12. Sip-In-Snow Crashers Aftermath Part One
TWELVE
SIP-IN-SNOW CRASHERS AFTERMATH: PART ONE
JANUARY 2040
AFTER CHAPTER 56 IN FEARLESS LIKE US
We listened to "Every Night" by Josef Salvat while writing this scene.
Character List:
Connor Cobalt - 51
Rose Calloway - 50
Ryke Meadows - 50
Lily Calloway - 48
**
ROSE CALLOWAY
THE ROYAL LEAKS
We reveal all the truths about the American Royals. These are verified and come directly from the source.
ROYAL LEAK #1: Sullivan Meadows bought Plan B.
#TodaysLeaks #TheCondomBroke #OopsieBaby #poundtown
PUTTING ASIDE THE horrendous hashtags, I can’t imagine a worse leak tonight. Pregnancy rumors are easy fodder for the media, and with my niece’s recent dating history, it’s likely going to stir up an uncontrollable shit storm.
Ryke is also going to shit another brick. He should’ve shit rusted knives for making this romance messier than it needed to be, but according to my youngest sister, he’s come around and seen the error of his ways. He’s never been that terrible at owning his mistakes. I think sometimes I can be worse at that.
Regardless, from all the facts I’ve gathered, I can confidently say that right now Sulli is publicly dating Banks, but she’s had a private break-up with Akara. The world, however, still believes a Royal Leak that advertised how Sulli is dating two men at the same time.
So this new Plan B leak is salacious.
Whoever this disgusting rat is, they know what they’re doing.
Even as I look at my phone, Carissa Cole still prattles on about Dalton Academy like her pure love is being a PTA mom. She’s also one of Cobalt Inc.’s top investors, which is why I’ve been tasked with keeping her occupied and happy at the investor gala tonight.
A task that I am acing with flying colors, I might add.
It’s almost too easy. Carissa could talk to a fucking wall and be mesmerized. I shift on my heels, careful not to catch the hem of my floor-length inky black gown. The sweetheart neckline is accented by a diamond choker necklace and waterfall earrings from the Cobalt Diamonds Anniversary collection.
Carissa stops her venting about the rest of the Hockey Moms and glances at me and then my phone. “Oh, am I interrupting something?”
Just the Royal Leaks wreaking more havoc through my family.
Thinking about these cesspool rodents causes ire, and I need my face to look welcoming and not on the verge of grabbing a pitchfork. I readjust my expression into something that doesn’t scream murder.
I click my phone off but keep it tight in my grip. “Maybe you should be PTA president, Carissa. At least your ideas sound marginally more interesting than another fucking bake-off.”
She grins. “Cheers to that.” She raises her champagne flute.
I do the same and we both take sips.
My eyes flit to the left side of the expansive venue: the top floor of a high-rise in Center City that Cobalt Inc. rented for the night. Servers wander around with hors-d’?uvres made by a James Beard award-winning chef. Fairy lights dangle from the walls and ceilings, and every guest will leave here with one of the blue Cobalt Inc. gift bags that line the table at the door.
It’s a schmooze fest where kissing ass is the name of the game. What my husband excels in and what I find repulsive but unfortunately necessary. To be clear, I won’t be doing the ass kissing. I’ve glared at more people tonight than I have all year—and I will go home without a morsel of regret. Connor doesn’t expect me to be on my knees and kiss the feet of his investors. I can be me, but I wouldn’t miss this gala. I’m here in solidarity after all.
I take another small sip of champagne, still looking for my husband in the masses.
“So I was thinking,” Carissa muses as soon as I spot Connor. His slimming suit molds his fit build, and he’s towering above most heads—his gaze pins to me in a serious note.
The Royals Leaks.
He read it, too, then.
He’s on his way to me when Carissa continues, “With my Nicholas and your Audrey in the same grade, it’d be just lovely if we could set them up together. Don’t you think?”
My eyes flame, my body heating. I’d rather run barefoot over hot coals than set my children up to date someone I deem acceptable. I want them to make their own decisions on love, even if it comes out of left field. Unless they ask me for dating help, I will be on the sidelines. Forcing myself to be nothing more than a spectator.
“So what do you think?” Carissa asks and her head swings to my side. “Oh…Connor, just in time.”
“Yes, just in time,” I say dryly, my tone like serrated ice chips as I take another large sip of champagne.
“In time for what?” Connor looks between us, and his gaze stays longer on me, probably noting the current fire burning in my eyes.
I swallow the bubbly liquor. “For us to ponder whether we should set up our daughter with Carissa’s son,” I say into an edged smile and finish off my drink.
“It would be a divine pairing,” Carissa grins, not registering my tone. “The Coles and the Cobalts. A union matched for the gods, don’t you think?”
I almost choke on my champagne.
Connor stares flatly. “While interesting, Carissa,” he says calmly, “I don’t consider any of my children property that I can bargain away for favor.”
I raise my glass in cheers. “Translation: this isn’t the 18th century.”
Carissa pales. “I see.” She pretends to check her Apple Watch. “If you’ll excuse me.” She doesn’t even bother coming up with a lie to depart with. And I know it’s because she has a high value in the company. An inflated self-importance.
