Loris clasps his sleeve to stop him. ‘As in Thomas Ledwell? The only original buyer who never sold hisLand? As in… the Ledwells from London and their insane private art collection?’
‘Have a nice evening.’
Laughing, Charles frees himself and walks down the stairs casually, even though he could glide to the bottom, his body helium-fuelled again. He doesn’t need to look back at Loris. His thunderstruck face is already imprinted behind Charles’ pendant, with everything he’s recorded so far. A collection of talismans, from which he should manage to draw enough light to fight his gloomy mind until their next meeting.
He’s still on Loris’ street when his phone chimes.
18:39 WITH ONE LFuck! You live with Sofia!!
Charles replies with a photo that only shows half of the painting, framed and hung under their expert lighting system at home.
He took it late last night, when he was in need of a moment withSofiato recover from the dinner party. He still wasn’t sure when he would use his trump card but thought a visual proof could come in handy.
18:40 WITH ONE L… … …
18:40I can’t read morse code.
18:41 WITH ONE LPutain! Tu vis avec Sofia!!
18:41Oui Monsieur.
Charles shoves his hands into his pockets and gambols towards his house.
His parents are out for their first Christmas function of the year.
When they informed him of their schedule for the day, this programme revolted him. Sure, lights and decorations are up, carols are playing in shops, Winter Wonderland is open in Hyde Park. Charles enjoys the holiday season. But hosting an actual Christmas party on the 29th of November should be a criminal offence.
And yet, tonight, he’s grateful for that clock-speeding event. It will allow him to have dinner in their museum room where his father doesn’t authorise any food.
For the upcoming nine days, Charles will be grateful for every clock-speeding event.
TEN
11:34 WITH ONE LKurwa mac! Mieszkasz z Sofia!!
On Friday, Loris’ message was in Italian. On Saturday he went for Spanish, on Sunday he picked German and, yesterday, Charles had to use Google Translate to recognise Swedish. Each time, he replied ‘Yes Sir’ in the language of the day, beaming at his phone.
But today, even their polyglot ritual won’t help him hold a smile.
A new message appears on his screen.
11:36 PHILAccording to the parents grapevine we’ve got a great excuse to paint the town red!
11:37 PHILNo surprise here but congrats Ledwell!
11:37 ALEXWhat are you talking about?
Spencer is typing…
Charles clutches his pen to click it at a fair clip. His mother didn’t waste any time before sharing the news with her entire contact list.
She called him around 10am, to let him know that she opened the acceptance letter from the business school. Half an hour later, she had flowers delivered to the office. They’re on Charles’ desk, obstructing his view of the Pollock painting. The smell of lilies is getting to hishead, and Gareth can’t stop sneezing. Hopefully, he will soon ensure that an accident happens to the bouquet.
Charles takes a halting inhalation and closes his fist around his pendant, trying to conjure the soothing effects of Loris’ blown mind.
He feels sick, trapped and awful for ignoring his friends.
George must know exactly how he feels and sends him a private text.
