CHAPTER 15: High and Low
Travel from Isle County to Laire County is usually a two-hour drive—longer with traffic. But because Drew takes us through these shortcuts with little to no other vehicles present, we arrive at Laire City within an hour.
The famous Laire Boulevard is a stark contrast to the dark desert we exit from. It's almost nine o'clock, yet the black sky is lit with flashing bulbs and LED billboards. Tourists walk on sidewalks with smartphones and cameras pointed in every direction. Vendors give out bus tour pamphlets in front of small, crowded souvenir shops. One of the buses they advertise trails behind us at a stoplight, also packed with awestruck visitors.
"Why is it so active at night here?" I've never been to Laire City at night, but its nightlife has a reputation in movies and television. Isle can be active at night too but never this ostentatiously.
"Vampires rarely sleep, love," Drew is smirking when I turn to him, "so neither does my city."
"You own Laire City?"
"Call it my kingdom."
Of course, Drew lives in Laire City. It's where aspiring celebrities chase the spotlight. Whether it's by being a prolific actor or a popular musician, Laire is where you can find a cheering audience or a star who can get one for you.
This makes sense, knowing what I do about Drew so far. The king of vampires doesn't aspire for attention; he just gets it. Heads turn when he walks into a room. Mouths mutter his name when he leaves. One look at who he is, and you'll be wise to watch what he does next.
We turn a corner to a hotel massing an entire city block. I immediately recognize it from its intricate title board and red and gold theming: the world-renowned Casur Hotel.
It even has its own street name: Casur Road.
"We'll enter through a private entrance, so the press won't bother us," Drew maneuvers us into a gate between two buildings.
Once inside, the car parks in front of a valet attendant, who opens the door for me before accepting a bill from Drew.
"Good evening, Your Highness," the young man welcomes. "Welcome to Casur Hotel."
The attendant doesn't look me in the eye, or at all. Instead, he keeps his gaze on Drew, who is watching him.
I curtsy, "Good evening."
"Let's go, love," Drew gently nudges me toward an elevator. "Do you like seafood?"
"I love seafood." Other than fast food, I also very much like sushi and crab.
"Good, then you'll love our meal tonight."
Drew taps the button for the top floor, and we ascend. Pleasant piano music trills through the speakers as I look out the glass walls. The view is a bit hard to see at first due to the elevator lights reflecting their glare. Once I bypass them, though, I marvel at Laire, the galaxy.
We must be in the tallest building in the city. We're so high up, there would have been clouds below us if the skies aren't clear tonight. I sway a little, overwhelmed.
"Are you alright, love?" Drew allows me to lean on him.
"Y-Yeah, it's just—wow! We're so high!"
"We're going all the way to the top. Are you afraid of heights, love? I'm sorry, I should have asked sooner."
"No, no, it's fine," I pat his chest. "I'm not afraid of anything, remember?"
"Good, that's why you're perfect for me. This hotel is just one of the many I reside in, but we can live in the villa if you prefer to be closer to your brother. Should you choose to stay here, my penthouse is on the top floor. You'll have rooftop access as well as its amenities."
"Must be nice to own the world."
"It has its perks."
I smirk at him, and he smirks back. I'm joking, but something tells me Drew isn't.
"How do you keep track of all these businesses and properties?" I recall that Drew runs both an investment firm and a property management company. "One business alone takes up so much of your attention! I can't imagine how difficult it is to manage all the ones you have."
"Almost all my employees are vampires," Drew replies.
"That makes sense. Makes running things much easier when everyone is your mind-controlled zombie."
"That's not how Blood Sync works, love. But you'll never know, being a brat and all."
"The brattiest."
"Don't get me wrong, love. Just because I don't often hear the word no, it doesn't mean I don't occasionally deal with those who don't do what I ask. When I encounter those who don't cooperate, I either discipline or terminate them."
"Does that," I raise an eyebrow, "involve hiding a few bodies?"
"You know it does. Do you have a problem with that?"
"I try not to resolve issues with violence."
"Not convincing enough, love. Maybe if you say it again, I'll believe you."
I smack his chest this time, and he chuckles. "I'm surprised you still want to marry me after knowing the kind of person I am. I figured you prefer someone who only does what you say."
"I enjoy the challenge, love. It keeps things interesting. And besides, if we do marry and things don't work out between us—"
"You'll kill me?"
"I was going to say I'll grant you a hefty sum to never cross paths with me again, but I suppose I can kill you too."
"Wow! Do you say that to all the ladies you date?"
"You know what I am, love. We're dating to learn about each other, so it won't do us good to lie. Besides, would you let me live if I–say–bed another woman while pursuing you?"
"Maybe, if you can outrun me."
"Try an honest answer, love."
That is an honest answer, but I guess it shouldn't be. "I...I guess I'd try my hardest to...forgive you."
