Read Sense of Rumor (Mount Faith Series: Book 6) for Free Online Page B

perversely, that the receptionist would say "no". That way, she could say that she had tried to see him but it didn't work out.
    "He is in," the receptionist said, "but he won't be for long. He is heading out for a meeting shortly."
    "Okay," Arnella heaved a sigh. "Could you tell him Arnella is here to see him?"
    "Yes," the receptionist nodded. She spoke briefly on the phone and hanged up. "His office is the last door down the hallway."
    Arnella sighed again and headed to the office. She had been to the office before and didn't need the receptionist to tell her where it was. She had just been stalling for time.
    She opened the imposing door and stepped into the plush interior. The decor was changed to red and gold. It was beautiful. The red was bold and warm and somehow tamed by the gold. She stood at the door and Ryan Bancroft coughed.
    "Ehem, the run away niece," Dr. Bancroft said, removing his reading glasses and folding his arms over a swathe of papers.
    "The stating of the obvious uncle," Arnella said fearlessly, going further into the room and sitting before his desk.
    "You are here in my office, my territory," Dr. Bancroft said a hint of pleasure in his voice, "so you must want something."
    Arnella nodded, "I do."
    "You look slimmer," Ryan said, "too slim. Like you've been starving yourself or are you trying to get into the modeling world?"
    Arnella shrugged. "I heard that you can't be too rich or too thin, and I am too short to model."
    Bancroft chuckled, "I see you have come with your acerbic wit. You are not playing the humble card even though you want something?"
    "No," Arnella said, "I don't think people should play around with humility, it's either you are, or you are not. You and I are not humble people."
    Bancroft nodded. "Good point. So tell me; what do you want?"
    "Money," Arnella said, "for art supplies and a place to crash for a while until I can get my paintings done."
    Bancroft started shaking his head. "No!"
    "Why not?" Arnella asked, a touch desperately. He had never told her "no" before. He had always tried to help her and Vanley because their father had died when they were little, and he had felt responsible for them. He had been their sole provider for years, until he found out that their mother was drinking away the money he sent to them for food.
    "Because," Bancroft got up and reached for his jacket that was on a stand, "you need to do something for me. The money will have to come with strings attached."
    "What?" Arnella growled. "I hope it's nothing illegal."
    "It is not illegal, on this side of the world, for women to attend university. So no, it is not illegal." Bancroft sneered. "You are going to do an associate degree in general studies for two years. That's all I ask."
    "That's unfair!" Arnella shouted. "Why can't you just accept that I don't want to go to school? High school was enough. I passed all my subjects with high honors"
    "Only because I insisted," Bancroft leaned on the desk, "and let it be known that I was so proud that you finished. I feel I have a responsibility to you, like I do for my own daughters, and it would be grossly unfair if you did not get a chance to do at least an associate degree. The General Studies associate degree here is pretty flexible. You get to do courses in English, mathematics, biology, physics, computer science, history, philosophy, art, and a foreign language. Maybe you should choose French as your language. The summer Olympics will be in France next year, and Marcus is hoping to participate. You can go support your cousin and get a first hand feel of the language."
    Arnella was about to rant, but she loved the sound of going to Europe and learning a new language. Her uncle was dangling that in front of her like a carrot.
    "Did you say art?"
    "Yes." Bancroft glanced at his watch. "There are some art courses in the general studies line up. I am sure you will shine there, and the best part is that if you ever decide to do your bachelor’s degree, I will