All the World Read Online Free

“Hmm…maybe you and Braedon should start hanging out regularly,” Flora whispered playfully in Lexie’s ear as the guys left the bar. “Nickolas thinks very highly of him, and you two seemed to have hit it off.”
                  Lexie was spared answering by Johnny pushing his way through the two women.
    “Go home! I don’t serve kids here! I’ll call the police if you stand there any longer!” bellowed Johnny. “It’d please the sheriff to lock up a bunch of Rose boys!”
                  Lexie and Flora watched the group of laughing boys run off into the night as they left the Windsor Bar. From the smirks on the kids’ faces, Lexie could tell they would be back to pester Johnny very soon.
    The two friends were quiet on the way back to their apartment. Lexie reflected on all the tales she had heard that night. The town had a number of scandals. Who would have thought such a small place could have a corrupt government? Lexie had a feeling that there was much more to Vernon Hills than an old theatre and a collection of shops.

 
    Chapter Three: Flying with Wax Wings
                  Nails were being drilled into her forehead. It was the only explanation Lexie’s foggy mind could stumble on as the tapping grew louder and more frantic. She squeezed her eyes tighter and pressed a pillow over her face. However, the lack of oxygen and lingering taste of beer and tequila made her nauseous, so she removed the pillow and slowly pushed herself into a sitting position.
                  How much did I have to drink?
                  There were no nails or drills in sight. Someone was knocking at the apartment door, and sharp jolts went through Lexie’s head each time the person’s fist made contact with it. Judging by the force of the knocking, whoever it was had been there for a few minutes. Lexie thought the responsibility of answering the door belonged to Flora. No one in Vernon Hills would have any reason to visit her, especially since it was only—
                  Lexie had to do a double take at the clock. It was 11:00. Half the day had been wasted. Was Flora even home? Flora went to work at noon on Saturdays, and Lexie doubted a hangover would be a decent excuse to ask off.
                  Being a loyal friend, as Braedon had put it, Lexie dragged herself out of bed and down the hallway. She bumped into her apartment mate at the front door. Despite her sleepy eyes and weak smile, her friend looked like she had been up for a few hours and was prepared to leave for D.C. Flora unbolted the door.
                  The gloomy man from the café was waiting on the threshold. He looked, if possible, even more miserable than before. He spoke before Flora could say a word.
                  “It’s all over! The ownership papers are being signed today! The theatre will be torn down tomorrow! I got a call from Cesare Garland this morning. We never stood a chance at keeping it! Why I ever thought I could convince that man to use another location for his lab is a mystery. I’m not a hopeful person, so why was I so hopeful this time? And why so ambitious? I was Icarus soaring too high with wax wings not sturdy enough for such an aspiration.”
                  Flora gestured for him to enter. They went to the living room where the man collapsed in a chair and shook his head bitterly. “The deal will be signed!”
    Flora’s mouth fell open and her eyes widened. She ran a hand through her hair, gripping the blond locks at the back of her head. She paced for a few moments before halting in front of him.
                  “The papers can’t be signed, Pierre,” Flora said finally. “Cesare Garland agreed to meet with you and the employed actors before anything was done. You said the meeting is tomorrow.”
                  “Things changed after some comments were made at the bar last