Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
STEFAN
The line to get into Raven’s Nest stretched to the end of the block.
Some famous DJ was playing at the club tonight, and everyone in Darster wanted to see him.
The air was crisp and cool, perfect fall weather, but the guys refused to wait in line.
Matt and Will argued with the hostess, who said the only way to cut the line was to buy a table in the VIP section.
Generally, a table at Raven’s Nest costs three thousand dollars.
However, a last-minute table tonight was six thousand dollars, plus tax and gratuity, bringing it to a cool eight thousand dollars.
Suddenly, I realized Kai wasn’t the only one who could solve a problem with his endless resources.
My new job paid well, but I hadn’t spent any of my paycheck. Kai paid off our debts, my parents’ mortgage, and bought new cars for Amelie and me. When I went shopping, his chauffeur insisted on using the family credit card.
I was earning real money for the first time in my life and had nothing to spend it on. Glad for the opportunity, I pulled out my wallet.
The boys were impressed.
“Are you for real?” Matt asked when I handed my card to the hostess. I didn’t miss the hint of jealousy and awe in his voice. His family was well-off, but not so rich as to flush eight thousand dollars down the drain on a night out.
“You can afford table service?” Will piped in. “Just like that?”
I shrugged, trying to remain humble. No wonder Kai flaunted his wealth. Playing savior fed your ego. Generous friends got celebrity treatment for a reason.
As the hostess led us inside, I noticed the sophisticated crowd behind the red rope, in contrast to the intoxicated slobs in the common area. I didn’t have the energy for spilled drinks and sloppy dancers tonight. Again, money solved even simple problems, such as a night out.
Money couldn’t remedy my nosy friends’ curiosity, though. Their inquisition wasn’t over even after the hostess seated us and brought over two bottles of Grey Goose.
“Seriously, dude, do you sell drugs on the side?” Matt asked.
Will chuckled. “Please, recruit us. I regret majoring in journalism after seeing your house. I’m ready for my Breaking Bad journey.”
“Do you have a rich aunt who passed away and left you an inheritance?” Matt pushed. “I can only assume she was royalty by the size of your house.”
The guys knew my folks had passed away. Matt also knew I was from a middle-class family and had been curious about my new sizeable fortune. But my luxurious life had nothing to do with my family’s contributions.
I shook my head. “Sorry to disappoint. My family’s totally ordinary.”
“Then how did you get so rich? I mean, we work for the same magazine, and they don’t pay enough to buy a house like yours. Or to pick up the tab for bottle service.”
I frowned. Kai recommended me to the editor, who hired me on the spot. Everyone wanted to impress the Prince of Darster, so I didn’t question the hefty salary. What I hadn’t expected was the pay gap they insinuated.
I turned to Marcus, who had been quiet so far. “We’re both photographers at the same magazine. Can I ask—”
“I make ten times less than you,” he answered the unasked question.
Inquiring about someone’s salary was uncomfortable, and I was grateful to him for sparing me. But… “How do you know how much I make?”
“I saw your file at the HR desk.” When I grimaced, he leveled me with an even look. “I didn’t mean to spy, but the file was open with your salary right in my face. I thought it was a mistake. Then I did some digging and found out who your wife’s second husband was.”
Shit. What must he think of me? Amelie’s wealthy husband secured me the highest-paying position. This was nepotism at its best. I would hate someone who made ten times more for doing the same job.
I opened my mouth, but he held up a hand. “Don’t feel guilty about it. Honestly, I would have paid myself more if I were the magazine’s president.”
President?
The other two had stopped pouring drinks to pay attention to our conversation. But they could no longer stay silent when Marcus dropped the bomb.
“What do you mean by president?” Will asked.
“What’s with all the secrecy?” Matt followed up impatiently. “And who’s your wife’s second husband?”
Marcus glanced at me, letting me break the news.
“Kai Cavendish is my wife’s second husband.”
Everything came to a screeching halt. That was the power of his name. Until a few months ago, no one in Darster had heard of him. Now, you couldn’t cross the street without seeing his name on a billboard or a park bench. Everyone knew that he was trying to buy this town, and I meant that literally.
Darster was an unincorporated private town, currently owned by a board of trustees.
