For most of the flight, I’m mindlessly watching a show on my tablet and avoiding eye contact with the other passengers. I haven’t written anything in days and my fingers itch to be creative. Working on a bridge to a song that won’t be published any time soon doesn’t seem like the best idea, but on the other hand, what am I going to do? Five hours later the plane bumps and skids to a stop. I hate landings, it’s so loud and aggressive. By the time we’re allowed to turn our devices back on, there’s already a response. Hadeon Olympian… emailed me. Me! And someone will pick me up when I land.
I’m one of the first people off the plane, and as I re-enter the gate, there’s a man standing at the door. Sunglasses, black suit, gloves, and everything about him seem sharp. His hair is slicked into a straight line, and the corners of his suit are at perfect 90-degree angles.
“Davin Graeloch?” It takes me a second to register that he’s talking to me. My legal name is used so rarely sometimes that I forget it. Hell, hearing Alana say it a few days ago was the first time someone said it in years.
“Yep.”
“Please, come with me.” He pushes open a side door I never noticed before, and I’ve flown in and out of this gate hundreds of times. We walk through the inner workings of the airport, parts that feel illegal to see. After we leave the labyrinth of white halls, he opens a door and I’m blinded by the setting sun.
Once my vision returns, a car door opens for me. It’s a luxury car, that much I can tell, but it’s not a brand I recognize. I step inside and sit across from a man who looks smaller in real life than he does on camera. Dark circles under his eyes and an ever-present frown make me think his public persona and his real-life one are not the same. But is it ever?
What I do notice immediately?—
“Puppy!” There’s a Rottweiler perched beside a man in a black suit, the sharp tailoring matching the dog’s glossy fur a little too perfectly.
“This puppy will rip your throat out.”
I frown and will my hands to stay folded in my lap. “So, no pets?”
“No pets.” He gets right to the point. “I’ve known Alana since back when she was Kinsley. She’s a valuable asset and a good friend.”
My back straightens and I answer honestly, “She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.”
“My wife isn’t exactly a fan of yours. We were left cleaning up the mess you made of Kinsley.” He’s quiet for a moment before adding, “My family has bets about why you did it.”
I feel sick to my stomach. “What’s your theory?”
“You wanted to fuck Amanda Chase without guilt.” He turns away from me, his deep grimace reflecting in the window.
Wrong. No. Wrong. It’s such a loud thought no other ideas can come through. Once the screaming stops, doubts worm their way in. I did start dating Amanda. I’ve seen paparazzi pictures from that time. God, to think that Kinsley was alone, watching from a distance as her ex-boyfriend and her friend were romantically involved. Bile fills my mouth and my hands start to shake, and it signals to my brain what’s next. It’s been years since I’ve had a panic attack. I had it under control, but this is bringing me back to my nineteen-year-old self.
Maybe the billionaire is used to seeing people have meltdowns. He bends over and lifts a black leather box with The Knights of the Night crest off the car floor and hands it to me. He waits for me to open it. I stop and stare at the contents, the white paper and the signatures in different sizes and colors.
Hadeon says, “I heard this is all your little nerd heart ever wanted.”
“The script?” My brain screams it’s a trap but my hopeful opposite side says maybe it’s not.
Hadeon locks his icy gaze on me. “It’s yours, but you have to walk away from Alana forever.” I instantly slam the book shut and hand it back to him.
“I didn’t spend the last twelve years hunting her down, just to be bribed with a bunch of paper you overpaid for.”
He raises his eyebrow. “I’ll get you the entire first season, signed.”
“No.”
“Every script from every episode, including the finale.”
I lean forward. “I’ll watch it, with Alana next to me.”
The trillionaire watches the world go by out the window, and his lip curls. “The hockey player took the deal. That’s why he won the travel mug.” He turns back to me, still icy. “So what do you want from me?” Hadeon asks. Everyone must want something from this guy, me included.
“I tried finding her for years. I think even Amanda tried too, but we always came back empty. Not gonna lie, in some circles I’m pretty powerful, and Amanda has people tripping over themselves to glance in her direction. I honestly can’t remember a request she hasn’t gotten.”
“I’m aware.” Hadeon pets the dog's head as it lowers to his lap.
“I had a journal, and I don’t know, maybe you have the connections to help me find it.” God, even saying it makes me sound so desperate. But Hadeon’s entire body tenses up, and he whips his head toward me.
“What?” His anger startles the dog, who lets out a low whine. My mouth dries and a new anxiety forms. I pissed off one of the most powerful men in the world. He digs through his pocket, takes out his cellphone and taps the screen. The dog lifts his head up and hops down off the seat, sitting at my feet. I lock my fingers together to resist the urge to pet the dog. The air in the car feels thick as a woman’s voice says hello, his jaw locking while fury blazes in his gaze. “Penelope, I am going to ask you questions. I don’t care what the answers are as long as they are honest. But if I find out you’re lying, don’t bother coming home.”
