“It might take more than a few letters.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Intrusive visits?”
Logan let out a low, throaty laugh. “No, but as far as I understand, her biggest fear is that you’ll end up like her mum, who never managed to get clean.”
“What are you suggesting?”
Instead of answering, Logan reached into the inside pocket of his leather jacket and pulled out a piece of paper. It wasn’t until he handed it to me that I realised it was a brochure for a private rehab clinic. “Don’t just talk. Do something. Show Kate how serious you are.”
60
Boycott against The Darlington: Many stars are staying away from this year’s Pearl Gala, but politicians such as cabinet member Lawrence Eddington and members of the royal family are also refusing to attend the charity gala.
INsiderheadline
Henry
My heart was racing. I wasn’t sure if it was from excitement about the Pearl Gala or lingering withdrawal symptoms—perhaps both. I stood off to the side of the red carpet, watching the flurry of camera flashes as photographers scrambled to get shots of Hollywood darling Kayden Bradley. A lot of journalists had turned up to cover the gala, possibly even more than last year. Presumably, they were all hoping for a new Darlington family scandal, but they wouldn’t get one—I would make sure of it.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I spun around to see Rakesh. He wore a suit and clutched his beloved tablet, looking just as harried as I felt. His cheeks were flushed, but at least his hair was holding up—slicked into place with what looked like an entire pot of gel.
“You’re up in a moment.”
I nodded. “Is everything going to plan?”
“Yes.” He tapped away on his tablet. “We’ve had four last-minute cancellations, but not from anyone important. The last limousines for the red carpet should be arriving any moment, and the catering staff is about to start serving the aperitifs.”
I let out a relieved sigh. Finally, some good news. “Thank you, Rakesh. Really. I couldn’t have pulled this off without you.”
“I’m happy to help. But do you know what’s even better than thanks?”
“A raise?”
“A raise,” he confirmed with a grin.
I laughed and made a mental note to arrange it, even if accounting would kick up a fuss. The Darlington couldn’t afford to lose Rakesh—especially not now that I was planning to take a step back. Without the Vitalyn, I couldn’t keep working a hundred hours a week or more. Right now, every hour felt like one too many. But I hoped that time and support would get me back on track.
“You’re up,” Rakesh said, patting me on the shoulder.
I resisted the urge to make a face and took a deep breath instead, adjusting my jacket before stepping onto the red carpet. Dozens of cameras shot up in the air, and blinding flashes engulfed me. It wasn’t my favourite part of events, but it came with the territory.
“Henry, look left!”
“Henry, where’s Kate?”
“Henry, don’t you have a date tonight?”
“Henry, what happened to your girlfriend?”
“Henry, what can you say about Olivia Asterdam’s relationship with Marko Langston?”
“Henry, give us a smile!”
The photographers called my name, and I followed their directions and demands, but didn’t respond to their questions. I didn’t want to talk—or even think—about Kate’s absence. A small part of me had hoped we would make up before the gala, but I’d been fooling myself. She hadn’t answered a single one of my letters. Even so, the next one was already sealed in its envelope, waiting in my office.
I finally stepped off the red carpet two minutes later, although it felt like it had been twenty. Rakesh smiled at me from across the other side of the carpet, and I made my way into the ballroom.
