Page 187 of Chandelier Enthralled
The last time I’d seen Chloe had been at the Beverly Majestic, when I had left with Greyson. I had every intention of talking to her about that night. This felt like an ambush—because it was.
I deserved it, I suppose.
“What was I meant to do?” I said, appetite dulled, even as my burger and fries teased my nostrils with its delicious aroma. Neither Chad nor Chloe seemed to have any issue scarfing down their food. Chad had a splotch of tomato sauce on his chin. Chloe helped him by wiping it off with a sad looking napkin.
That done, she turned her critical gaze on me. “What you did at the Beverly Majestic was humiliating.”
“Greyson is a friend.” I shrugged to show I was loyal, at least.
“I’ve been working on that story for weeks.” She looked hurt. “You’re trying to sabotage me.”
“Absolutely not. I didn’t find out until the last second you were focusing on my friend.” I leaned forward. “You kept his name from me.”
“It’s interesting you two were seated together,” said Chad.
“Exactly.” Thank goodness one of them was thinking straight.
Chloe still looked pissed. “It doesn’t bother you that Greyson’s girlfriend turned up dead in his pool?”
I took a sip of my Coke. “I’m aware of some evidence that proves his innocence.”
“You have to tell Jewel about it,” she said. “That’s news.”
“Technically, evening news,” said Chad. “What evidence do you have he’s innocent, Willa?”
“It’s private, for now.”
They balked at that.
“I’d never sell a friend out.” I pointed at them. “Which includes you.”
The word friend was used loosely between the three of us.
“If we can’t trust each other,” said Chad, “we’re all fucked.”
That was dramatic but I respected this situation was challenging for him. Still in the grieving process, Chad probably wasn’t himself.
“I’ll make it up to you,” I said, trying to placate him.
Chloe shoved fries into her mouth, and it looked like stress eating. “I was at the hotel, talking with Greyson, and you walked out withmystory.”
“There’s no story,” I said.
Chad pointed at me. “He’s a member ofthatclub.”
“What club?” asked Chloe.
Chad turned to her. “It’s in Manhattan Beach and caters to the rich.”
“Jewel goes there, too,” I threw in.
“How do you know that?” asked Chloe, her frustration building.
“I staked it out.”
Chad’s jaw dropped. “You didn’t think to tell me?”
“Chad, that was me helping you,” I said. “I was waiting until I had more intel.”
