Chapter 30
THIRTY
THE DUCHESS
It was always like a breath of fresh air, leaving the Crimson Palace.
I’d never set foot in the place again if it were up to me, but my freedom was limited. I wasn’t allowed to drive, so travelling was restricted to where my father allowed my chauffeur to take me. Thankfully, maintaining important social connections was something my father approved of.
And much as he hated it, the man I was visiting was extremely important.
I smoothed down my aquamarine dress, hiding my nerves as we pulled up to the gates. It was an outrageously bright shade of blue, but that was appropriate, considering who I was visiting today.
Soren Rosania.
I had met a lot of influential and affluent people over the years, and yet there were very few who I could trust. Soren was the only person who I knew for certain would never tell my father anything about what we discussed, simply because he didn’t like my father.
I hadn’t asked him for help before because, honestly, it sounded a bit insane.
Hey, so, my father orchestrated this whole plot to pretend my brother committed suicide and even went far enough to bury someone else in his place. I have no idea why he would do that, no. Nope, I don’t have any evidence, either, but please help me find out what happened, anyway?
I’d planned to try today, though. Plead my case and pray he believed me. But I’d run out of time sooner than I’d thought.
Instead of asking for his help with Jule, I had to ask him to pretend he knew Finch, get him a fake ID, and ask my father to put him up in a villa.
Finch was probably just punishing me. What kind of criminals didn’t have a way to get a fake ID? It was stupid, anyway, because people always underestimated how hard it was to keep up a different persona, especially with dangerous people like my father. I doubted he could manage it.
It’d probably all blow up in his face, and I’d have to pray he didn’t take me down with him.
I smoothed my face as security buzzed us through the gates to Soren’s place.
Soren’s personality started showing in his decor as we drove down the winding path to Wintervale Manor.
Purple bushes ran alongside us, and the road was paved a matching hue.
The mansion itself was an unassuming white, the only hint of color the large, purple doors.
I stepped out of the car, clutching a gift bag in my hands, and walked up the steps.
I pushed the doors open and stepped into Wonderland.
He’d redecorated since I’d last visited, the color scheme made up of mint green, pinks, and purples.
There was a couch across from me that looked like it was made of velvet bubbles, and the wavy lines on the bright pillars and curving, tall molding along the walls gave it a distorted, disconcerting perspective.
Across from the main entrance was a receiving desk manned by Soren’s secretary, Lyra. She had long, ginger hair that was pulled up in a neat ponytail. She was dressed in a tight neon green skirt with a matching blazer, and her chunky heels were a shade of bright pink that matched her silky shirt.
Her golden eyes flicked up to me as I walked in, highlighted in the same bright pink.
They gave her away as an omega, even without being close enough to scent her.
And not just an omega but an infamous gold pack.
Gold pack omegas had rejected the injection the institute provided to ensure we didn’t give birth to rogue alphas.
They were often relegated to living on the fringes of society, certainly not working jobs as a secretary to a billionaire.
But things like this were the reason I idolized Soren.
“Miss Fairchild,” she said, tilting her head.
“Good morning, Lyra.”
“Follow me.” She turned and led me through the spacious mansion.
Our footsteps echoed in the hallways through the empty space, something that never changed, no matter how many times he redecorated.
I didn’t know how he could stand the emptiness; the omega in me was practically whimpering.
Then again, Soren had gone his whole life without a pack, so he didn’t really seem to be affected by typical omega instincts.
Lyra opened the door for me, and I stepped into the airy sunroom I was familiar with.
“Birdie!” Soren sounded pleased as he beckoned me over.
I went and pressed a kiss to his cheek, the clinical tang of scent blockers assaulting my nostrils.
He wore a fluffy pink jacket with a purple net tank top below.
His bright shiny heels went up to his thighs, not quite touching his shorts.
Despite being close to my dad’s age, he maintained an ageless beauty that seemed effortless.
Perhaps it was because he was an omega, though it was more likely because he was a successful combination of rich and vain.
“Soren, it’s always a pleasure,” I said, offering him a genuine smile. I sank down into one of the plush chairs and lounged back. The tea was already on the little cart, and I helped myself to a cup.
“I imagine you have an excellent reason you rearranged our tea on such short notice?” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, of course,” I replied, trying not to let my nerves show. “Thank you for accommodating me.”
Soren waved his hand. “Unfortunately, to squeeze you in, we have to make it shorter than normal. You’re lucky I love a good gossip sesh with my favourite duchess.” He shot me a wink.
We’d met at some social event a few years back, and he’d been intently interested in the gossip I shared. I’d wanted to impress him, so I slipped him some of the stuff I’d overheard in my hobby spying.
