Page 1 of The Other Half

CHAPTER ONE

Cassandra

The music pounded, and I closed my eyes, letting the bass pulse through me while I moved to the sound. Even though I shared the dance floor with a hundred other people, I felt totally alone while the tunes thumped and the floor beneath me vibrated from the dancing crowd. Enjoying the solitude in a sea of people, I forced the weight of my problems off my shoulders and let the music transport me away. The DJ worked his magic once more, and the crowd roared their approval, but my eyes remained shut against the din.

“Cassandra!”

Though I heard Liza calling my name, I ignored her, remaining in the bubble I slipped away to each night I hit the clubs and danced.

“Cassandra!” Liza shouted with more force, and my eyes snapped open when she gripped my arm.

“What?” Turning to see her, I shouted over the loud music.

“Donovan is looking for you!” she yelled into my ear, trying to win out over the music.

“I’ll find him later!” The irritation in my voice didn’t go unnoticed, and she widened her eyes in response.

“He’s looking for you now! Come on!” With her tugging on my arm, I groaned and followed behind, reluctant to leave my prime spot in front of the DJ. The crowd swallowed up the space I’d abandoned and I knew it would take an hour to push my way back in.

Leaning up into her ear while we pushed through the people, I moaned my displeasure. “Couldn’t he have waited five more minutes? That was my favorite song!”

She grinned over her sequin-covered shoulder. The gold dress she wore tonight was the one we’d picked up in Milan last week. “He’s got a surprise for you!”

A surprise. Knowing my boyfriend, Donovan, I knew exactly what that surprise would be, and it wasn’t interesting enough to pull me off the dance floor. At least not tonight.

Liza lead the way up the stairs and past the bouncers guarding the VIP area. With only one look at me, they stepped out of the way. One of the many perks about life as a New York City socialite... my face worked like a magic key and opened any door or rope that shut out the rest of the world.

“Cassandra! Over here!” Donovan called, and I scanned the glass tables and velvet booths filled with people I partied with every night. There he sat in the center of our posse with his blond hair brushed back in a swoop and that new Armani suit making him look as stylish as ever. Jessica, James, and Richie sat around him. Besides Liza, Donovan, and I, they were the other half of our group. The papers called us “The Six-Pack” and they loved chronicling our wild jet-setting adventures.

“Come on, Cassandra! Liza! Hurry!” Jessica waved, and her vodka slid over the lip of her martini glass.

“Coming!” Liza called, and she quickened our pace through the VIP area. Only the most elite of our society were allowed up here, and they all greeted me with a nod as I meandered through them.

“Hey, Cassandra. Hot shoes,” Becky said as I passed by.

“Thanks, Becky. Love the new Louis.”

“Thanks, babe!” She swept her hand over the newest purse not yet released to the masses.

“Cassandra! Hurry up!” Donovan called again, and I hurried behind Liza until we arrived at his table. “Baby, I was waiting for you!”

“Sorry, I was dancing,” I answered, and he responded by yanking me down into his lap.

“My little dancing queen.”

“That I am,” I answered after he planted a kiss on my lips. Dancing was my solace, my escape, and it still irritated me that they’d ripped me away from it.

“I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“Do you, now?”

With the wave of his hand he gestured to the glass table in the center of our group. There, between the half-empty cocktails, purses, and cell phones was an assortment of pills.

“Your choice, baby.” His brown eyes danced with excitement and he investigated mine, waiting for my reaction.

“Not tonight, Donovan,” I said, brushing a stray piece of golden hair from his face and pressing my lips to his, hoping it would distract him.

Breaking our kiss, he leaned back and scrunched up his brow. “Come on, Cassandra! Don’t be a party pooper.”