Chantal crosses the room to pour a glass of champagne for Chase then hands it to him.
Chase chokes on the first sip. “You think he’s with Aurora?”
I lean back and forth from one foot to the other. “I saw her at his house.”
“Aurora was at his house last night because she’s got the clout to fix the fire at your condo complex. I asked her to step in, which she did gladly, because, well, she has a thing for Hart. She also owed me a favor. Her dad bought the whole company to make the charges go away. He paid double the worth, too—some sick amount of money. It cleared Chantal’s name in the process. I think he wanted to put in a golf course with time shares or something. Whatever. It all worked out. Like it always does when you know people and have money.”
I knew she was involved, but I guess the authorities came around to linking her to it somehow.
Chantal adds, “Aurora and her associates were having a meeting at Luke’s last night to settle everything and sign paperwork. Hart was pissed that Chase was the father. I think he wanted the baby to be his. He wanted something to hold on to after you left him high and dry.”
That’s a lie, I think. Luke wouldn’t want a baby until he’s good and ready.
“You burned my condo down, to prove what?”
She sighs and downs a glass of champagne. “That I could? I don’t have to answer to you. Chase owns Vichy in London,” Chantal says, smizing around her glass. The place Henry took Aurora. “He’s the one who got Henry the world tour. Worked his magic.”
“Before you give yourself any more undue credit, I didn’t know you were Henry’s ex, I just knew he played at my club and I made the connections. Aurora’s been an acquaintance for a long time. When I knocked Chantal up, I realized how obsessed with you Luke was and that’s when we had some fun. Hart’s been a real stick in the mud since you. We wanted to bring him back to life.”
I stagger backward toward the door. “Why was he friends with you? I don’t get it.”
“Our lifestyle is fast and rich. Everything and everyone is connected when you obtain a certain amount of wealth. Games look a little different from up here.”
“You fucked with his life,” I growl, angry tears pricking my eyes. “The air is the same everywhere, and Hart is nothing like you. What was the deal with Aurora? What did he do to fix your mess? To clear this bitch’s name? Tell me.” I’m yelling now, and the couple looks frightened—eyes wide. I’d never do anything because they have a baby, but I want them to feel fear. “Say it now.”
“Like I said, Aurora wants him,” Chase drawls, draining his glass, tapping the stem on the side of the sofa he’s sitting on. “He probably fucked her brains out. I would have.” He licks his lips and hands the baby back to Chantal. “No offense, babe,” he adds to Chantal who sits down, face contorted into a scowl. Chase stands. “But I wouldn’t know. He’s not talking to me and we aren’t friends anymore.”
I walk forward until I’m face to face with him. “Karma is a bitch.” I look down at Chantal. “I hope it eats you alive.”
Henry Durnin bursts in the door and closes it, locking it quickly. When he sees me, his whole face brightens. Then he sees Chase and Chantal. “Hi Aara. How are you?” To the other two, “Why are you two here? Get out of here. I thought I told you I didn’t want to hang out anymore.”
“That’s not how it works. You’re friends with us now,” Chase says. “Chantal wanted to show you our baby.”
The grimace falls from Henry’s face as he looks at the baby. “Cute,” he says, gaze flitting back to Chase. “Now get out. I promised Aara here that we’d talk.”
“Do you know what being friends with those people means? How much it’s going to cost you?” I ask Henry, hiking a thumb over my shoulder. “It’s pretty costly. And I loved the concert, Henry. It really was amazing and I’m proud of all you’ve accomplished, but I have to go. I’m late for something. Really late for something.”
Chase snarls, grabbing the bottle of Dom and bringing it up to his lips. After a long swallow, he says, “She has to go back to Luke Hart. Couldn’t figure out the truth even though it was right under her nose.”
I spin, aiming a finger at his mousy face. “You do not want to fuck with me. Do you understand?”
“What’s he on about, love?” Henry asks me.
The truth would be too offensive. I keep it simple. “I’m not your love. I never was. I can never be. Good luck with your life, Henry. Goodbye.”
I leave the dressing room and jog down the hallway, flashing my credential badge to security before slipping out a back door. I finger the ring in the pocket of my dress.This is what happens when you bottle love for your entire life, I think of Luke’s words. Then I add my own.It explodes.There’s no traffic heading out the back exit of the arena, and I speed all the way to Luke’s house.
