Chapter 51
Debt Reduction
Sara
I duck into the restroom while Finn waits outside the door for me. I want to fix my makeup and make sure there’s no evidence of our little excursion. Luckily, the ballroom is changing into a dance floor. People are up and wandering around, so our entrance should be less noticeable.
Dinner must be over and all that’s left is dancing until we want to leave, which may be sooner than later. I know I’d love this night to end. At least this portion. I’m not looking forward to talking to Verity or Olivia.
When I step out of the stall, I walk to the mirror to wash my hands and check my makeup.
“Oh joy, and here I thought I sent you running home like last time.”
My shoulders tense at Verity’s voice. She walks up to the sink next to mine and washes her hands.
“I’m not naive about you anymore,” I say to her reflection. “Before, I thought you were my friend.”
She laughs. “You were so easy. Little Miss Popular with her hot older brother and his equally hot friends. It didn’t take much to get you to let me in.”
My heart skips a little. “I didn’t have a good sense of what a viper you were.”
“People are such sheep. All anyone wants is to belong.” She smirks and turns to me while her fingers toy with her necklace. “At first, people didn’t want to believe me about you. Not Sara. But it was so easy to misconstrue your actions and lead them down the path toward your ruin.”
“Congratulations.” I draw in a breath. I’m not that green little eighteen-year-old anymore. “But none of this will end well for you.”
She arches an eyebrow like she doesn’t care about what I’m going to say. To be honest, she probably won’t, but I need to say it.
“This whole thing of dragging other people down? Eventually, someone will turn on you the way you turn on everyone else. Then you’ll be the one who doesn’t have any friends left.”
“Like I need friends. Whiny bitches, all of them.” She steps closer.
Her cloying floral perfume fills my senses, making me want to vomit. I hope that doesn’t cling to Wyatt… or maybe I do. When I fuck him, it will be like giving this bitch the middle finger.
She smirks. “I need a rich husband, not a band of skanks. Don’t think I didn’t see how close you are with Madison Harris.”
My eyes narrow on her. Yeah, she can talk shit about me, but don’t come after my friends.
“She thinks she’s so high and mighty because she got Cooper Graham to give it to her with his friends.” She shakes her head. “I didn’t think you could go any lower, but damn, Sara, find some self-respec—”
I slap her. I don’t know who’s more surprised, me or her. My hand stings.
Her hand covers her cheek. “Did you just—”
I do it again and growl. “You don’t deserve to even speak her name. You don’t deserve any of this.”
She grabs my wrist before I can slap her again.
“Your brother obviously thinks differently. He set me up with the love of your life. You better believe I’d take the one guy you can never have but always wanted.
I don’t give a shit that his family is questionable at best. Or the rumors that swirl around him. ”
She leans in close until I can almost see the black flecks in her blue eyes. “I’d take him just so you never could.”
I laugh in her face. She pulls back, startled by my reaction.
“Fuck, Verity. Try some original shit instead of the same old, same old. You fucked any boyfriend I had, but I didn’t give a shit about them and you knew that.
” I step in closer and drop my pleasant expression, letting her see that darkness she created in me all those years ago.
“The thing is, Wyatt would never go for someone like you, because you’re weak and plastic. ”
Verity laughs darkly. “We know he won’t go for you, Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes. I’ve heard he likes to fuck. Or is that too much for your delicate sensibilities?”
She glances down at my dress. “You might dress like you’re a slut, Sara, but everyone knows you’re the biggest prude in that room.
” She gestures with her head toward the door and squeezes my wrist. I ignore the pain.
“No one wants to fuck the prized princess. They want to own her and control her, but no one wants to rail her. Enjoy your sorry little life while I go fuck the man you want.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
We both turn to see Nancy in the doorway. She shakes her head.
Verity releases me and steps back. Her mask falls over her face as she turns to Nancy. I just roll my eyes, waiting to hear what bullshit she’s going to spin for someone else.
“She slapped me.” Verity literally has tears in her eyes as she touches her red cheek. “I only wanted to tell her that Wyatt is my date tonight. She used to stalk him, and I was afraid she might still be trying to get to him.”
