Stolen Moments // Billie Eilish G!P

Chapter two

"So you lived in a mansion?"

Skye laughed. "God, no. We lived in the servants' quarters. The house was on a slope so from the front, it appeared to only be three stories. It was actually four. We lived on the first floor. So did Sandy. At the time, I didn't understand the perception of servants' quarters. But I was not allowed upstairs. Well, not at will. If they weren't having company and no guests were around, then Billie was allowed to have me up to her room. Provided, of course, that none of Billie's real friends were there. It wouldn't do to see the maid's daughter up there."

"My, what snobs," Lia said. "Are there people still like that?"

"What? People wedded to the separation of the classes?" Skye asked. "The O'Connells were old money," she said. "Maggie O'Connell followed every social rule. She was quite serious about their status in the community."

"I know you said town in LA had grown, but is it large enough to support one of your stores?"

"LA and the surrounding area has over a more of million people including the tourist. My fresh market concept should go over well there. The closest Whole Foods or other organic grocery is two hours away, in New York."

"This will be your fourth store?" Ken asked.

Skye nodded. "Yes. I still can't believe how successful we've been. But the big superstores, they only go into major cities. Even though our stores are much smaller, we can still offer organic produce, vegetarian and vegan options, bulk grains and beans." She had to stop herself, knowing she could talk forever about their business. "It's been a huge success in the smaller cities where we're their only option."

"You'll only be gone during the inception then? You're not planning on leaving the New York, are you?"

"No. I can't see myself ever living in LA again."

"So tell us more about Billie," Lia prompted. "You became fast friends, I imagine."

Skye nodded. "At first, her mother was horrified that she was slumming with the hired help. Of course, they had been so supportive when my dad was ill; they basically took my mother under their wings. I'm convinced that's the only reason I was allowed into Billie's life."

"I'm assuming you didn't go to school together?"

"Oh, no. We were in the same grade, but she went to the private school in town. We had no mutual friends at all. At first, we only played outside, or in the kitchen, or in my room. It was a while before she took me upstairs," she said. "I was twelve."

* * *

"Are you sure it's okay?"

Billie took her hand and tugged her up the stairs. "I want to show you my homework. You said you were good at math," she reminded her. "I promise I won't force you to play with my Barbie collection."

"Your mother might get mad," Skye said.

Actually, she had no idea if that was true or not. Mrs. O'Connell rarely made an appearance down in the kitchen, so Skye had only seen her a few times since they'd been living there.

"It's my room," Billie said, as if that made all the difference.

Once she pushed the door open to the main floor, Skye stood still, looking around in awe. Antique furniture, sculptures, huge paintings-all things she'd never seen before except on field trips.

"It's like a museum," she said quietly so as not to disturb the silence.

"Yes. A museum," Billie agreed.