Chapter 4

For generations, every summer, wealthy families from New York City invaded New Jersey and overran the eleven towns that made up the Hamptons. Popular for its beautiful beaches and perfect weather. These Hamptonites were like an invasive species that had no natural predators and crowded out and took over everything. The actual residents of the Hamptons, the native species, decided let’s make lemonade out of lemons. Businesses sprouted everywhere to accommodate the Hamptonites’ every whim. Anyone can tolerate just about anything for two months.

The truth was, the Hamptonites and the Townies disliked each other but they had been using each other for so many generations they became dependent. Like a dysfunctional symbiotic relationship. And it turned out they sometimes had common interests that united them. Like their mutual hatred of The Billionaires Club.

The Billionaire’s Club was exclusive and had only two thousand members worldwide. The entry f*e? Be a billionaire. Members of the B-Club had so much wealth it created a gravitational pull and anyone within range was sucked into their Super Nova of alternate realities. A wonderful place where they were entitled to anything they wanted. And in this dimension of privilege, they abused everyone within reach disrupting the delicate ecosystem of the Hamptons.

They really were unbearable and the Bloombards were the absolute worst of the lot.

Celine narrowed her eyes at the pack of billionaire brats who had her cornered against the back wall of the stables. She could hear the horses neighing and stomping on the other side of the wall. She loved the horses they looked after. They were a thousand times better than humans and were the only friends she had. If only she had one with her right now. She could hop onto its bare back and they could ride off and maybe if she were lucky the horse would give Phillip Bloombard a good kick in the.-

“Finally, you are mine.”, Phillip said, interrupting Celine’s thoughts. He was a pudgy short boy with freckles and a wide upturned nose that made her think of a pig. A big sweaty pig ready to be butchered. Refusing to reveal she was scared, the small girl with blue-black hair and green eyes too large for her alabaster face said nothing. “Bring her to me.”, Phillip commanded. Even as a child he never did his own dirty work.

She recognized the two teenagers who came for her. They worked for a competitor. Typical B-Club heir. He hired some locals. What was he going to have them do, beat up a child? Well, Celine was not going to wait around to find out and she put two fingers in her mouth and whistled loud. Startling the entire group.

Thump. Thump. THUMP. The sound of splintering wood was heard on the other side of the wall. Then there was a loud whinny. Celine smiled; these boys were going to get their butts kicked.

Every stable had that one horse. A horse so rebellious that it was unrideable by anyone but one special person. Celine thought it was romantic and loyal, but if the horse loved someone who didn’t own them, then they were abandoned and left like useless junk.

One such horse existed at the Beaumont Equestrian Center and that was Blackie. She named him when she was four, okay? It was a tie between Blackie and Horsy at the time so it could have been worse. Blackie was an angry mean-spirited stallion who only loved two people. The hired man who fed and tended to him, and the tiny slip of a girl who had the same-colored hair as he did.

Nothing could keep him from Celine when she called, nothing.

Hooves could be heard tearing up the earth as Blackie rounded the corner. One of the Baby Billionaires later claimed fire and smoke was coming out of his nose. Blackie snorted and pawed the ground. His nostrils flared as he searched for his little girl and when he saw her cornered on the other side of a pack of humans he whinnied and ran right for the center of the pack, and almost plowed into Phillip Bloombard.

Luckily for him, Phillip was saved by the very girl he was threatening. This girl, who was worth a thousand of him, was brave enough to leap in front of the boy and save his life.

When Blackie saw his little girl about to be run over by him, he managed to stop himself just in time. Huffing and puffing from the exertion. Celine pat his nose hugged him then pushed her fingers into his mane. “Good Boy!”, she said inhaling his comforting horsy smell. She grasped his thick black hair and leaped onto his back.

Once she was securely on his back, Blackie saw fit to rear and threaten Phillip with his hooves, but Celine shushed him and calmed him. With a snort that covered Phillip in horse snot, Blackie turned and walked away with his prize on his back.

This went on for a few years but then one year a new addition was added to the Baby Billionaires. A tall olive-skinned boy with sharp cheekbones and grey eyes. One Sebastian Gale.

