Chapter 36 The Hideaway
THE HIDEAWAY
DAMON
The full moon sits high in the sky, the cold wind whipping through my hair as I pace back and forth in front of the corporate helicopter.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.
This is it. Tonight. I’m ready for a change.
I’m ready to step away from the trauma, the guilt, the relentless agony that comes from regret.
I cannot change my past. I cannot alter my actions. But I can change my future. I can alter the trajectory. Just like this helicopter, I can plan the route. It’s within my power. And I’m so fucking tired of feeling powerless.
No more lies. No more deceit. No more playing the goddamn victim. The fucking villain. Not in this story. Not in this lifetime. I want to be free. I want to start over. I want to be the hero. In my story. In hers.
In ours.
The door to the roof creaks open, and my heart freezes in my chest. She’s mesmerizing.
Truly and utterly ethereal. Her green eyes sparkle, wary as she strides toward me, clutching the lapels of her fur jacket.
Her concerned gaze flicks up to the helicopter and back to me.
And I know what she’s thinking. I know what she’ll say.
But I remember what she told me. She’s always wanted to see the city from where the stars reside.
And I can give her that. I can give her the comfort.
The safety she’s looking for. I’ve taken a lot away from her.
I’ve taken and taken and taken. It’s all I’ve ever done. It’s time to give something back.
“Damon…” Her voice comes out soft, gentle as she shakes her head. “We don’t have to…”
“It’s fine,” I say with a nod of absolute resolution. “I’ll be fine, Emery.” I offer her my hand. “Shall we?”
She stares down at my hand, biting her bottom lip. “Are you sure you’re ready? This…” She takes a glimpse of the chopper again. “Don’t do this for me, Damon.”
I give her a settling smile. “I’m ready, Emery. I… I want to do this. I don’t…” Pain grips my tone. “I can’t hide anymore.”
Something strange crosses her features that throws me off guard. Guilt? Or is it pity? It vanishes before I have a chance to overthink. Her expression softens, almost like she finally understands me, my intentions.
“This is a big step,” she says, giving me her hand. She gives it to me. Willingly. And I could soar straight to the moon from how much that means. “I’m proud of you, Damon. This…” She takes a deep breath. “I know this must be hard.”
“You’re here with me,” I whisper. “It feels easy when you’re here.” I lead her to the helicopter and open the door, gesturing for her to climb inside. She glances around the spacious interior, the plush leather seats, and the sleek console.
“Where’s the pilot?” she asks, craning her neck toward me. I grin, and she blinks away the sudden fear. “Damon…”
“Relax, Emery,” I coo, helping her inside the seat. “You can trust me.”
She swallows, hesitating. “Trust you…” she mutters, staring off into the distance. “I can trust you.” I don’t push her. I don’t say a word. I let her decide for herself. She has to make the decision all by herself. It’s what she needs. With a shaky sigh, she nods. “Let’s go.”
And that’s all I need.
As I start the engine, the vibration of the rotors hums through the cockpit.
For a brief moment, I’m transported back in time and fear zaps through my veins.
But it doesn’t linger. I push it away. I tell myself that history is just that.
History. Bad things happen to everyone. And so do good things. It’s fine. Everything will be fine.
I turn to Emery and offer her a headset, adjusting the mic. "You ready for this?"
“Yes.” She nods, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I-I’m choosing to trust you, Damon."
“Good.” I put on my own headset, adjusting the volume and checking the controls.
As we lift off the rooftop, the city spreads beneath us.
I glance over at Emery, who is staring out the window in awe.
As we accelerate, she gasps, her hand shooting to my lap, and I smile.
“I’ve got you, Emery. You’re safe with me. ”
Her fingers go rigid for a second before relaxing, and she turns away from me. "This is amazing," she says, her voice tinged with wonder. “Everything looks so,” her voice falters, “alive.” She swallows. “There’s just so much life down there. Everywhere.”
There’s a sense of longing in her words.
As if she’s never fully been born, as if she’s never fully breathed, as if her eyes have never fully opened.
And maybe that’s true. Maybe that’s exactly how she feels.
I know that feeling. I’ve let that feeling suffocate me for years. But it’s time to wake up.
“There’s life up here too,” I say, placing my hand on her thigh. She whips her head at me, and I notice the tears. “What’s wrong?”
Her teeth clench. “I… I want to live, Damon. I…” She places a hand over her heart. Over the faded scar on her chest. “I don’t want to die. I-I’ve barely seen anything. I’ve barely done anything, and I—”
“You are not going to die,” I state like I’m giving a command to God himself. “You will live a long life. And you will see everything.” I lean over and wipe a spilling tear. “I told you I would show you the world, and I will.” I swallow, whispering as I add, “If you’ll let me.”
Life is a fleeting thing. Its longevity is never guaranteed.
I know that firsthand. These past few months, everything has changed.
