garret will let you know the morning of that day. On that day you will be expected to do nothing except prepare for the event that night. For the dinners leading up to that day, you will wear sundresses. The same goes for breakfast and lunch." He pulls out a red sundress and hands it to me. "You can wear any of the shoes you like as long as it goes with the outfit." He picks up a pair of red heels and a pair of black heels. "Which pair?"

"Black." He hands me the heels and starts to head out.

"Master Garret will inform you of the plans for tomorrow during dinner."

"How long do I have until dinner?" I ask.

"Dinner will be in half an hour. You can get ready then hang out in your room until someone comes to get you." With that he walks out of my room. i walk to the bed and fall face first onto it. I scream into the comforter and allow the fact that I might never see my family again sink in.

After a couple minutes I push off the bed and walk back into the closet. I shut the doors behind me and change into the dress. I pick up the heels and walk to the bathroom sink. I set the heels on the counter and look for a brush and mascara. The first drawer I open has a new brush and an unopened tube of the mascara I use. I quickly brushed my hair and applied the mascara. I picked up the heels and sat down at the window seat in my room.

After about ten minutes of looking out the window at the vast expanse of trees, I hear someone knock at the door. "Come in," I yelled out. The door opened and Colten stuck his head in. "Its time for dinner Annabeth." I stand up and put the heels on. Colten walks me downstairs and into the dining room.

Garret stands up when I walk in and pulls the chair across from him out for me. I sit down and he pushes me in some more before sitting back down in his chair. "You look lovely tonight," he tells me.

"Thank you," I tell him. "You look nice as well." I look at his face and almost melt. He's smiling such a genuine smile that causes his face and pool blue eyes light up. I blush and look back down at my lap.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for joining me for dinner tonight Annabeth. I enjoyed our walk afterwards." Garret tells me as I'm about to walk into my room.

"I enjoyed the walk as well," I smile up at him. I stepped into my room and was about to shut the doors when Garret starts talking again.

"Would you like to go out and eat dinner somewhere else on Thursday? I wouldn't imagine that you'd enjoy being stuck in my house for dinner for the next few nights."

"That's fine. You decide if we go somewhere or not, I'll be fine either way." I almost shut the doors when I remember something. "What was the interview for?"

"I need someone to help me with my house and business work so that I can keep my stress level down, I told you that already." He smiles at me, telling me that he's finished with this topic.

"What does the job entail though? Your answer was extremely vague and I want a clear answer."

"You will find out in a few days. I give you my word." He steps closer to me and I realize that I have stepped outside my room. His body is looming over me in an intimidating manner, but I won't back down. I place my hand on his chest and look him in the eyes.

"How do I know that I can trust your word? You haven't done anything to prove to me that I can trust you yet." I inform him as I start to put pressure on his chest. Before I can push him away he bends down and kisses me. I gasp in shock as I pull away. "What was that for?!" I basically scream at him.

He smirks at me then turns around. "To get you flustered," he says over his shoulder as he walks away chuckling.

"Jerk." I mumbled under my breath.

"I heard that!" he says back at me.

"Good," I yell at him.

"Goodnight Annabeth," he says as he walks out of sight around the corner.

I storm into my room, slamming the doors behind me. I start undressing as I walk to the closet to find pajamas. I look everywhere for something other than a nightgown but I find nothing else. I give up and pull out a random nightgown and put it on. I wash my face and walk back into my room. I scream and look at the intruder.

"Jesus! Colten, don't do that to me!" I half yell at him.

"Sorry," he chuckles. "Just wanted to find out what happened at dinner, Master Garret was walking down the hall smirking and looking like a love-struck puppy."

"He's a jerk, that's what happened!" I exclaim.

"What did he do?" Colten asks, concern lacing his voice.

"Well, during dinner, everything was fine. He told me that he plans to show me some movies in the theatre here and that I get to pick the movies. Then, we'll hang out outside as the sun sets and just watch it. Honestly, tomorrow sounds extremely boring to me. Then, we talked a little bit. After dinner we went for a walk around the grounds. Then, he walked me to my room and we talked a bit more. Then, then jerk-face kissed me! I can't believe he did that!" I explained. "He hasn't even known me for twelve hours and he thinks he can kiss me?! The nerve of that guy!"

"That explains everything," Colten chuckled.

I stand there and glare at him, which makes him laugh harder. "What?" I snap at him.

"I can't take you seriously when you're in a nightgown."

"Then find me something else to wear to bed!" I yell.

"Well, there's always lingerie," he chuckles.

"Not funny. There is no way in hell I would ever wear that." I tell him flatly.

"Master Garret doesn't like seeing women in pants. He claims that they are too improper for females to wear."

"Too improper my ass," I fume. "How am I supposed to exercise in dresses? I may be able to dance in them but I sure as hell can't exercise in them."

"I will talk to Master Garret about it. Breakfast will be at nine o'clock tomorrow, you will be expected to show up, wear a sundress, and please be pleasant with Master Garret. If you aren't then he will not be very nice to you when he makes his decision."

"Fine," I grumble. "I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Annie," Colten says as he turns off my light and walks out.