Page 121 of Chandelier Enthralled
Finally, he broke the silence. “Thought we’d get out of the house for a while.”
I turned in my seat to look at him—really look at the man who everyone hero worshipped. I’d seen it at family gatherings, at the parties he had thrown and the dinner events he’d hosted. He was often surrounded by close friends who always deferred to his opinion on important matters.
Even so, sharing my experience with him was hard because I did not want him to put me off from digging further for information. Jewel was the story, there was no doubt in my mind—I just needed an angle.
“Nice music,” I said. “Who is this?”
‘“Experience’ by Ludovico Einaudi.” He glanced over. “It’s sublime.”
“It is,” I agreed.
Greyson had used that word to describe me yesterday, in his kitchen. Minutes later, he’d looked like he was going to kiss me, but instead, he’d interrogated me.
My disappointment had been obvious, like a spoiled girl not getting what she wanted. He must have been put off by that.
The notes of the Einaudi song had begun softly, gradually building to a sound that danced between hope and melancholy, moments of calm stirring up visions of rare beauty. When I glanced over at Cameron, I knew he drew comfort from it.
He was scared for me, that’s what I sensed from this moment.
Cameron eventually pulled the car over and parked on a tree-lined street.
We started walking alongside a fenced-in field, a vast emerald expanse that stretched onward toward a hill.
As though conjured from a dream, I saw a white mare, her silken mane rippling in the gentle breeze. After staring over at us for a few seconds, she resumed grazing.
The tranquil scene made me feel a sense of peace.
Then, realizing what this was about, I felt a deep sadness.
Cameron leaned against the fence, contemplating my reaction. The mare was obviously a gift from him.
I closed my eyes, sensing what he was trying to do.
Memories flooded in of those days I’d spent with my own horse, a gift from my parents when I was a teenager. That was long ago now, and though I still loved to ride from time to time, owning a horse carried with it the kind of responsibility that would distract me from my dreams.
Spending my days living a leisurely existence, a selfish existence, where all I did was lunch with friends and shop and think only of myself, wasn’t me anymore.
I wanted to give something back.
I glared at Cameron, annoyed that he had assumed this was a better choice for me, that he had not asked me about this first. How could he have read me so wrong?
I squeezed my eyes shut in frustration. I’d ventured into Pendulum and gone too far, dared too much, and this was his way of placating me.
“We are going to have a challenging conversation,” he said, meeting my gaze.
“Bit serious.”Stay calm.
“You have no intention of leaving Pulse360?”
I shrugged and hoped it didn’t come off as petulant.
“Willa, we don’t get to move through the world without security.”
Being the daughter of a billionaire brought its own complications. Friends either avoided me or wanted to get closer—for the wrong reasons. It was hard to know who to trust. And yes, security was part of the price.
“Are you ready to talk about what happened in New York?” His tone was comforting. “With Hugo—”
“I already texted him.” Last night, after visiting Greyson. “Gave him a week to find somewhere else to go.”
