“Stork was loyal. He secured a poison pill for the board. They all signed a contract that ensures they’re gone.”
“Serves them right.” Henry looked at me. “I can’t wait to see you deliver that news.”
“I’ll let Dad do the honors.”
“Someone got to them.”
“We’ll find out who.”
“He was seconds from signing it. You might want to work on your timing.”
“I topped my five minute mile.”
“You ran from the suite?”
“Almost broke my neck.”
We laughed.
Henry pushed himself to his feet. “Come on. Let’s go find Dad and tell him our news.”
I rose. “Don’t do this. You need time to think this through.”
He scrunched up his nose. “I have a feeling you’ll vastly improve on the décor.”
“Henry, this is your office now.”
“What do you see when you look around?”
“Opportunity.”
“A cell.”
“We’ll get you another. A better view.”
He lowered his chin as he looked at me.
I valued what Henry wanted above all things, and after my own struggle with this, the memory of it dragged not far behind. I’d never put him through this kind of conflict. He’d already sacrificed enough.
We both made our way back to the conference room where we found Dad, alone and staring out at the view.
As though Dad had always suspected it, he allowed Henry to gracefully back out, and as I watched my older brother resign his future over to me, there came a wave of guilt, alongside relief that finally I felt ready.
Henry left.
His expression seemed calmer.
Through the glass, I saw Mia greet him. Her comforting smile and her wave let me know she’d watch over him.
Turning to face the window, shoulder to shoulder with my father, both of us took in the awe-inspiring vista of New York’s skyline.
Dad wrapped an arm around me.
CHAPTER 23
HENRY SAT ON the edge of the marble fountain, breaking off pieces of bread and feeding it to the swans. Their necks stretched out, eager for more.
I’d never known a time when we’d not had swans.
The lake twinkled in the moonlight.
We were both dressed in black tie, ready for dinner and itching for an end to all this formality. This etiquette was overly constricting.
For the first time since I’d landed in New York, a calmness descended on me as though only now I realized what we’d pulled off. The Cole name was destined to rule the tea market for decades to come.
I sat beside Henry. “I like it out here.”
“Me too.”
“It’s peaceful.”
He pointed to the swans. “Something tells me you and Mia are going to be like this pair here.”
“I hope so.”
He threw out another piece. “I’ve never seen you so happy, Cam. She’s your true north.”
“She’s been my rock through all this.”
“And you’ve been mine.”
“Please change your mind, Henry.”
He took a deep sigh. “Trust me, I’ve given it the thought it deserves.”
“And?”
“I watched you. The way your blood boiled in the boardroom, the respect you commanded because you refused to back down.” He balled a fist in passion. “I’ve never seen you so driven about anything.” His gaze lowered. “Other than Mia, of course.”
“I’m giving up everything. My world is upside down.”
“Doubt?”
“Cautiously proceeding.”
“Well you’ve made Mom happy. I heard her singing in the study. She was wearing overalls and painting the wall, hiding our evidence. I mean, fuck, talk about the most remarkable intervention I’ve ever seen.”
I threw my head back in a laugh.
“You think I’m joking,” he said.
“Can’t imagine it.”
“Trust me, I’ve tried to push that vision out of my mind.”
I pointed to the swans. “Do they have names?”
“Willow’s probably given them some. They remind me of you. Always so calm on the surface but underneath so much going on.”
“Not sure that’s a good thing.”
“You keep your cool, Cam. That’s why you’re perfect at the helm.”
“Henry, you’re more than capable.”
“Too late now. Your name’s on the office supplies.” He winked at me.
“I’m not letting you off the hook that easily.”
“We both know that’s no way to run an empire.”
“Still.”
“Did you get some sleep?”
“Power nap.”
He rolled his eyes. “Which means you can’t keep your hands off each other.”
“She’s captivated me. What can I tell you.”
“Maybe I’ll be calling her sister, soon?”
I beamed at him. “I suppose we should get ready for dinner.”
“Thank you, Cam.”
“What for?”
“Helping Dad see we’re all making the right decision.”
“You were always my hero. You know that, don’t you? Always braver. Faster. Smarter, funnier, and you always got the girls.”
He frowned at me. “That was you, Cam.”
“No, you thrived at boarding school. You won medal after medal.”
“Again, that was you.”
“I didn’t win a thing.”
“Seriously?”
“Nope.”
“The word loser comes to mind.”
I knocked into him.
He turned to face me. “Didn’t you win that chess game against that ass Davis? Wasn’t he a senior? You won in five moves?”
“Doesn’t count.”
“Of course it counts.”
“I suffered the consequences for that one.”
“How do you mean?”
“Davis didn’t like to lose.”
“I wished you’d told me. I’d have killed the bastard.”
“Which was why I didn’t tell you.”
He looked horrified.
