Property of a Gordon

Chapter Thirty Eight

Chapter Thirty Eight

I was hoping by some miracle I was completely wrong. I was hoping Nolan told me he lied about the girl and actually bought the suit from someone. Most of all, I was hoping he was in no way involved or connected with the murder.

Sadly, I couldn't automatically believe Nolan didn't do it. He was both hard-headed and stubborn, a bad combination. His determination was the daring type, willing to do whatever dirty deed needed to get his way. It was the reason I wasn't calm.

My heart was beating as fast as the wings on a hummingbird as I tried not to run down the halls and openly scan every face. That would only increase suspicion and probably cause trouble, two things that wouldn't smooth out my chaotic thoughts.

I decided it was best to at least appear calm, although I was anything but. Maybe the act itself would actually help calm myself down. So my pace was brisk, as if I had a destination in mind, but not alarming. My head was held high to display confidence and not hung as if I had something to hide. My eyes took in everything, but discreetly.

I was quick to find Nolan's temporary room before rushing inside and closing the door. The room was dark so I turned on the light, but it didn't cause Nolan to appear. It was spotless without a single sign that anyone has even been here. He scent touched the air though, faint and light. He couldn't have possibly left.

Nolan wouldn't have left without at least saying goodbye to me one way or another. I knew his stay here wasn't permanent, but still. So maybe he'd left a note in my room somewhere and I overlooked it. Maybe it would tell me where I could find him.

I left the room after turning off the lights and retraced my steps back to my own. After a few minutes of searching the more obvious places, I became frantic. I nearly stripped the paint off the walls in my frenzy, but it wouldn't have helped. I would've been as empty handed as I was now.

I sat on the bed with a sigh as I closed my eyes. There was a reason Nolan had stayed here so long. I didn't particularly care for the reason, but it meant he had unfinished business. He couldn't leave until all his cards were placed in the perfect order. So Nolan was still here somewhere in the palace. The question now was where.

I walked back out, deciding I would just glance down the halls for him. If I happened to see anyone familiar, I would casually ask if they had seen Nolan. Hopefully, someone would say yes and this would all be over.

Walking down and glancing through the halls was proving to be useless. I hadn't found anyone familiar or seen Nolan. I was only growing more panicked, and the images roaming my head were becoming increasingly gory.

Just as I was about to give up and start calling obscenities along with Nolan's name, I spotted a familiar dark gray suit that calmed me just the slightest.

I walked over to him, briefly noticing the hand that slid around my waist. "I have been getting compliments on my attire," he said with a smile that I couldn't bring myself to return.

"Have you?" I asked, scanning the hall again. But Nolan still wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"Snowflake."

His hand was now cupping my chin, guiding it gently towards himself until my distracted eyes were meeting his serious ones.

"I would like to speak with you for a moment," he said, and my eyes narrowed before I pulled away and crossed my arms. He was too relaxed to know what had happened.

"About what?" I asked, but Kendall only smiled once more and moved closer to me.

"It does not need to be a public announcement. Come," he tried, beckoning me to walk with him. But I couldn't just yet.