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“Briar, if I’d wanted the man, I could have had him,” she said, her voice heavy with condescension and utter surety. But then, she always had complete confidence in her own appeal. She’d likely never forgive Trace for making her doubt it, just as she’d never forgive my dads for delivering that same blow.
“Tell me you will not allow him to touch you again,” she added. Well, instructed. “I won’t have him using you to get to me.”
I sighed. “Why does it have to be about you? Maybe he’s quite simply attracted to me. Can that not possibly be the case?”
Seconds of silence ticked by. “You will turn down any further advances he makes.”
I bristled. “I’ll do as I fucking please, Alondra.” The woman had no right to bark orders at me when she’d never been an authority figure in my life.
“We’ll talk more about this when you’re in LA.”
“No, we won’t,” I told her, but she’d already hung up.
I cursed, tossing my phone on the sofa cushion beside me. A common thought floated around my brain …That woman is a pain in my ass.
Chapter Three
Leaning into me, Zhen nervously tugged at his shirt collar. “Let’s play it cool,” he said, his voice low. “Like we’re around celebrities all the time.”
I frowned. “We are. You’ve met plenty since becoming my apprentice.”
“Not this many at one time.” He subtly glanced at the long line of people behind us. Other guests were in front of us, slowly moving up the steps toward the massive mansion. “They’re, like,everywhere.All my heroes and crushes in one place.I feel like I shouldn’t be here. Like I don’t belong.”
“That’s a load of shit. They’re not gods, Zhen. They’re just people.”
Finally, we entered the mansion. The familiar scents of furniture polish, fresh flowers, and essential oils that seemed to mark the house washed over me. As much as this place had been my second home for most of my life, I nonetheless wasn’t hit by a warm, fuzzy feeling of nostalgia. Mostly because I hadn’t been happy here.
I spotted my mother in the middle of the foyer, greeting each guest as they entered. She looked as breath-taking as always in a red lace dress, practically lathered in bling, with her bright blonde hair pinned up in an elaborate do.
No one could ever say that Alondra Vickers didn’t make an impact.
Zhen puffed out a breath and put a hand to his stomach. “I’m not feeling too good all of a sudden.”
I briefly squeezed his free hand. “You’ll be fine.” My heels click-clacked as we glided along the foyer’s marble flooring, and then we reached my mother.
Alondra gripped my hands, a wide smile on her face. She took in my black, strapless silk dress and nodded her approval. “Darling, you look fabulous.”
“As do you,” I said.
Visibly pleased by the compliment, she gestured at the man at her side. “You remember Brent, I’m sure.”
It was hard to forget a man who I’d once found banging my mom in a Jacuzzi. He was often her date at such events, though they had a weak, on-and-off relationship. Which was due to how, though she generallylikedthat she could so easily manipulate him, there were times when having a puppet bored her and so she sought sexual entertainment elsewhere.
“I remember,” I said. “It’s nice to see you again, Brent.”
He inclined his head, his mouth curved. “Same to you, Briar.”
I gestured at the nervous wreck beside me. “This is my guest, Zhen.”
Alondra glanced from me to him. “And how long have you two been an item?”
“Oh no,” Zhen practically coughed out. “I’m just her apprentice.”
“Ah. Shame.” She paused. “I have more guests to greet. Go mingle, convince people to part with their money for the charity. You and I will catch up later, Briar, and … talk.”
The latter word carried a warning, and I knew she meant to bring up the subject of Trace again. Ugh.
I slipped my arm through Zhen’s, worried he’d otherwise bolt. “Let’s go grab a drink.”
