And he did.
His cinema room was to the rear of the property. “Why can’t I hear the traffic?” I asked Jayden.
“Double walls to the rear. Architects know how to get around sound.”
“These homes are unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
“Where are you from?”
“I moved here from a house share in New York.” It was one thing I didn’t need to lie about. “This is something else. It’s difficult to get my head around, but that’s kind of the point of me coming here, to expand my horizons and see something completely different to New York.”
“Well, the Bu is definitely that. You finished looking now?”
“Yeah. I’m ready for another drink after all this walking.” I smiled.
We walked back downstairs, and as we went back through to the patio, I realized that just like I’d been staring at the furnishings, people were now staring at me. Staring at the woman wearing DKNY when everyone else was in Chanel and Prada. Fuck, what would their faces be like if I’d worn Topshop?
An extremely tall woman, thin to the point of emaciation walked over to us, her long cherry-red hair swinging as she did so. “Jay.” She exclaimed, air kissing his cheeks. “So glad to see you again.”
“Yeah, it's been like what, two days? Plus, it's Jayden to you.”
She ignored him, looking at me. “I don’t think we’ve met before? I’m Cynthia Delaware.”
I recognized the name. She was the heiress of a property magnate. Made sense she’d be around the Billionaire’s Beach.
“Serena Ripley.”
“I’d guessed you weren’t from around here.” She clearly looked me up and down as she spoke. ?
??New York, right? Upper East side?”
What a bitch.
“I’m from Brooklyn.” I lied, playing to her assumptions.
“So, what brings you to the Bu?”
And how long until you leave again, was the underlying statement.
“I’m the new Events and Conference manager at the Malibu Dream.”
“Ah.” She said nodding. “I understand now. You came here for work. Are you arranging parties outside of the Dream now because I’m looking to throw the bash of the year?”
“She’s a guest, Cynthia, just like you.” Carter walked over and handed me a glass of champagne, a glass I’d been ready to drink since I'd walked down the staircase, and now desperately wanted to drain. “The only difference is I actually like her.”
“Hahahahaha, you’re so funny, Carter. Honestly, that’s not what you said when we were fucking last year. Well, excuse me, I must go say hi to Treena, who’s just arrived.”
“Sorry about that.” Carter said. “Should have known she’d try to cause trouble.”
“Oh don’t worry. I’m used to people like her.” I said. Rest assured while I was here I’d dig up some dirt on Cynthia Delaware and I’d make her pay for what she did to me. Karma might be a bitch, but it had nothing on me. Her humiliation would be larger than mine by far, spread all over the magazine, not relegated to a house on Carbon Beach.
“Yeah, I bet there are people coming into the hotel who treat you like that all the time, huh?”
I nodded at Carter.
“Sorry, I’m late. I’ve been finishing up at the hotel. Oh, hi, Serena.”
“Hey, Flynn.”