Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“Oh, I understand, yeah. There’s always more to the story.” She laughed lightly. “Go on with what you can say.”
“I’m conflicted.” Her body grew hotter. “He’s not afraid of much. He’s smart… got a lot going for him, but he isn’t the boy next door. He isn’t a safe bet. I want to tell this story. A story born from hate, fed by revenge, but ends in… Let’s just say it’s a powder keg, and this could save my job and then some. Are you following me, or do I sound crazy?”
Chasity was quiet for a bit. Long enough that it made Honey uncomfortable.
“…I’ve been in this business a long time, Honey. I went from golden girl to the cancer patient. Pity party sold separately. I’ve seen the highs, I’ve seen the lows. I lost what I love most, journalism, because of this illness. It tried to ruin my life, the little I have left.” Honey closed her eyes and fought tears. “I’m dying… but I’ve lived, baby. I’ve lived! I have seen journalists, photojournalists such as yourself, rarely any as talented as you but I digress, and so many others come and go like it’s a revolving door. This shit is not for the faint of heart. People villainize us. They spit at us. They run from us. People worship us. They call and email us. They love us. There seems to be no in-between. The weatherman gets blamed for a bad forecast, even. It’s just insane.
“No one gets out of this unscathed. You do the type of work that sticks to a reader’s and viewer’s bones. Your work has been featured in big name magazines. You’ve received praise from some of the pioneers in our field because you’re just that damn talented.” Honey’s cheeks warmed. “I say, trust your heart, sister. Trust your gut, Honey. Deep down, you know what to do. Your intuition has never led you wrong, even if you end up in the hot seat over the way you’ve chosen to conduct your journey.”
She rolled around with her friend’s words, mulling them over. Sitting with them. Then, she decided to change gears. They engaged in small talk and shared fun memories. It felt beautiful to speak with Chasity. Today, her friend was having a good day.
Honey wrapped up the call and exited the bathroom. She grabbed her luggage that Archer had packed and placed by the door, and one by one, unpacked her items, returning them neatly inside the dresser drawers. When she was finished, she pressed the buzzer by the door.
No answer.
She pressed again. “Archer. Hello?”
Still, no answer. Perhaps he was no longer watching her. No longer tuned in. She glanced up at the camera that faced her bed, and wondered. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, looked both ways, then walked out under the all too familiar purple light. It smelled a bit sweet in the corridor, much like freshly cut flowers and faint incense. She stopped walking and looked about, having no idea where she was going. The house was massive, and she’d never been to the third floor. I bet that’s where his bedroom is. She started to walk again, then spotted the elevator, but when she went to get on it, it wouldn’t let her. The black and gold electronic panel required a code.
With a huff, she made her way through various rooms, all of them beautiful and screaming of Archer’s typical masculine and minimalist style. Then, she spotted the stairway—beautiful, long, and winding. It also had a gate on it that appeared to have a lock, but when she approached it, she realized it was open.
She took a step, then another. The steps were so shiny, they appeared wet. She maneuvered warily, on feet clad only in socks, climbing to the very top. She looked both ways when she made it, wondering where James might be. She drew quiet and listened. Follow the music…
It was louder going to the left. She walked in that direction until it got so loud, she was certain he’d be in the room in front of her.
‘Caroline,’ by Ahv was currently playing. She stood there, swaying to the mesmerizing music. Closing her eyes, she inhaled the scent of cigar smoke coming from the room. It curled from under the door like smolder from a magical bottle. Tapping on the door with her knuckle, she hoped he’d hear her over the melody.
“Archer… James…”
She got ready to knock again, but then noticed one of those coded panels by this door, too. It went from red to green, then clicked, like the one on the door of a hotel room. She turned the knob and entered a massive room, immersed in electric blue light around the recessed ceiling. Shadows. Smoke. Speakers pulsed as they poured out music. Blue and black candles were lit on one side, reflected by mirrored walls. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she saw a man’s silhouette in the middle of a bed. He was holding a cigar. He brought it to his lips, then expelled more smoke that quickly turned blue from the lights. He was darker than the darkest night, mysterious and hidden.