My foundation has been rattled. Towers have collapsed.
Roads perished. But maybe it’s for the best. It’s an opportunity to start over.
Rebuild. Design a future of my choosing.
Not my parents’. Not Javier’s. Not the board’s.
Emery turns to me, and swallows. “Damon,” she whispers. “There’s—”
“Don’t be scared, Emery,” I say. “I know it’s hard, but please don’t be scared.
I-I want you in a way that I’ve never wanted anyone or anything in my whole life.
I think about you all day and all night.
I dream of you. I dream of our life together, and sometimes, I wake up completely terrified because I dream of you no longer here with me. ”
Emery sniffles, brows furrowed as she takes in my honest words.
“I don’t want any contracts,” I continue. “I don’t want an arrangement. I don’t want only half of you. I… I want the whole you. Every part. I know… I know you said you can’t give me everything, but maybe you can try.”
“Try?” she whispers, nibbling on her bottom lip. “Try, what?”
I smile at her. “Try and let me in. Try and let this happen. I-I have big plans, Emery. Plans for us. Plans for a future together.”
“Plans?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “What kinds of plans?”
I take a deep breath. There’s a difference between hiding and moving on. I know that now.
“I want to leave all of this behind, Emery,” I say, gesturing to the city below. “I want to start over.”
She furrows her brows. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” I say, turning to her, “I want to leave my old life behind. All of this fell on my lap. It was never my decision. I never wanted to run Cavanaugh Industries. I wanted to travel and paint and just…live. I want to be honest with you. With myself.”
“And what about me?” she asks, her voice trembling.
“You, Emery,” I say, taking her hand in mine, “you’re my future. You’re my everything. And I want to build a life with you. A life of honesty and trust. A life where we can be happy. Truly happy.”
“Those are pretty words, Damon.” Emery shakes her head, cheeks damp. “But you can’t just run away. It doesn’t work like that. You have a job. You have responsibilities. What you want is a fairytale. It’s not reality.”
“I’m not running away,” I state, believing every word I say. “People run when they’re afraid.” I peer deep into her eyes. “I am not afraid, Emery. I’m not running away from something. I’m running toward something. Happiness.” I offer her a warm smile. “With you.”
“I see,” she hums, turning away from me. She pulls out her cell phone, tapping on the screen.
I force myself not to get discouraged by her quiet reaction. I can’t gauge what she’s thinking. I can’t tell if she’s open to the idea of a future with me. But there’s nothing more I can do. I feel light. Despite the heavy silence in the air. I feel light.
As the helicopter soars higher and higher, I feel the weight of my past slip away. For the first time in years, I feel like I’m moving forward. Like I have a purpose. The city fades away beneath us, replaced by rolling hills and wide open fields.
“Where are we going?” She breaks the comfortable silence and looks around. “This doesn’t look like New York.”
“I have a little mountain villa in Vermont,” I reply, adjusting the navigation systems. “I thought we could spend the night there. You said you like the quiet.”
She blinks. “But what about work tomorrow?”
I chuckle. “Your boss has given you the day off.”
She smiles despite herself. “You didn’t mention this was an overnight date.” Emery tilts her head. “What if I say no?”
I shrug. “Then we turn around.” I glance at her. “Are you saying no?”
She purses her lips. “I’ve never been to Vermont.”
“No? It's beautiful.” I point toward the northeast. “My place is just over that ridge. Now’s the time to tell me to turn around.”
Emery doesn’t open her mouth. Instead, she leans forward, gaze sweeping across the white mountain peaks.
She remains silent, lost in thought, and I give her the space she needs to process everything.
After a few minutes, I spot the villa in the distance, and I lower the helicopter onto the landing pad adjacent to the mansion.
The blades come to a stop, and I turn to Emery, who’s staring at my winter residence.
"This is your house?" she asks, taking in all the twinkling lights and seasonal decor. “It’s very…festive.” She gives me a playful frown. “Did you do this for me?”
I blink at her. “You don’t like it?”
A coy grin tugs at her lips. “Just because I’m a woman, you assume I love Christmas?”
I inwardly cringe. “I didn’t—”
“Relax.” Emery releases a melodic chuckle. “While your logic is flawed and somewhat sexist, you’re in luck.” She playfully sighs. “I’m a sucker for Christmas.”
I smirk. “So, you love it then?”
She rolls her eyes. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
As we step out of the helicopter, I take her hand and lead her toward the house, light flakes of snow falling from the heavens. As we reach the front door, I sense Emery’s hesitation, and I pause for a moment, looking back at her.
"Is everything okay?" I ask.
She looks up at me. “This means something, doesn’t it?” she asks softly. “If we go inside, it will mean something.”
I give her a gentle smile. “Only if you want it to mean something.”
“Since when has anything ever been my decision?” she asks softly, glancing at the grand double doors.
“Since now.”
Now and forever.