Read Online Perfect Harmony by Sarah P. Lodge - Free Book Online Page A

has been lifted.
    “Interesting,” says a deep acerbic voice behind me.
    I spin around.  “Chase!  How long have you been there.”
    “Don’t worry.  Only long enough to see the pleasantries.” 
His thick arm juts out with a swimmer’s grace and offers me a flute filled with
champagne.  “You didn’t tell them.”
    “No, no I didn’t.”
    “Why?”
    I take the champagne flute from his grip.  “Because I’ve
caused him to suffer enough.  I had my own part to play in this whole mess, and
I may be too scared to chase what I want, but I can’t begrudge the people that
do.”
    “But, irrelevant of your part, he still hurt you.  You could
have made him suffer.”  His deep dark eyes are perplexed.  “It makes no sense.”
    “I know.”
    I bring the flute to my mouth and the bubbles tickle my
lips.  I tilt my head back and gulp down the glass in one motion, desperate for
the alcohol to go straight to my head.
    Maybe then I can forget this horrible feeling inside, this
gnawing sense of fear that petrifies me every time I need to take a risk, deep
in the knowledge that I’d fail, so what is the point.
    How ironic.  I’m so afraid I’ll never amount to anything
that I’m too scared to do anything.  Avoiding was meant to keep me safe and
stop myself from feeling hurt, but all it’s done is make me lose everything
that actually matters.
    I sniff and wipe a small tear from my eye.
    “Are you crying?” asks Chase.  He sounds unsure how to
broach the situation.
    “I’m fine.”
    “You can still have him.”
    “What?”
    “That designer.  The way he looked at you, he can be yours
if you want him.”
    The image of Liz’s guilt stricken face fills my mind.  And the
way Richard held her close, longing to protect her.
    I’d never felt that spark, that lightning of passion and
want and need for him.  If was something I’d never even known existed.
    Not until I met Chase.
    “I don’t want him.  He wants her and she wants him.  They
deserve to be happy.”
    Chase brushes my shoulder with his palm.  His hand journeys
down my arm, past my wrist and to my own hand.  Our fingers interlock.
    “Aren’t you nice,” he says.
    Is that scorn in his voice?  Or is it surprise?  Was it
meant to be sarcastic?  What does it matter - he called me nice .  Just a
synonym or two away from coward and scared .  And wimp .
    I inhale sharply and the cold air hits my lungs like a
sobering slap.
    “This dress,” I say to Chase, “it’s sexy, yes?”
    Chase is taken aback.  “Very much so.”
    “”Pretty hot, you’d say?  And these heels?  Someone nice and
quiet and scared wouldn’t wear them, would they?”
    Chase smiles.  “No, my princess.  No, they wouldn’t.”
    A waiter passes with a tray full of champagne flutes.  I
snatch one and down the entire glass instantly.
    “How’s that for nice?”
    Chase opens his mouth to speak, but he stops abruptly, his
attention turning to a stunning young woman climbing on to the stage with the
orchestra and whispering in the conductor’s ear.
    The crowd around us hushes to a quiet murmur, everyone’s
eyes on this mysterious woman.  She turns to look at the crowd and sees us. 
She waves.
    I’ve never seen this woman in my life.  Why is she waving at
me?
    Then it dawns on me - I’m not the one she’s waving at.
    I turn to Chase and see him give her a nod.
    Who is this woman?  How does she enrapture the entire room? 
Why does Chase go quiet for her?
    “Who’s that?” I ask, trying to be coy.
    “She’s a new acquisition of mine.”
    “ Acquisition ?”
    He turns to me and brushes my cheek lightly with his
fingers.  “Relax, my princess.  Her name’s Vanessa.  A recent addition to my
label.  She’s a bright young thing, very friendly.  In fact, you two must be
about the same age.  I imagine the two of you would get on very well.”
    “Oh.  You think so?” I say, trying my hardest to shake any
annoyance and bitterness from my voice,