He’s right though. Once upon a time, I was an animal. But now I’m practically Chloe’s pet. And the worst thing about it, I fucking love it. Who even am I?
Chloe and I stroll a wide corridor lined with huge gilt-framed paintings of picturesque beaches. Thick crushed velvet curtains remain open, secured with rope tiebacks. An open sash window offers a gust of fresh, lavender-scented air. I can see why Ryan and Sasha are so happy here.
When Ryan said he was retiring from the stage, I thought he was mad, but perhaps, if I had what he had, I’d take a step back, too. Without him in LA, what am I even doing there? Dodging someone who hates me enough to try to tear my empire down, corner by corner, and representing artists I barely see from one day to the next. I could do that from anywhere.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pause, gazing out at the lush, expansive scenery, manicured gardens and the Irish Sea way off on the horizon, a million lights dotting the landscape in between.
Chloe shoots me a quizzical glance. I accept the call before touching my lips against hers like I’ve been dying to do all night.
‘Jayden?’ Declan’s familiar voice penetrates my ear.
I reluctantly drag my mouth from Chloe’s. Slim fingers guiltily stroke her lips as she glances up and down the corridor. I checked. There’s no one here but us.
‘Any update?’ I wrap my arm around Chloe’s waist and pull her close, nuzzling into her neck to inhale her unique scent. I’ve missed her so much, it doesn’t bear thinking about.
‘I just wanted to check something. I know it’s a delicate situation, but could this have anything to do with your father?’
‘Dad? No way.’
Chloe looks up and I shake my head, hoping to convey it’s not important.
‘What about inadvertently? Could someone be trying to bring you down to hurt him? He was involved with some shady characters back in the day,’ Declan reminds me.
‘If someone had a beef with him, why would they go to all the trouble with me when he’s a much easier target? The man’s a sitting duck in prison.’
‘True,’ Declan muses. ‘By the way, is Colton with you?’
‘No, why do you ask?’
‘He’s not at your house.’ Fingers tap on a keyboard in the background.
‘Good for him. Perhaps he’s finally got himself a woman. He came back clean, didn’t he?’
‘Yes, he did.’ Declan doesn’t sound entirely convinced.
Chloe, leaning against me, yawns. Her beautiful blue eyes flutter in an effort to stay open. She’s wrecked. No wonder. World domination comes at a price. She could do with a partner. An image of her slimy ex pops into my brain.“I want to talk about a merger.”
I’ll merge his face with my fist. How’s that for a merger?
‘I’ll check in first thing in the morning,’ Declan says. A can pops in the background. I hope he’s drinking Coke and not lager, because I need answers, fast.
‘Goodnight.’ The phone line goes dead.
‘Who’s that?’ Chloe asks, stifling another yawn.
‘Jesus, you’re sounding like a nagging girlfriend.’ I press a kiss on her head and smile.
Her features rearrange into one of mock horror and I get a glimpse of her raspberry tongue, the one she knows exactly what to do with. ‘You should be so lucky.’
I can’t argue with that.
We continue the walk to her room. The castle’s eerily quiet at this hour of the night.
‘Seriously though, is everything ok with your dad? I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.’ Her bottom lip catches between her gleaming white teeth.
‘Dad’s fine, although I wouldn’t have thought you cared.’ This is the closest we’ve ever come to speaking about what happened that night my father’s reckless driving killed Chloe’s parents.
Is it the wine? Or is she finally opening up to me?
