Page 83 of Chandelier Enthralled
“Why, because she’s made it in a man’s world?” I snapped.
“Here we go,” Henry chided.
“In fact,” I added, with a gentle smile, “she’s super impressed with you both. She really is.”
Cameron flinched. “Did she ask you to arrange an interview with one of us?”
God,I hated it when he preemptively knew what came next.
Henry laughed, shaking his head. “Nooooo!”
“Or perhaps, afuck no, might suffice.” Cameron lifted his champagne glass and toasted his suggestion.
Damn, I’ve blown it.I should have softened them up first.
“Guys, it would seriously help me out.” I pulled a cute face.
They swapped a smirk and then gave a condescending glare that told menoto the interview, andnoto me ever going back to Pulse360.
Seriously, this was a nightmare I’d launched on myself.
Henry set his knife and fork down. “Clearly they saw your remarkable potential.”
“They headhunted her from New York,” said Cameron.
It was the way Henry grimaced that made me even more uncomfortable. He, too, found this suspicious. That me, an unknown, would spike the interest of a news magnate all the way across America.
“Because I’m a Cole?” I asked the hard question.
Cameron reached over and held my hand. “You can’t keep pretending you’re not part of one of the world’s most illustrious dynasties.”
I mean, we were rich and famous for our teas, but could it be considered a dynasty? I had once been told that we were on the same level as the Rothschilds, the Rockefellers, and others of their stature—people whose names were synonymous with immense power and wealth.
“This is your reality, and there’s no escaping it,” said Henry lifting his glass and finishing off his champagne. “Trust me, I joined the Navy to try. Literally got stationed in enemy territory to avoid my destiny. Does not work. You are what you are.”
“Who you are,” corrected Cameron.
“Eat your food,” said Henry, pointing at Cameron’s plate.
It really was entertaining to see these two go at it like we were all teenagers again, sitting at the dining room table and arguing about who was right.
“If you want me to leave my job,” I said, “you’re going to have to give me a really good reason.”
“Willow,” Cameron said, using my true name to make an impression. “You’re gonna have to trust us.”
“Not good enough,” I said.
Henry raised his hands. “This one’s on you, brother.”
“You’re not helping,” snapped Cameron.
“Neither are you,” Henry snapped back. “She’s a big girl. She can hear it.”
I folded my arms across my chest.Read that, I thought.
Cameron lowered his voice. “Jewel Hadley has shady connections.”
“I hardly see her,” I said.
