Joanne finally found her way out of the endless hallways and reached the grand front door. Sebastian was nowhere in sight, but a chauffeur stood waiting, ready to take her back to her hotel.
Wordlessly, she climbed into the car, the weight of the day pressing heavily against her chest.
As the estate disappeared behind her, Joanne leaned back against the seat, staring blankly out the window. She could only hope Philip would think carefully about what she had proposed.
For now, all she could do was wait.
-----
Inside the bedroom, Sebastian quietly gave a rundown of everything Joanne had done while in the house.
"She touched the camera, almost like she couldn't help herself," he said. "Then she went to the bed. She looked like she was about to jump on it, but changed her mind. After that, she poked around the closet for a bit… and then she left. That's all."
Philip leaned back against the pillows, his brow furrowed.
