Free Counsellor (Acquisition Series Book 1) by Celia Aaron

to have someone to talk to. Maybe I could even call her a friend, such as they were in this new world.
    She raised her face, her smile making her luminous in the morning light. “I’m happy to see you, too. I must admit, I asked to be assigned to you as soon as I heard about your arrival.”
    “Why?”
    She put her hands in her skirt pockets. “I just feel like we may have some things in common is all.”
    “Oh, so you hate Sinclair Vinemont, too?”
    She laughed. It was an open, inviting sound that held nothing back. “I certainly don’t, and I don’t believe you do either.”
    I leaned back against my bedpost. “Pretty sure I do.”
    “Well, in any case, you have a big day and an even bigger night. I’m here to help you through all of it.”
    “You told me about the ball tonight. So, what are we doing today?”
    “Getting ready, of course. Mr. Sinclair gave me explicit instructions on how he wants you prepared. He ordered your gown the night you arrived, and he picked out your jewels and accessories with me this morning.” She walked to me and took my arm. “You are going to be the most beautiful Acquisition they’ve ever seen.”
    I pulled my arm from her grasp, anger rushing through me like a wildfire. “You’re excited? About putting Vinemont’s property on display before some other loathsome people just like him?”
    She returned her hands to her pockets. “I was only trying to…” She shrugged and met my eyes again. “I can’t undo the contract. I can’t stop the ball or anything else that goes on, but I can help you if you’ll let me. I can see you through until the end when your year is up and you can leave. That’s all I want to do.”
    The earnestness of her words struck me like a bolt to my heart. She was right. I had signed the contract and now I was bound to it. If she wanted to help, then I would be wise to let her. I only wished I knew more about the Acquisition. Still, I would take whatever allies I could get.
    “I’m sorry, Renee. I’m just…”
    Emboldened by my apology, she took my arm again. “I know. Like I said yesterday, I understand. Now, let’s get you to the spa.”
    I almost fell back against the bed. “The spa?”
    “Here on the property, of course. Mr. Vinemont called in professionals from all over the country for this. You’re going to get the royal treatment.”
    She pulled me out into the hallway and down the front steps.
    “What does this entail, exactly?”
    “First, breakfast.”
    I dug in my heels and stopped despite the angry rumble of my stomach. “I don’t want to see them.”
    “The boys are already out and about today. Don’t worry.”
    “ Boys ? You mean the two sadistic men who live here with their third clueless brother?”
    She walked me into the thankfully empty breakfast room. “I’ve known them since they were wee ones, so I still think of them as boys.”
    She called for Laura, effectively cutting off my incredulous commentary with the sight of a breakfast tray piled high with deliciousness.
    Renee sipped her coffee as I demolished my breakfast. If she was right about having a big day planned, I certainly had a big enough breakfast to power through it.
    I wiped my mouth daintily, though it did nothing to undo my earlier lack of manners.
    Renee finished her coffee. “Ready to get started?”
    I stood and stretched like a lazy cat. “Lead the way.”
    “One more thing.” She showed me down the hallway, leading me deeper into the house than I’d been as of yet. “You are about to meet some new people. They’re outsiders. They wouldn’t understand what’s going on. It would be best if you told them as little as possible in order to avoid any unpleasant complications. They know you’re going to a ball. Just keep it at that.”
    “So I shouldn’t tell them that I’m an Acquisition and utterly at the mercy of Vinemont?”
    Her quick step faltered for a second but then she regained her pace. “Exactly.”
     
    ***
     
    The spa