Henry smiled, his expression full of unmistakable affection. “We won’t,” he assured me, continuing to stroke my back. “There are always headlines about Ethan or speculations about my love life. They don’t mean anything, and they don’t have any impact on The Darlington. In a couple of days, everyone will have forgotten about the photos. So please, don’t worry about it.”
I nodded hesitantly. “OK.”
Perhaps the photos really weren’t such a big deal. Who Henry spent his time with should have no bearing on the hotel or its guests. People were just bored and hungry for gossip. Besides, the press still didn’t have a clue who I was. As long as nothing about my past came to light, we had nothing to worry about.
The Blackroom
As we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words. Something Richard Darlington knows all too well. Three years ago, photos of Darlington allegedly harassing a woman on the dance floor of an exclusive club made the rounds on the internet. The photos mysteriously disappeared a few hours later and haven’t been seen since. It looks like someone was keen to sweep the whole thing under the rug—but we won’t be fooled.The Blackroombrings back the lost photos...
40
No way was that kiss real! Henry just staged it to get back at Olivia! #HenryDarlington #OliviaAsterdam #Asterdarling
Online comment by MeltXGlow
Henry
The photos of Kate and I spread fast. It wasn’t the first time the press had reported on my love life, but it was the first time that the topic was so controversial. People had a lot to say about the fact that Kate worked for The Darlington and, by extension, for me. Some applauded Kate and saw our relationship as a modern fairy tale, while others were convinced she was using me for my money. Yet others argued I was abusing my power, which was ridiculous. Kate hadn’t just stolen my phone—she had taken my heart. So it didn’t matter how much more power, success, and money I had, because Kate already possessed the most valuable part of me.
I was scrolling through online articles when there was a knock at my door. Before I could respond, the door opened. It was no great surprise when my mum stepped into my office—I had expected her to show up much earlier.
I closed my laptop. “Hey, Mum,” I said, and gestured at the sofa. “Sit down.”
She ignored my invitation and sat on a chair at my desk, which told me all I needed to know. She smoothed her red dress. It was embroidered with silver thread, which gave it a Christmassy feel, but there was nothing festive about her expression.
“We have to talk.”
“I don’t have time.” It wasn’t a lie, but more importantly, I didn’twantto talk to her. I already knew what she had come to say—she didn’t like Kate. She had already warned me to stay away from her after the first photos had been posted. But her words had fallen on deaf ears then, and they would do so again today.
My mum fixed me with a glare. “Make time.”
“I have nothing to say.”
“Then listen to me,” she demanded.
I stopped protesting. The quicker she got to the point, the sooner I could be rid of her and finish my work, so I could get back to Kate. I looked at my mum expectantly, drumming my fingers against the desk with impatience.
“You’re meeting Daphne Walsh on Tuesday at 6 p.m.”
“Mr. Walsh’s daughter?” I asked with surprise.
“Yes.”
“What for?”
My mum tutted, as if I was being deliberately obtuse. “To have dinner with her, of course. I’ve arranged a date for you. Miraculously, she’s still interested in you.”
Was she kidding? “No way.”
My mum ignored me and kept talking. “Daphne looks absolutely striking with her new nose. Like a young Kate Moss, butwithout the drug problem and just as slim. And she has a spotless reputation. You’ll like her.”
“I don’t want to go on a date with Daphne. Kate and I...”
“Forget Kate,” my mum interrupted, eyeing me with pursed lips, as if she were taking stock of me. Judging by the faint wrinkle of her nose, she didn’t like what she saw, though I couldn’t tell if it was the dark circles under my eyes or the colour of my suit that bothered her. Not that I cared. “Daphne is a much better match for you.”
“How would you know that? You don’t even know Kate.”
“No, but I know you, and what you have with her isn’t going to last. She’s exciting, an adventure. I get that—but every adventure comes to an end. Everything new eventually becomes old and loses its charm. And once that charm fades, you’ll see that there’s nothing connecting you.”