Nancy shakes her head. “You think I didn’t hear everything you told her?”
“Nancy, Nancy, Nancy.” Verity straightens and the tears dry up. She walks over to Nancy and touches her hair. “Girls like us have to stick together. It would be a shame if your debut got cut short.”
Nancy laughs. “Does that work on anyone? Because you don’t know me, but I’m not a follower.” She looks Verity up and down. “I went to an all-girls school. Do you think I don’t know a queen bee wannabe when I see one? You couldn’t tempt me to share a meal with you, let alone side with you.”
Verity’s eyes narrow and I want to tell Nancy she doesn’t have to do this. But when I open my mouth, Nancy looks at me and shakes her head. She wants this.
“You don’t know who you are fucking with,” Verity says softly.
“Oh, I know you. I’ve known dozens of you.” Nancy steps back and gives Verity a disdainful once-over. “You think the only way to get to the top is to put others down. Sara must have been a hard one to take down. She’s nice and thoughtful and even your conniving ways didn’t take that from her.”
Nancy steps in again, puts her hand around the front of Verity’s neck, and tips her chin up so their eyes can meet. Verity swallows.
“Pretty girls like you who use your sex appeal like a weapon always did it for me in high school. Now, not so much. So, here’s what’s going to happen.
” Nancy smooths her thumb down Verity’s neck as she cocks her head to the side.
“You’re going to do your best to stay away from Sara tonight, or one of my dear friends will make sure you regret ever stepping foot in a room with her again. ”
Nancy releases her and smirks. “I went to Holy Oaks School for Girls. I was very popular with the girls there. So, think twice before messing with either of us.”
Verity’s eyes widen and she goes pale. A lot of society girls went to that particular all-girls school. And most of them are the ones Verity now claims as friends.
“Now go, before I slap you myself.” Nancy steps out of the way of the door.
Verity narrows her eyes on me before she walks out of the bathroom. Nancy releases a breath.
“Are you okay?” She steps closer. A concerned look on her face.
“Do you know what you just did?” I whisper.
“Stood up for a new friend. By the way, call me Nan. I swear my parents were drunk when they named me after my grandmother. Nancy.” She shakes her head and looks me over. “You good or do you need a minute?”
I draw in a breath, filling my lungs with air and releasing it, feeling so much lighter. Verity will still try to undermine me and make me the villain, but right now, I stood up to my bully and it felt great.
“I’m good.”
Nan smiles and sighs. “You don’t happen to be into girls, are you?”
I laugh. “No, definitely not. But Kayla is.”
“Good to know.” Nan smiles. “Let’s go dance.”
When we step out of the bathroom, the lighting is dimmer and there’s a quartet of strings playing what sounds like Frank Sinatra.
“Maybe we’ll wait for the DJ.” Nan shrugs and heads toward our table.
Verity stands there with her arm wrapped around Wyatt’s. It makes me hesitate. I draw in another breath and release it. She can cling to him all she wants. He’s going home with me. Finn watches me as I walk toward the table.
Olivia is talking to Dante and him, but she doesn’t notice I’ve drawn Finn’s attention. He sips his drink and gives me a private smile that makes the blood rush through me. Dante follows Finn’s gaze to me and the swarm of butterflies inside me doubles.
“Excuse me.” A gentleman’s voice startles me.
When I turn, the man from the jewelry store is standing next to me.
“As beautiful as I imagined. You wear the diamonds well.” He smiles and holds his hand out to me. “I’m afraid I’ve lost my manners. Peter Sokolov. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sara Morris.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you.” Years of training make me automatically give him my hand. He turns it and brings my knuckles to his lips for a brief kiss.
I draw my hand away and glance toward the table again. Wyatt’s eyes are on me. A shiver rakes through me at his intensity. I can’t find where Drew is, but he’s probably talking to a colleague.
“I’m sorry if I shocked you earlier.” Peter’s voice is low and easy like he’s trying to sooth a stray animal.
I return my gaze to his and touch the necklace at my throat. “This was too much. I need to repay you.”
