“Who is his granddaughter?” I asked, highly curious what kind of work he did.
Troy’s face shut down for a moment before he tried to sound off handed. “I wouldn’t want to bore you with the details.”
I knew he wasn’t going to give me any more information, so I let it go.
He ushered me to the front lobby where a beautiful fireplace had a lovely fire going in it.
“Excuse me, miss, can you take a picture of us?” he asked the hostess, handing her his phone.
The hostess was obviously enamored with him immediately as she smiled and simpered up at him. She grabbed his phone and Troy took me over to the fireplace, pulling me in close, so our chests touched. I was thankful for my heels at that moment. I didn’t look like a complete child standing next to him. He wrapped his arms around my hips, his hands dipped into my dress. I looked up and giggled as his fingertips brushed my sides, I was ticklish.
He gave me a wicked grin back. “So, you’re ticklish? Good to know.”
I gave him a mock stern look, “You wouldn’t dare.”
He chuckled, and the sound made it apparent he was up to no good. He positioned us so we could take a few pictures.
He thanked the hostess and then helped me slip into my coat. He refused to let me see the pictures and grinned at me mischievously. What was it with these people wanting to take my pictures, but not letting me see them?
“We have time for one more activity before I take you home,” Troy murmured as he looked at his watch.
“Does it bother you that I’m so much younger than you?” I asked the question that had been at the back of my head all night.
He threw an arm around me and we walked that way on the crowded streets of New York City. It was a brisk autumn evening, but not terribly cold. He shrugged. “I wouldn’t say it bothered m
e. There are about five years between us, which isn’t a bad gap at all, but to be honest with you I generally date older women. With our connection, all the rules have been thrown out the window.”
I gnawed on my bottom lip, not thinking about the havoc I must be reeking on my lipstick. “So, if I wasn’t your connected, then you wouldn’t even look my way? You didn’t even seem to notice all the beautiful woman that looked at you tonight.”
He placed a kiss on my forehead. “I only have eyes for one girl and I wouldn’t say that. I mean, you’re a beautiful girl. I definitely would have noticed you, but whether I would have pursued you before I got to know you, is another thing all together. Why are we even talking about this?” he chuckled uncomfortably. “You already know so much about me. I’ve told you things I have never told anyone, except one person,” he grimaced. “For some reason, the powers that be felt that you belonged to us, to me. Who are we to question it?”
I was somewhat mollified as we started walking towards Central Park. As he headed towards the horse drawn carriages, my eyes widened with delight. I was far from the romantic type, I’ve never had the luxury to be, but this had to be one of the most romantic gestures I could have ever thought of.
He handed me up to the driver, then settled in himself, wrapping a blanket around us and pouring hot chocolate. We did little talking for the ride around the park. We had been too preoccupied kissing and doing light petting.
I was on an emotional high for the rest of the night. We finished our carriage ride and then a driver took us back to the helicopter. I felt like a fool as I grinned the whole way home. Surprisingly, Troy was a perfect gentleman when we got home too, he walked me to my room, six minutes before my curfew, and gave me one sweet kiss before bidding me goodnight.
Chapter 20
I woke up to my alarm going off in my ear and got up promptly, the first day of school jitters running through my body. I jumped in the shower, making sure to pin up my hair and not get it wet. Then I woke up Ella and told her to hop in the shower as well. From her sullen, apprehensive behavior I knew she was feeling nervous as well. After my shower, I slid into my underwear and put on gray tights, then I donned my skirt, buttoned up my white blouse, and put on my gray blazer. I ran a brush through my hair, satisfied with the beach waves left in my hair from my hairdo the night before. It was better than the normal curls, more passive.
I went back to Ella’s room and pulled out her uniform jumper, white blouse, powder blue tights, and powder blue cardigan.
“Your uniform is on the bed, poppet,” I called to her in the shower as I began applying my makeup. I was going for a much more subdued, natural look today.
“My belly doesn’t feel good today,” Ella complained as she got out of the shower.
I looked over at her sympathetically. “I know sweetie, it’s the butterflies, I have them too, but I bet you are going to have a great day and meet so many new friends.”
“Are any of my new friends going to be able to do neat tricks too?” Ella asked hopefully.
It took a moment to comprehend what she meant. “I don’t know sweetie but remember, you shouldn’t share your gift yet.”
“Okay,” she looked glum.
I knew she thought this new gift of hers was amazing and wanted to share it with everyone and anyone. She didn’t comprehend yet that we had to be careful how to proceed with her because even though Will was the founder of the school, he still suspected he had some nefarious individuals working there. He was beginning to suspect dissension in his ranks. Thus, the reason why if I was pushed to produce my gift I was to focus on my gift of compulsion and nothing else. I would have to work on pyrokinesis and my empath gift at home.
My gift of compulsion was considered a powerful one, so no one would ever imagine I had more hidden gifts. I was an anomaly, at least Will believed I was.