Well, let the games begin. The words formed in her mind.
Beth shuddered.
‘I’m so pleased you’re feeling better,’ Amelia said, eyes narrowed, ‘but really, I feel your state of mind is inappropriate. You’re off the project.’
Beth swallowed. A wave of dizziness encompassed her, but she pushed the woman’s energy back, seeing herself grow in stature as she called up a solid wall of light between her and Amelia.
‘But…’ Charlie’s voice was weak. ‘You can’t, I mean, please don’t, I mean, I need her.’
‘Of course you don’t.’ Amelia’s voice was quiet, but hypnotic. ‘You are the boss. The big guy. You are far more appropriate to head up such a prestigious event. When I asked for Beth I thought she was the best. I was wrong. You are all I need.’
Beth’s mind clouded as she listened, but she pushed the murk back. A strange ringing sounded in her ears, and then drifted away when Amelia stopped talking. Beth shook her head and felt clarity return.
Charlie’s eyes were glazed and dull. His gaze ranged over Amelia’s tight-fitting pencil skirt and asymmetric top. It must have been made from something expensive, because it hung and clung with perfection.
Beth rolled her eyes.
Amelia’s lips turned up and she walked over to Charlie, swaying her hips in the figure-hugging fabric. She perched on his desk and leaned in close.
Charlie’s eyes glazed as he looked down her cleavage. ‘Of course, Amelia. I will do whatever you want.’
‘Of course you will.’ Amelia stood up and pulled on her long, belted coat. ‘I expect you to manage the handover internally. That’s where your involvement will end, Beth. I only work with people who are responsive to my… needs.’
‘Your needs?’ Beth stood up and walked around the desk until she was eye to eye with Amelia. ‘Was it your need that I be locked in that theatre after dark? Was it your need that I be turned into an emotional wreak? I’m struggling to see how all of that benefits you.’
‘I see your friends haven’t enlightened you as much as I thought they would.’
‘My friends have plenty to say about you, but I’d like to hear your side.’
Amelia laughed.
The sound woke Charlie from his daze.
‘Are we sorted, Amelia? Beth can fill me in on the details, and if there’s anything specific you’d like, please do call me. I’ll pick up the phone at any time for you, day or night.’
‘Well I might take you up on that offer,’ Amelia purred.
Charlie swallowed.
Amelia smirked and rolled her eyes. ‘Anyway, I’m done. I’ll be seeing you, Beth. You can be sure of that.’
The door swung shut behind her.
Charlie and Beth sat in silence, staring at the door as it settled back into position.
‘Well,’ Charlie said, a little breathless, his face flushed. ‘That was certainly an interesting meeting.’
Beth waited for the fury. He had been clear Amelia was the only reason she had a job. Could she really work at the Third Eye?
Charlie’s eyes darted around the room as though he were looking for something, checking out the space for risks. ‘Show me how far you’ve got with your guest list. I want to vet it and see if there’s anyone who shouldn’t be allowed entry. You can’t be too careful about who you associate with, you know.’
‘But I thought you wanted to raise as much money as possible?’
‘I do, but if we bring in people with the wrong ideas, contagion could spread.’ He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. His eyes shone with an unnerving light she hadn’t seen before. ‘Haven’t you been listening to Amelia? She said the spirits surround us every minute of every day. She said we won’t know who has been contaminated. The only way to protect ourselves is to remain on guard all the time. We need to be wary of anyone different or strange. That’s the only way to make sure we’re not infiltrated. We have to be strong.’
Beth swallowed. Memories of the theatre shivered through her body with physical force. Even repackaged and spoken in Charlie’s voice, Amelia’s words had the power to freeze her heart and set her mind reeling. She took a deep breath to centre herself. ‘Charlie, where did you hear those words? You were not in the theatre when Amelia spoke them.’
‘That performance was televised. Didn’t you know? Everyone has seen it. I’ve watched it over and over. I pretty much know it by heart.’
‘Why?’ Beth shook her head. ‘Why would you watch it once, let alone over and over?’
‘Amelia is protecting us.’ Charlie’s gaze darted around the room.
‘What are you looking at?’ Beth frowned, squinting into the corner, trying to see what he was focusing on.
‘I’m just checking for spirits. I don’t know what I’m looking for so I have to stay alert. I’ve never seen a spirit. I didn’t believe in them a few days ago. Now I have to be vigilant enough to spot them and protect myself. Do you have any idea how terrifying that is?’
Beth sighed. ‘You’re fine, Charlie. I have seen and felt spirits my entire life and there are none here today. Please don’t put too much store in what Amelia says, she’s—’
‘What?’ Charlie cut across her, his voice shrill. ‘You see spirits? I knew you were weird. You’ve been infiltrated. That’s why you have it in for Amelia.’
Beth held her hands up. ‘I do not have it in for Amelia and I haven’t been infiltrated by anyone or anything. In fact, I am better placed to avoid being messed with, because I know what I’m dealing with. You can trust me, Charlie.’
‘Trust? Trust? What is trust?’ Charlie muttered, but he turned his face down towards the paperwork on his desk, muttering to himself as he drew his finger down the list of names.
Beth sat back in her chair. Charlie was mirroring her own earlier behaviour, and that knowledge sent chills through her. She remembered that feeling of fear, of suspicion. She felt echoes of it in the energy that wafted from Charlie like poisonous gas.
She gulped at her coffee but it was cold and that just added to the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. ‘I have to get out of here,’ she said, pulling her coat on and heading for the door.
‘Hey.’ Charlie followed and stood in front of it, his hands braced on either side of the door frame. ‘You can’t go. I can’t do this without you.’
Beth gaped. ‘Amelia just fired me and you want me to stay?’
Charlie shook his head backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards. The movement didn’t stop, but he barely seemed aware of it. He just kept going, compulsively, talking through the shake. ‘I won’t fire you. I won’t. I need you. Can’t do this alone. She doesn’t have to see you. Doesn’t have to know you’re here. You’re not hers, you’re mine.’ He looked up at her, his gaze meeting hers in steely desperation. ‘I need you.’
Beth frowned. She scooted her chair closer to Charlie and took his hand in both of hers. It was icy cold and shaking. ‘She’s right, Charlie. You’re the best. You don’t need me. I know you’re not used to doing the grunt work any more, but remember how you got to where you are now. You’ve got this. She’s your only client and she’ll ditch you too if I stay.’