When he smiles, if I were into older men, I could see how this one would be a catch. “Would you allow me a dance?”
He holds his hand out to me and I swallow. Nan is now next to Dante. All their eyes are on me. This is a safe space to find out why he bought me diamonds. I take Peter’s hand and allow him to draw me onto the dance floor. A slow song plays, and he moves me into position for a waltz.
His hand lightly grazes my bare back as he takes my hand. We easily move around the dance floor in time to the music.
“I’m sorry, but should I know you?” I have to ask. He knows my name. He bought me a ridiculously expensive necklace. And he’s here at the fundraiser I’m attending. It’s too much to be a coincidence.
“I know your brother.” He spins me around, holding me firmly before settling back into the slow cadence.
“You know Tom?” I didn’t miss that his last name is the same as the woman Tom was supposed to bring. Verity’s supposed best friend.
He smiles like he knows all my secrets. “He works for me.”
I swallow as a little trickle of fear runs through me. Is this one of the new clients? Do the others recognize him? Does Drew, from his club?
I smile even as my heart sinks like a rock into my stomach. Is he the one looking for Tom?
“I have a daughter about your age,” Peter says softly. “I married young and lost my wife several years ago. But Natasha is my pride and joy. You don’t have children yet, do you?”
I shake my head. “Was Natasha supposed to be here tonight?”
He chuckles and pulls me in a little tighter, but not inappropriately so. “She’s wandered off. That’s what my little girl likes to do. Worries me so, but she has that lust for life in her veins. So much like her mother.”
There’s a sharpness to his words that I almost miss. “Is that why you wanted to talk to me?”
“I have your attention, don’t I?” His eyes sparkle. “We should have met ages ago, but you have some pretty fierce friends. It’s hard to find you… alone.”
My stomach turns, but he still appears friendly. “I’m not sure what you want me to say to that. You must let me repay you for the necklace. I can send the funds to your bank account.”
The song ends and he steps away, drawing my hand up to his lips to press a kiss on my knuckles.
“We’ll speak again, Sara.” His eyes flash over my shoulder as he leaves me there on the dance floor.
A hand touches my hip. I turn to find Drew behind me.
He cups my cheek and looks over my shoulder, but the crowd has swallowed Peter whole. “You’re pale. Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes, just…” I glance toward where Peter disappeared. “That was the man who bought my necklace.”
Drew draws me into his arms as the music starts playing again. Being in his arms for a waltz feels entirely different than Peter’s arms. It’s safe here, and my heartbeat pounds for a different reason.
“Did he say why he bought it?” Drew’s warm fingers splay on my bare back, sending a rush through me.
I shake my head. “He knows Tom.”
“Does he?” Drew turns me so he can look in the direction Peter disappeared.
“Do you know him? His name is Peter Sokolov.” I tip my head to the side, trying to read Drew. He’s usually so open with me.
Drew smiles and slides his hand lower on my back. “The name sounds familiar, but I know a lot of men, both good and bad.”
He’s hedging. Why is he hedging?
“I should talk to Dante.” I take a step back but Drew follows me.
“After our dance, princess.” Drew leans in to my ear. “What did you and Finn get up to?”
His warm breath stirs the desire that’s always near the surface with any of them.
“He fucked me in a gallery.” I press my mouth against his ear. “Why are you changing the subject?”
“I’m not.” He draws back and his dark eyes search mine. “I just wish I could have watched you. You’re beautiful when you come all over our cocks, princess. I hate that I miss it most days.”
I bite my lip. This situation is unique. Between my safety and the others, it makes sense to always stay at the apartment. But it also means I don’t get a lot of alone time with Drew.
“We could go back and enjoy your play room more.”
The tips of Drew’s fingers slide beneath the back of my dress. I suck a breath in.
“Would you like that?” Drew presses a kiss below my ear. “Us to take you back to my place. Strip you naked and use this delightful body however we want. All night long.”
I whimper at the heat building inside me from his words.
His dark chuckle sends a scattering of sparks throughout me. “I live to please you, princess. Whatever you want tonight. However you want. Your wish is my command.”