Page 146 of Enthrall
As the lift descended my legs gave out and I slid down the mirrored wall, landing on the lift floor and hugged my knees into my chest.
Still alive.
Swiping tears away, I tried to focus on driving.
Speeding toward Chrysalis, I knew Richard would have the answers I needed. How long had he known? Had he already reached out to my dad? I wouldn’t stay long at Chrysalis. I needed to get on the road to Napa. Maybe Richard would come with me. What lay between here and seeing my dad felt like an eternity.
The manor loomed large on the horizon. I navigated too fast up the long driveway and leaves scraped along the right side of my window and a branch shoved my wing mirror back. Chrysalis was even more intimidating in the daylight. Parking farther down, I avoided the valet. The two men on duty were already busy greeting the arriving guests. One of the valets had a set of Louis Vitton luggage on a cart, having just removed them from the back of a BMW.
Without the fog machine came a clearer view of the foyer. It reminded me of a five-star hotel, like the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The marble flooring, low ceiling, and soft lighting made everything look expensive. They even had a pretty brunette working behind a reception desk.
Richard had told me only millionaires could afford to be here. I assumed the thirty-something woman who’d owned the BMW was one of them. She reminded me of Mrs. Sullivan. She regarded me critically.
Oh no.
Dominic stormed toward me. Gone was that toga I’d last seen him in and in its place he wore a flashy pinstriped suit.
“Why, if it isn’t the director’s plaything,” he said.
“Can you get Richard Booth for me please?” I sucked back tears.
“What’s wrong?” Dominic reached for my arm. “Let’s hide you.”
I pulled out of his grip. “I have to see Richard.”
“Mr. Booth is in a board meeting. As is the director. Come, let’s have you wait in his office.”
I pulled out of his grip.
“What’s that?” He stared at the beige folder. The one I was currently clutching to my chest.
He looked worried. “May I see it?”
“Please, tell Mr. Booth I need to speak with him immediately.”
He held his hand out. “Give it to me.”
“Is Cameron here?” My tears welled. “Dr. Cole?”
“Oh dear, please don’t. We have VIP’s arriving.” He gave a reassuring nod to Mrs. Sullivan’s look-alike. “You can’t be seen sniveling.” He snatched the folder.
The contents went flying. Papers glided through the air and fanned around us, showing photo after photo of my father going about his business, thriving in his new life and no longer caring about those he’d left behind. The only clue to his selfish philosophy was his Ayn Rand book.
I escaped Chrysalis.
Driving at full speed towards the 5 freeway, hands shaking, wiping tears away, I knew there could be no other way but to face this alone. My iPhone rang but I ignored it and left it inside my handbag on the passenger’s seat. I didn’t want to talk. No one would understand this anyway.
“Roscoe-Harvey Winery and Vineyards,” I made it a chant, having left the file scattered on Chrysalis’s marble tile.
A mixture of hurt and hope welled within. A sense that if I could get over this betrayal a brighter future really did lay ahead. If I’d learned anything it had to be the wisdom of allowing others to open up in their own time and give them the space they needed until they were ready to share the reason for their decisions. Thinking of Richard and all he’d taught me brought comfort.
Still...
I’d been betrayed in the worst kind of way by the one person who was meant to protect me from these kind of horrors. Anger and relief wrapped around each other and it was hard to tell one from the other.
A blue light flashed in my rearview mirror, followed by the wail of the police car’s siren.
Oh no.Oh fuck.