"Knowing your violent nature? I'd love to see you try."
I bite my lip, holding back a giggle as we exit the elevator. Drew is diabolical—proudly so—but also delightful to speak with. I can imagine us bantering like this for the rest of our lives. I'll never be bored.
A staff member bows before me and Drew before leading us to what may be the best view of the city. We're in an observation deck. We're higher up than ever, but this time, it's not nauseating. The city isn't just below us; it's around us.
"Wow," I gape.
"I know," Drew hands our coats to a staff member for storage. "Do you like it?"
"I love it. I've never been to such a beautiful restaurant before! It's the kind of place I would go to on my motorcycle," I clasp Drew's hand. "Thank you so much for bringing me here, Drew!"
"You're welcome, love," Drew traces my cheek. "I'd do anything to make you happy."
My eyes water, and Drew's cheeks turn pink. The moment ends when the maître de offers to take us to our table. Still, I keep Drew's hand in mine as we make our way there.
"Did you eat before I picked you up?" Drew pulls out a chair for me to sit on before taking his own.
"No."
"Good, because we'll be having seven courses."
A waiter politely greets us before serving our first course: tuna tartare. He pairs it with a fine wine, which not only compliments the seasoned fish but also the salad and the rolls that accompany it. Courses two to six follow a similar format. The seventh finishes with a chocolate lava cake enhanced by berries, whipped cream, and flower petals.
"This is delicious!" I rub my belly with a satisfied sigh. Enjoying it all with the colorful lights around us makes me feel like we're in space too. "I should ask the chefs at the mansion to cook something like this."
"Or you can live in the hotel and enjoy them every day," Drew offers. "My restaurants don't operate outside my hotels, and the recipes they use are guarded secrets. If you would like to enjoy the best food, you may as well enjoy it from the source."
"You may just convince me, Drew. If you're trying to charm me into marrying you, you're doing a good job so far."
"I'm glad. Maybe I'll convince you to eat less fast food too."
"Don't get too crazy now."
Drew rolls his eyes.
We continue to eat, chat, and laugh. Drew and I have more in common than we thought! Not only do we both like helping the less fortunate, but we also like music, food, and traveling. Drew will be an excellent companion for adventures to come.
Not to say Brendan wouldn't have been! Wait. Oh god, Brendan! Damn it, what the hell am I doing?
I force a smile so Drew doesn't notice that my mood has plummeted. I'm supposed to marry Drew to provide money for the foundation and take down Brendan's killer. I'm not supposed to fall for Drew himself! How good of a person can I be if I turn my back on the man I love after he dies? And I'm the one who got Brendan fucking killed in the first place! Have I really almost forgotten that so I can live happily ever after with another man?
"May?" Drew's eyes narrow. "What is it? What's wrong?"
Fuck. "No, nothing's wrong! Let's just enjoy dinner."
"But you're clearly upset. Please, love, tell me what's bothering you. Maybe I can help."
"Oh, like you're so emotionally available? Hi, I'm Drew!" I mock-imitate him. When Drew only stares at me, my tongue clicks, and I bury my face in my hands. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I know I'm being a bitch. It's just…things are kind of complicated right now, and I hate myself. I'll just go home."
"May," Drew gets out of his chair and stands beside mine, "whatever you're going through, you don't have to go through it alone. I'm here for you. If you don't want to talk about it—fine. We don't have to talk. We both have things we don't want to talk about right now, so why don't we just forget about them instead?"
"That's easier said than done."
"Let's try anyway."
Drew summons a waitress and whispers in her ear. After he pulls away, Drew gathers me in his arms, and we watch the staff take away the table and empty dishes. The dining floor eventually becomes an empty floor. That is, until piano music plays through the speakers, echoing across the hall while the city lights twinkle in approval.
"What's happening?" I ask.
"Do you remember the night we met? At the gala, before we knew each other?" Drew takes my hand and loops an arm around my waist.
"Of course."
"Even when you were wearing that mask, I saw how much pain you were in. I didn't recognize you, but I recognized your anguish. Maybe that's why I approached you that night. Other than the fact that you were gorgeous, your wounds looked very much like mine."
"I…I don't know about that. Do you blame yourself for mistakes people keep saying aren't yours even though they very clearly are?"
"Every day."
The answer stuns me, so Drew relaxes my body with a gentle shake before we continue dancing.
"We're not that different, May. We may come from different worlds, but we understand each other nevertheless. So, let's comfort each other now. It's easier to manage our pain when someone is helping us with that burden."
I hide my face by his neck. "I can't…I can't fall for you."
"Do it anyway, my love. I'll catch you."
My love?
I press myself against Drew, too afraid to look at him now. But Drew seems to understand without me saying why. He also stops dancing and holds me close—protecting me like he always does.
But he can't protect me from this. I can't fall for Drew. I can't, I really can't.
Because I've already fallen for him.