“I got my own back,” I said.
“Do I even want to know?”
“No. Your opinion of me would be changed forever.”
“Talking of scandals…”
“I know.”
“Do you think you can give it up?”
“I’m heading back to L.A. first thing tomorrow to begin the process of handing over the clinic.”
“I meant Chrysalis.”
Of course he did, and it pained me to think of closing that door after I’d so carefully constructed this sanctuary for likeminded people who dared to ignore the confines of society and explore the dark arts in all their glory.
The lifeblood of Enthrall and Chrysalis ran through my veins, and soon I’d be faced with the inevitable. My enemies could not be given any ammunition to destroy me and my past had to be carefully orchestrated, wiped clean—my public persona redesigned to fit the corporate world.
I’d be giving up so much, but the promise of what this city had to offer, and what I knew I could do for our company, was an unexplored yearning.
Henry pointed to a swan. “That one just gave you the stink eye.”
“I think he was giving it to you.”
“He’s a she.”
“How can you tell?”
“Seriously?”
I couldn’t remember laughing like this in a long time. My gaze turned toward the house and I needed to go find Mia, needed to tell her how much she meant to me and thank her for standing by me during all this.
“We’ll talk every day Henry. Promise?”
“That won’t get tedious at all.”
“I’m serious.”
“Go on then. Go find your girl.”
I pushed myself to my feet.
He stood too and
opened his arms. I fell into his embrace.
Our bond had transcended the years and had endured too much torment. But we were still standing, still moving forward, and our future felt safer than ever before.
I headed off to find Mia.
First I stopped off at the office safe where I retrieved that flat square velvet box.
After exchanging texts, I found her hiding out in the library. She’d dressed for dinner in a black halter dress and she’d slipped into delicate heels. Her hair was neatly tied back to subdue her locks, pulling back on her feisty style.
Mia sat in a corner chair near the fire.
She peered up from her book.
“What are you reading?” I neared her.
She raised it. “Your mom gave it to me. It’s about the museums and galleries here. I think she’s trying to make me feel at home.”
Now that was progress.
“What’s that?” she said excitedly, staring at the box.
I glanced down at it. “A box.”
“A collar?”
“Perhaps.”
Her cheeks flushed brightly.
I hid it behind my back.
She laughed at that.
“Ready to fly out tonight?” I said.
“All packed. How’s Henry?”
“Doing great, considering the pressure we put him under.” I shook my head. “I put him under.”
“You can’t blame yourself.”
“It’s all such bad timing. Had this happened a few years down the line…”
“Your father told him the door’s always open.”
I sat on the arm of her chair and peered down at the book. “The Museum of Natural History is worth checking out. We’ll go.”
“I’m excited.”
“We’ll fly Bailey and Tara out to visit.”
“I’d love that.”
“Good.”
“Cameron, can I ask you something?”
“Anything. You know that.”
“Everything happened so fast. We never got to talk about it.”
“It?”
“What went wrong with you and Zie? It’s just that you both seemed so happy once.”
I gave a nod. “It became complicated.”
Mia stared down at the page. “What if I make the same mistake as her?”
“You won’t.”
“I need to know why you both didn’t work out.”
Taking a steadying breath, I stared down at her. Mia reached for my hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
“One evening, late at work, I became sick,” I said. “Nothing serious. Just the flu. But I felt like hell and decided to call it a day. You know, take my own advice. Zie wouldn’t have known I was coming home early.”
“Did you find her with someone?”
“She wasn’t home.”
“Where was she?”
“Chrysalis.”
“How did you find her there?”
“Her masquerade mask was missing from the closet.”
“So you knew?”
“I found her in the Harrington Suite.” I dropped my gaze, hoping to conceal how even now it affected me.
Mia’s eyes widened. “You saw her with someone?”
“You could say that.”
Mia blinked her understanding. “Not just one man?”
“As though I wouldn’t find out.”
“What’d you do?”
“Called off our engagement. Then banned the doms who’d fucked her.”
“How can you go in there again?”
“Scars keep us focused.”
“We need to replace that memory, Cameron.”
I offered a kind smile. “Have something in mind?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
“Mia, we’re going to have to put Chrysalis behind us.”
“Let’s make our final visit memorable.”
I brushed a stray hair out of her eyes. “Are you suggesting a public fucking, Ms. Lauren?”
Her teeth scraped her lower lip and her gaze rose to meet mine.
“In the Harrington Suite?” I said.
She beamed. “Go out with a bang!”
I brought the box around and opened it. “Then you’ll need this.”
A flash of sparkling Cartier diamonds lined the choker, catching the light in a brilliant prism—a stunning collection of the finest gems.
Mia leaped from her chair and into my arms.
CHAPTER 24
IT WAS DONE.
