Page 12 of All the Devils are Here

We caught up as we drove, and it wasn’t until Janelle was in the middle of telling me about the latest drama in the Parisian opera world that I realized we’d been driving way longer than I expected to arrive at a boat. And when I looked out the window, there were airplanes. No boats. “Where are we?”

She looked at me. “We’re going to the boat.”

“I’m not sure if there’s more of a language barrier here, but these are planes.”

Janelle looked at me, an amused smile on her face. “Did you think it was a riverboat? We have to fly to Marseille first. A little over an hour, but don’t worry, there’s champagne, and the flight goes quickly.”

She waved to someone outside the window, and I turned to find more of my former cast mates and some people I didn’t recognize boarding the plane. “Wow.”

“I could have sworn I told you.”

I followed her out of the car. “You probably did. I’ve been distracted.”

Looping her arm through mine, we boarded the plane together. “Hopefully, we can distract you in a good way.”

But she didn’t ask what was wrong. And even though I didn’t really feel like talking about being dumped on my ass from my dream job, I still wanted people to care if I wasn’t feeling great. Not that I could blame people for not reading my mind, but Laurent’s face was in my head, telling me he didn’t want me to be alone because he knew I was sad despite having tried to hide it.

I shoved the thought aside as I stepped into the plane, because it was incredible. I’d never been on a private plane, and it was spacious even with all the seats full. Where I sat was like a fully stuffed armchair that had the ability to lie all the way back. A couple of flight attendants circulated with champagne, and I lost myself in the hum of conversation and everyone talking and catching up.

The bitter taste of the champagne went to my head quickly, given that I’d eaten nothing yet today, and I ended up with a happy buzz while we flew.

It probably should have bothered me that no one asked me anything. I was engaged enough in the conversation by listening, but I was a bystander, and that was okay.

What the hell was wrong with me? I’d never been okay with being a bystander in my entire life. Was I so broken by this that I’d become an entirely different person?

I hoped not, but tipsy on a private plane to Marseille definitely wasn’t the right place to ask that question.

Janelle was right, the flight felt like no time at all. The air was warmer and more humid when we got off the plane, but I was still glad for my coat and sweater. The boat docked nearby wasn’t what I expected. It was nearly big enough to be a cruise ship, and the deck was already crowded with people.

Music filtered through the air to us, and Janelle laughed. “I am so excited.” Her accent was deeper with the champagne and the glint in her eyes. “It’s the best party every year.”

Someone shrieked with joy from the upper deck and pointed at us. I couldn’t make out the French, but Janelle laughed and shouted something back. “I will go say hi. You’re okay?”

I blinked. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

She grinned and nearly sprinted to the gangplank, waving to Monsieur Chagny on the way by. I walked more slowly toward him and the boat. “Miss Irela. I didn’t realize you were joining us today.”

I smiled at him. “Janelle invited me. I hope that’s all right?”

“More than. I know parties aren’t the best way to repay putting your life in danger, but if you ever need anything, I hope you’ll let me know.”

“Of course.”

What would the company do if Raoul Chagny called them up and told them they had to reinstate me? The man was a renowned patron of the arts. There was no doubt they’d take me back in a heartbeat. But what would that do?

I’d be in the company, and the director would hate me for having to have me when he didn’t want me, and the rest of the company would resent me for having someone like Raoul on my side. It wouldn’t make anything better.

But maybe I could approach him later about something with one of his other projects. Still, no matter what, I didn’t want anything I didn’t earn.

I walked up the ramp onto the boat and jumped as someone stepped in front of me. It felt like I looked up for miles into one of the most attractive faces I’d ever seen in my life. Glossy dark hair like raven’s feathers, and piercing eyes that were impossibly just as dark.

A dark suit that fit narrow hips and broad shoulders, and a secretive smile that made me wonder if this man was a model. He was made for billboards, that was for sure.

And to add on top of everything, I felt pulled to him like I was yanked on a string. It was unnerving as much as intriguing and entirely confusing.

“Hello.” Even his voice was low and musical.

“Hi. Do I know you?”

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