They retained most of the real estate and businesses, which Kai had been systematically buying out.
It was the big business deal he had been trying to close.
Everyone knew it, too. It was why they called him the Prince of Darster. He was this town’s royalty.
Will cast aside the magnitude of my announcement.
“Kai Cavendish is a part of your family? Your house makes so much more sense now. I always wondered where he lived, but I-I would’ve never imagined your wife…
and him… and you.” He sat back with a pout.
“You’re so lucky. Why don’t I have a wife married to Kai Cavendish? ”
I burst out laughing. Will glared at me because he hadn’t meant it as a joke. He was stone-cold serious, and honestly, I understood the jealousy. It was difficult not to be proud of being Kai’s family. Will was right—I was lucky.
“Oh shit.” Matt frowned at Will with a pointed look. “That means Stefan’s the new president of Obsidian.”
It was my turn to be lost. “I think that’s a bit of a stretch, guys.”
“That’s right. He is!” Will exclaimed, ignoring me. “He’s the new president.”
I rolled my eyes. Had the drinks gone straight to their heads? I tried to stop the fake news from spiraling out of control. “Guys—”
“You do know that Kai Cavendish owns Obsidian, right?” Marcus, the voice of reason, asked.
I reeled. I thought the editor in chief was doing Kai a favor by hiring me, not following the boss’s orders. Kai never expressed interest in the publishing industry. His businesses generally revolved around technology and real estate. Why would he embark on an entirely unrelated venture?
“I didn’t know he owned Obsidian.” I spoke slowly. “Either way, you guys misunderstand how this arrangement works. I don’t own Kai’s assets through this marriage.”
Marcus shook his head. “Maybe not, but you’re the new President of Obsidian.
There have been rumors about one of Kai Cavendish’s family members taking over the role.
I didn’t know who it was until I saw your paperwork.
I didn’t say anything because I assumed you wanted to keep it under wraps until the official announcement.
I didn’t realize it was being kept a secret from you. ”
I blinked. I had no idea how to process this information. Me? President?
Everything turned into a blur after that.
Will started cheering, shouting for someone to bring over a bottle of Champagne.
Marcus patted me on the back. Matt was the only one subdued.
It must have dawned on him that his formerly poor friend was now his boss.
Despite my attempts at modesty, cool satisfaction ran through my veins.
Amelie had once explained the term frenemy to me, and I believe Matt was mine.
We rooted for each other while secretly competing and wishing for the other to fail.
Still, I didn’t celebrate the news, momentarily stupefied. It was too good to be true. I pulled out my phone because there was only one person whose word was worth gold.
Stefan: I’m the new president of Obsidian? What’s going on?
Kai: I was planning to tell you but then the furniture debacle happened… I assume your coworkers spilled the beans.
Stefan: How did I become the president?
Kai: Wasn’t it your dream to become a wildlife photographer and eventually own a travel magazine?
Holy shit.
Stefan: I don’t know what to say.
Stefan: Are you sure about this?
Stefan: I only started a few weeks ago and have no experience.
Kai: I’d rather trust you with Obsidian over a corpie I don’t know.
Or would you rather keep me busy and away from Amelie?
I know, I know. I should be grateful, but I couldn’t help it.
Who gave away a twenty-million-dollar company to a family member with zero experience?
Either Kai was a terrible businessman, or he had ulterior motives.
And since Kai was a terrific businessman, I could only assume he meant to keep me busy.
If that were his intention, he was on the right trajectory. I had barely started at Obsidian and had already gained a reputation for being a workaholic. I spent all day on shoots. At night, I worked on edits. I never put in this much effort at my previous job. Why invest my time in a job I hate?
But this, this was my dream job. I could work all day for something I was passionate about.
Kai knew it, too.
I shook my head. I needed to snap out of these negative thoughts.
Kai had been upfront about his intentions and had already spelled it out for me—I needed to give them space while they sorted out their differences.
He knew it would be a difficult transition and had given me a meaningful project to keep my mind off things.
Perhaps he considered us family and wanted to see me happy, too.
I should be grateful rather than consider it a consolation prize.
Kai: Send me your location. A friend of mine wants to meet you about a collaboration.
The conversation had gone from zero to three-sixty in five minutes. I had just found out I was the president of a magazine. Now, I was expected to have a business meeting.