Connor watches as his top investor leaves with an angry stride. If he’s concerned about potentially losing her support tonight, he doesn’t say. He just turns to me and holds out his phone. The Royal Leak is already popped up.
“I saw,” I tell him. I now notice the stares. I’m not deluding myself into thinking it’s because we’re standing side-by-side. While that does garner attention at times, it’s not the kind that’s currently drilling into us with poisonous queries.
He nods towards the exit, and a wave of relief spindles down my spine. We make our way to the elevators, our bodyguards in silent tow. Connor’s refurbished limo is waiting out front—a timeless classic of a vehicle since he pays people to maintain the shit out of it. It’s shiny and sleek and could be paraded at car shows alongside Thunderbirds of the 50s. The upkeep of the classic limo wasn’t just to further pad my husband’s enlarged ego.
I am sentimental about things, and he knows the limo is one of them.
When we get in, my phone buzzes the same time his does. I see AKARA KITSUWON on his screen while mine reads RYKE MEADOWS.
He slides to the other side of the limo, so we can both answer our calls. I put my cell to my ear. “I already saw the leak,” I tell my brother-in-law.
“This is not fucking okay,” Ryke growls.
“I agree. It’s heinous.”
Ryke mostly maintains a “fuck the media” standpoint, rarely offering press releases to clear up disinformation and rumors. But we’ve all concluded that 99% of these leaks are true, so he’s been more disturbed at the fact that someone is spying on, or possibly stalking, our children.
Fire has been raging in my bloodstream just imagining some vile perv peeping into the penthouse where Jane and my nieces and nephew live.
Ryke, Loren, and I haven’t been calm about this ordeal, and while it’s Loren of all people on my side, it is nice having two others share my desire to burn the world down.
“We still have no fucking leads?” Ryke asks with heat. “Your husband hired how many PIs? He promised me this would be fucking dealt with by now.”
I press my fingers to my temple and cinch my eyes closed. “As much as he would like you to believe he is a god. He is not. He can’t snap his fingers and turn these fuckers into dust.”
“That’s Thanos, not God!” Lily’s voice pipes in.
I roll my eyes. “Am I on speaker?” I snap. “And what is Lily doing there? Is Daisy there too?” I try not to be hurt that Daisy and Lily are most likely hanging out, and I wasn’t informed. I like invites, even if I have to decline them. Especially from my sisters.
“Yeah, it was a last second thing. Lily needed help moving boxes at Superheroes they can date who they fucking want.
Within reason, I suppose. There are evils in this world.
Ryke is just growling in frustration on the other side. Connor would have a field day with the animalistic noises, so it’s good that he’s not on the same call.
“What if they did get back together?” Lily theorizes. “And we just don’t know it yet.”
I glance out at the glittering city lights. “It’s a possibility.”
“I change my fucking mind,” Ryke says. “Both are fucking careless because they both should be wearing fucking condoms. And if one decided not to, the other one should give him shit for it.”
I grin. “This is what I like to hear.”
“I’m not sure that’s in the poly relationship rulebook,” Lily mutters. “Not that I know anything about poly romances. I’m monogamous!” She shouts it like a reporter is waiting to jump down her throat.
“Lily, we’re in the fucking storage room,” Ryke reminds her.
“But there are bugs everywhere,” Lily whispers.
“Only apparently near our children,” I say with ice. I hate this. I hate how helpless we’ve been to protect them. And I want it to end. It needs to end. This has gone too far. “We’re going to find the source of the leaks. Connor and I?—”
“No,” Lily and Ryke say together.
Ryke adds, “Fuck no. We told you two not to go rogue on this, and we fucking meant it.”
Yes, so Connor and I may have concocted some plans, but like my daughter, they involved taking one for the team. Dying on the sword. My throat swells. “Fine,” I snap out, but I don’t even mean it. I plan on taking this into my own hands.
Even if I have to do it without Connor.
“Dais?” I hear Ryke call out to my sister (his wife). He must walk away from the phone since I only hear faint mumbling.
Annoyance bites at me. “What’s going on?” I snap.
Lily speaks. “Uh, I think they said that Sulli is at your house.”
“My house?” I frown.
Why would my niece be there? I sit straighter, shoulders painfully arched back, and I’m about to ask for more information.
“Rose,” Connor nods to me. He’s holding his phone, hand over the speaker, like he wants me to participate in his call. And then he turns towards the driver. I can’t hear what he’s telling him.
Hairs on the back of my neck stand as worry and concern infiltrate. Akara is not only Sulli’s recent ex, but he’s also head of Kitsuwon Securities. I assumed he called Connor to ask if we have any leads with the leaks. Basically, the same reason Ryke called. I assumed wrong? Ugh, I hate even thinking it. But my gut tells me it’s true. Something else is afoot.
“I have to go,” I tell Lily hurriedly, ending the call before she can reply. To Connor, I ask, “What’s happened?”
Connor looks over at me. “Two things,” he says. “One. We know where the leaks are coming from.”
I breathe out a, “Thank God.”
He doesn’t seem relieved. He doesn’t even correct me for thanking God.
I frown deeply, building armor around my body. Fortifying. “What?” I hold my breath. “What’s the second thing?”
“Two. Akara is at our house. Our daughter threw a party while we were away.”
Audrey.
Virginia.
Cobalt.