He’d noticed that my tidbits of information had turned out to be very exclusive and very accurate, and before long, I’d found myself with a standing monthly invite to tea. Or, rather, to spill the tea.
“What’s this?” he asked, leaning forward and holding out his hand for my present.
“It’s the exclusive pre-launch package for my next skin care line,” I said as he opened the bag.
I fiddled nervously with the hem of my dress.
I didn’t know if he liked my brand, though I did actually try and make the products nice; it felt disingenuous to sell such expensive items if they were shitty.
I’d had to do a lot of work to subtly convince Father it was worth paying for the product to be high quality.
Soren beamed up at me, making me relax. “You shouldn't have, Laurel, you’re such a sweetheart,” he said, setting it to the side.
“If you don’t like it, let me know. We still have a bit of time to make changes,” I said, my face reddening a bit.
“I’m sure it’s perfect,” he said, waving me off. He took a sip of his own tea before leaning back and lacing his hands together. “So, tell me you have a special bit of news that couldn’t wait until next time?”
I did. I had one extremely juicy bit of news that was perfect for buttering him up before I asked for a favour. One that I was supposed to be using to help find Jule.
“Rohan Wright’s been meeting with my father’s people. And he visited my suite.”
Soren took another sip from his cup, his glittering eyes the only giveaway that he was particularly excited. Rohan and Soren very publicly did not like each other, and I figured he’d be pleased with anything I could get on the owner of KDH Records.
“He brought some guests, too, actually. A new band he’d signed. I think they were celebrating.”
Well, Rohan had been celebrating. The alphas he’d had with him had looked uncomfortable in the suite, avoiding the fights as much as politely possible.
“New band, hmm?” Soren said, raising an eyebrow.
“Alpha Impulse? Something like that. Didn’t say what kind of music, but they had that pretty, boy-band look.”
Soren hummed happily, his eyes going far away as some plot or another started to form in his brain. I drank more tea while I waited.
“Well, what exciting news,” Soren said eventually. “Those unfortunate boys must have a lot of promise if he’s personally dragging them round with him. Did you have anything else?”
“Actually.” I smiled at him, hiding my nerves. “I wanted to ask for your help with something.”
Soren lowered his pink shades to look at me properly, and I shifted in my chair. All the warmth had gone from his face, hardened in a second.
I forced myself to continue. “I have a friend in town. Unfortunately, he lost his passport and all his documents, so we need new ones urgently.” I hesitated, giving a nervous blink that I hoped he didn’t see.
“And a place to stay. I was hoping you could pull some strings with my father? Say he’s a friend who’s visiting and get him a villa at the Crimson Palace. ..”
I managed to hold his gaze for another moment, then broke it to take another sip of tea, forcing my hands not to shake.
Soren let out a sigh, sitting up straighter in his chair, and a tired expression came onto his face that aged him. He scrubbed his face with his hand, then adjusted his sunglasses. “Well, I suppose it was only a matter of time,” he said, sliding a smile back onto his face. His eyes were glacial.
“Before what?”
“Before you asked me for a favour, like everyone else. You played the long game, Laurel, so I’ll give you credit for that.”
The words stung, and my heart sank.
“I’m not asking for a favour,” I said, twisting my dress in my hands. “I’m asking for help. From a friend.”
He leaned forward, folding his arms in his lap. The silence stretched between us, and I was just about to take the loss and excuse myself when Soren abruptly burst into laughter. His whole posture shifted back into his normal, relaxed state.
“You know what, that was very convincing,” he said, waving a hand in my direction. “I’ll help you. Don’t get used to this, though. It’ll undermine my reputation.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling like I was able to breathe again.
“So, a cover and a villa, you said? For this…male friend of yours?” he pressed, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes,” I said, and Soren smirked. I felt my cheeks heating.
“And you’re sure that’s what you want me to do? Nothing else?”
I shook my head.
No, I desperately wanted his help finding Jule, but I couldn’t ask about that anymore.
Soren chuckled again. “Look, if your dad finds you two sneaking around, I’m washing my hands of the whole thing. Send a picture to Lyra, and she’ll get you the documents.”
Sneaking around?
My cheeks went even hotter, and I opened my mouth to protest that point, but closed it again. I guess Finch being my secret lover meant Soren wouldn’t ask any more questions.
I almost regretted it by the time our tea date was done, because he had kept teasing me about it until I’m sure my face was scarlet.
“Sorry, I have to go,” I finally said as I stood, twisting my clutch in my hands. “Thank you again, so much,” I said in a rush.
“A pleasure, as always, birdie!” he said, blowing me a kiss.
I started toward the door.
Once I climbed into the car, I let out a huge breath I wasn’t aware I’d been holding.