Stefan: Now? But we’re at a club.
Kai: All the best deals are made over alcohol.
Stefan: But I don’t know anything about the company’s operations.
Kai: The only way to learn is by diving in.
That was an insane suggestion. Kai was throwing me into the deep end without a life jacket.
Stefan: I thought some training would be involved before I took over.
Three little dots popped up to indicate he was typing. It took him a while to send the reply.
Kai: Don’t tell me I just trusted my multimillion-dollar company to someone who lets opportunities slip through their fingers.
He sounded annoyed.
Stefan: That’s not what I meant. I just don’t want to fuck up on day 1.
Kai: It’s a preliminary meeting to pitch an idea. You don’t need to know the ins and outs of the company, but if you want to learn, there’s an exec program. I’ll have my assistant set it up.
Stefan: Ok.
Kai: Location?
Stefan: We’re at Raven’s Nest. They can give the hostess my name, and someone will bring them to our table.
“Enough of this,” Will said, waving away my phone. “We need to celebrate our boy’s new job.” He pulled out a small, clear bag from his front pocket.
I knew what it was. I had tried that stuff in college, but it had been years since then.
Will started cutting up the coke on the table in plain sight. The bouncer managing the red rope pretended not to notice. The law ceased to exist on this side of the rope.
Will took a bump. Matt took one, too. Even Marcus participated and passed me the rolled-up dollar bill.
Matt arched an eyebrow when I didn’t reach for it.
“You just became the motherfucking president of our magazine. My boss, might I add.” Try as he might, he couldn’t hide the envy in his eyes, nor the jealousy in his voice.
“If you say no, then all of us just did coke in front of our boss with zero leverage. Don’t leave us hanging. We’re celebrating.”
He was right. I had every reason to celebrate. Just as he had promised, Kai had fulfilled my lifelong wishes. Since I was fifteen, I had dreamt of ruling this town and becoming a famous photographer with my own travel magazine. That and marrying Ruby Sarafina.
Ruby Sarafina was the founder of the band, The Cobras.
She was a revolutionary artist who ran away from home at sixteen and defied stereotypes to break into the male-dominated rock genre.
My teen life used to orbit around the rock star.
I recorded her shows and attended her concerts because we were kindred spirits.
She knew her destiny was bigger than the limits placed by her middle-class family.
I had always hoped my story would turn out like hers. The whole rags-to-riches street rat that becomes a prince. Although she was only a year older, she was my idol. Not just me, millions of men loved her, but fifteen-year-old me was convinced we were meant to be.
That was until I met Amelie.
What was Amelie up to right now? I had gone from a nobody to the president of a multi-million-dollar company in less than an hour, and I wanted to tell her about the roller-coaster journey.
She should be here, celebrating this win, except I had only achieved this dream because she wasn’t by my side.
The irony.
I grabbed the rolled-up bill from Marcus and leaned over the table. There was no harm in a celebratory bump.
The first hit was smooth, and I waited for the effects to kick in.
It was the second hit that had my heart racing.
Suddenly, I was on top of the world. I could do anything except sit still.
I started dancing, trying to make sense of the beat.
I was climbing high, feeling restless, and making rounds around the club.
Blurs of faces passed me, and my chest started beating so fast I didn’t think it’d stop.
It freaked me out, and I returned to our table. I stood up, then sat down. I couldn’t sit still.
“Are you all right?” asked a female voice, claiming the seat next to mine. I didn’t look at her, mesmerized by the blinking club lights.
“I’m fine.”
“First time doing coke?”
I scoffed. “Feels like it.”
“It gets easier.”
“You make it sound like work.”
She laughed. “In my line of work, drugs is work.”
“Your line of work? Are you a doctor or a healer of sorts?” Maybe she was a shaman.
“I’m a singer. I take drugs to write songs, and at most, I heal hearts.”
That made me laugh. I forced myself to tear my gaze away from the bright colors for a proper introduction. “I’m Stefan. Stefan Noble.”
The club lights shone on her face, sobering me immediately. For hers was a face I had memorized in my teens and knew like the back of my hand.
“Hi, Stefan. I’m Ruby. Ruby Sarafina.”