Chapter 65 CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
Blue's POV
My father was losing his patience. He must really hate that things aren't going his way. If I wanted to keep Scarlett safe, I had to do something to give him a false sense of submission. I couldn't afford to anger him any further.
But I also couldn't stop. Now that Scarlett had accidentally found the way to Miller’s office, she had opened a door we couldn't close. There was something in that room I needed, something that could change everything.
She was looking up at me with those wide, panicked eyes, her small hands still tucked in mine.
"Yes," I said, my voice steady to ground her. "You’re going back to Miller’s office. There is a ledger in his safe that I need. I’ll keep watch for you from the ground, Scarlett. Don't worry. I won't let any harm come to you."
She blinked wildly, her chest heaving as she tried to process the request. "But... how do I steal from his safe? I assume a safe is, you know, locked securely?"
"It is," I replied. "But the model Miller uses isn't as secure as he thinks it is. I actually oversaw the delivery of those units when they arrived at Bellamy. I know exactly how they’re built."
As I spoke, my mind flickered to the logistics of the coming week. Another shipment of food and "supplies" would be arriving in seven days. My father would probably let Derek handle the distribution this time to show him off as the new favorite. It didn't matter. Instructions for our side would come through Mason anyway, so I wasn't too worried about that for now. My main concern was the girl sitting in front of me.
I looked at her, watching the gears turn in her head. "I’m going to teach you how to pick the lock. I have a similar safe here we can practice with."
She took a long, shaky breath, making a series of small motions like she was physically pulling her scattered nerves back together. Finally, she nodded. "Let's do this. Oh, wait—I’m starving. How long was I out?"
"Two hours," I said. "I already have Tanner on it."
As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door. Tanner entered, carrying a steaming food box that smelled of grilled chicken and seasoned rice. Scarlett’s eyes snapped to him, then back to me, her brow furrowing.
"Didn't I already say not to make Tanner bring food for me anymore?" she asked, her voice hovering between annoyed and embarrassed.
I glanced at Tanner, who was standing awkwardly by the door. "But Tanner doesn't mind. Right, Tanner?"
Tanner started shaking his head multiple times, a weird, forced smile plastered on his face. "No, not at all! Glad to help."
I resisted the urge to whack the idiot. He looked like a deer in headlights. He was a good kid but he was terrible at acting natural around her.
"You can go," I told him.
Scarlett tsked, turning her attention to Tanner. "Thank you, Tanner. Truly. It’s a pity you ended up with a boss like Blue."
Tanner chuckled nervously, backing toward the door. "I really don't mind, ma'am. If I can be helpful to him in any way, I’m glad to do it."
I kept my face blank as he slipped out, but for a split second, I actually felt like smiling. I quickly killed the impulse. I cursed my father in my head for the way he’d raised me to be completely unfamiliar with soft, happy emotions or normal human interactions. To him, anything that wasn't calculated or cold was a weakness.
"Blue?"
Scarlett’s voice snapped me back to the present. Tanner was gone. I moved to the table and served up the food, pushing the tray toward her. "Eat."
She looked at the portion, then at me. "Aren't you eating?"
"I'm not that hungry," I lied. The truth was, my stomach was in knots thinking about her being back in those vents. "The food is mostly for you. You burned a lot of energy today."
She gave me a dry look but didn't argue. "I can't eat all this."
"Just eat what you can."
She sighed and dug in. After a few bites, the tension seemed to leave her shoulders. She started tapping her feet against the floor and humming a soft, happy tune unconsciously. It was a strange sight. I realized then that it doesn't take a lot for a person to feel content and warm. Watching her eat was more satisfying than any meal I’d had in weeks.
She paused, fork halfway to her mouth, and looked at me without really looking away from the food. "I wanted to ask... are exams conducted at Bellamy? Like in a normal school?"
"Yes," I said. "They do write exams, but—"
Scarlett dropped her spoon with a loud clatter. "Oh my God! What have I been doing with my life? I am the furthest thing from prepared! I’ve been here about three months, which means exams should be soon. What if I fail? Wait, what happens if a student fails? What kind of exams do they even schedule? Who—"
I reached out and hit the table lightly with my palm. The sound was enough to make her shut up instantly.
"You didn't even let me finish before you started your worry-rant," I said, a bit of amusement creeping into my voice. "The exams here are usually simple. They’re based on reality and behavior, not technical knowledge. It’s just a measure the board uses to see how much reforming a student has experienced. If you can follow basic instructions and don't try to kill anyone during the test, you'll pass."
Scarlett deflated, her shoulders dropping in relief. "Thank God. I thought I was going to have to memorize a textbook in a week."
She cleared the last of the portion she’d packed onto her plate, wiped her mouth, and stood up with determination. "Okay. Now I’m ready. Let’s go practice lock picking. Where is this safe?"
I stood up and gestured toward the heavy door at the side of the room. "In the bedroom."
I saw her hesitate for a fraction of a second. She was going to enter my private space again. I turned and led the way, wondering if she could hear my heart beating as loudly as I could.