Sebastian was a sort of pariah within the B-Club. He came from a family of billionaires, but his family had only recently come into their billions. Old money turned up their noses at new money. Celine noticed that he was not liked. She also noticed he was shy and sensitive and never took part in Phillip’s favorite sport of torture the townie. It was not long before Sebastian and Celine became friends. Which infuriated Phillip.

Then Celine began growing up and the pretty child with long black hair ivory skin pouty lips and green eyes became a stunning teenager. Five feet and six inches of long elegant curves. She had a sensual face and eyes that made you think she knew a secret. And she held herself tall and moved with a natural grace and presence that attracted attention.

That summer she attracted a lot of pursuers but none more determined than Phillip and Sebastian, who competed for her ruthlessly.

“Sh. Be quiet, they are coming.”, Celine said, she could hear Phillip and his gang getting closer.

Sebastian was distracted from his looming danger. “Celine. I think Daisy is going to kick me.”, he whispered. Sebastian was crouching behind Daisy and at risk of being kicked by an annoyed horse.

Sighing, Celine peeked down the length of Daisey and sucked in a breath when she saw Daisy had one leg lifted, ready to kick. “Come over here, there’s room.”, Celine whispered.

Daisy nickered as if she agreed. The two friends smiled at each other from across the stall and Celine distracted Daisy with a nice scratch. Soon they were standing together in the corner. Celine against the wall and Sebastian standing behind her. Both were peeking through gaps in the stall.

“Midget.”, Sebastian whispered. Celine elbowed him in the ribs and giggled when she heard him grunt.

Then Phillip entered the stables looking for Phillip. He didn’t know where he was, so he yelled. “Phillip, come out and face me like a man.” Celine felt him stiffen and she rolled her eyes. “How original.”, she whispered and was relieved when she felt Sebastian relax.

Several whinnies were Phillip’s only answer.

Celine covered her mouth to stop another giggle. Just then, Daisey decided to look too, and shoved Sebastian into Celine, making her squeak. The two friends were pressed together tightly in an intimate way that made Celine’s heart race. Daisey didn’t care, she was curious. She stretched her neck until her nose reached the top of the stall and took big drafts of air through her nostrils.

“It’s Daisy.”, Sebastian said.

When he spoke, Celine was acutely aware of his scent, the sweet perfume of a teenage boy and his horse. She wanted to lean into him but freaked out and tried swatting at Daisy to get her to move. “Can you give me a little space?”, Celine asked.

“You’re going to have to ask Daisy.”, Sebastian said. She could hear that he was smiling. She tried to swat at Daisy again but only grazed her. Celine began wiggling, trying to turn around. “Celine.”, Sebastian said. “Celine. Stop. Celine.”, Sebastian whispered desperately.

“What?”, Celine hissed, annoyed that she could not escape being pressed up against Sebastian and the way it made her feel.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Get Daisy.”, Celine said still trying to whack the stubborn horse. Then she realized they were chest to belly, and she looked up. Sebastian’s face was too close, so close she could see a bead of sweat trickling down his neck.

“Hey?”, Sebastian whispered, looking down at her, his eyes dreamy and unfocused. Using his thumb, he brushed away the wild hairs that escaped her ponytail and were stuck to the pulse point on her neck making Celine shiver. His eyes moved from her neck to her mouth. He dipped his head down and she could taste his breath. Celine tilted her face and closed her eyes.

Sebastian disappeared that summer without a word. Two years later Celine married Phillip. After six years of marriage on the day her mother died, she discovered her husband and his mistress screwing in their conjugal bed. Phillip confessed that he was a serial adulterer but only loved her. Even that was a lie because five minutes later she saw him tell his mistress that he loved her. And if that was not enough, Sebastian Gale was there and saw it too.

After six months of healing and recovery, Celine was ready to face Phillip, to sever their relationship if she must. If only Phillip would show remorse and a willingness to change. She would work with that. Based on how he was leaning back in his chair glaring at her across a conference table flanked by his attorneys: she didn’t think there was much hope. This was his last day to atone because after today there would be no second chance.