Saving the demise of a billion dollar empire had been so much easier than saying goodbye to my patients.
Mia and I had flown back to L.A. three nights ago, and it was with a heavy heart I’d not be staying in the city I’d come to love. But there came an excitement about our future. A new challenge. A destiny that only now I was ready for.
I’d spent the day at my Beverly Hills office finalizing the details.
My last consultation had been with Brian, a gentle comic book artist who lived just off Mulholland. He’d suffered with agoraphobia for years. The very fact he’d made it to my office to say goodbye and meet Laura, his new doctor, proved we’d made progress. Though when I’d delivered the news I was moving to New York, his expression had almost ruined me. He’d been under my protection for years, and of all my patients I’d miss our visits the most.
Laura promised she’d visit him at home too and that seemed to comfort him. I promised to visit Brian when next in town. It was good to see him cope with the news.
With the clinic now closing for the day, I presented Patricia with her goodbye gift—a delicate Rolex watch. She’d been my secretary for years and had always handled my affairs with professionalism. I’d miss her, not least because it was fun to guess her latest hair color, which changed more than the seasons. Today she’d gone for blue.
It was a tearful goodbye, but Patricia soon calmed when I helped secure her new watch to her wrist. She promised to be my eyes and ears at the clinic and contact me should any issue arise. I’d invested too many years into this place to give up caring for it so easily.
I headed back into Laura’s office for my final goodbye and to make sure she knew she’d be locking up after I’d sent Patricia home early.
Laura had gone to the bathroom to touch up her makeup. She had a dinner date tonight, and I had a feeling it was with her new lover.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
“Shay,” I said. “Tell me you have good news.”
“Actually,” he said. “We’ve found him.”
“Where?”
“Adrian’s in Germany. Has relatives there. He’s laying low.”
“What’s the next step?”
“We’ll talk to him. Make sure he behaves.”
“Shay?”
“I know.”
“Don’t—”
“So, how’s the move going?”
“Good.”
“I’ll see you tonight?”
“Looking forward to it. Shay?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, for everything. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“I appreciate that, Cam.”
“Assign your staff to Chrysalis,” I said. “I want you to enjoy this evening.”
“That an order?”
“It is.”
I killed the call.
Whatever was going on in Germany right now was out of my control. And I hated that feeling.
The last time I’d been in here, Zie had delivered that skewered news about what she believed was going on at Charlie’s. My gaze roamed the table, chairs, and artwork.
That session with Zie and Laura rolled through my brain like the dark memory it was, yet with all this talk of closure and moving on I felt like the one who needed resolution now.
At my feet lay that trash can I’d mused over briefly, and curiosity led me to kneel and rummage through the few papers within. Laura cleaned out her handbag each day and here lay a trail of evidence.
<
br /> How remarkable that one small piece of paper—a drink receipt from the Pump Lounge in Santa Monica for two margaritas could deliver the truth. It had been there all along, right in front of me, only Zie’s presence had thrown me off from seeing it. Being on the defensive, no part of me had thought to come out fighting. I’d merely needed to see her happy again.
And happy Zie was, in her new relationship with her smart and pretty girlfriend.
Laura breezed in with the air of someone carrying the new title of director of the clinic, and I was reassured I’d be handing over the office to such a dedicated professional.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
“Everyone took it well, so there’s some reassurance.”
“You’re making the right decision.”
“Thank you, Laura. I feel that way too.”
“Mia’s okay with moving to New York?”
“She’s excited. She’s leaving behind her best friends, but I’ve promised to fly Bailey and Tara out whenever they want.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“Least I can do. Couldn’t have done this without her.”
“Sure you could.”
“She’s been my rock.”
“Look after her.”
“She’ll always be my priority. I’m reassured you’re our new director, Laura. Please, don’t hesitate to call me should anything come up.”
“I’m sure I will.”
“So dinner tonight?”
She hesitated. “I’m meeting a friend.”
I unraveled the receipt.
She stared at it.
The way Laura had stared at Zie, the way she’d touched her knee to comfort her, her blushes when Zie’s sexual past was discussed all gave her away.
“How long?” I said.
“Excuse me?”
“How long have you been dating Zie?”
She swallowed hard and blushed. “That’s very presumptive.”
“She tastes amazing, doesn’t she?” I whispered it.
Laura’s blush reached her neck. Her carotid pulse subtly quickened and her stance changed as her thoughts carried her all the way to Zie. Perhaps to last night, or this morning. Wherever her thoughts took her it caused her pupils to dilate, her nipples to harden.
I raised the receipt. “Two margaritas. One blended, just how you like it. The other straight...”
She cringed when she realized.
“Well?” I said.
“Please don’t tell anyone.”
After what I’d put Mia through I was hardly innocent, but Laura didn’t need to know that. “Laura, why not tell me?”
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