Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“What are you doing out taking a walk at”—she looked down at her wrist— “one in the morning? What would people say if they saw you? Really, Jasmine, appearance is more important now than ever.”
I shook my head, exhausted in general and more than done with this conversation that felt more like an interrogation. I wasn’t a kid anymore. It wasn’t like I had a curfew. “Why, Mom? Why is appearance so important?”
She huffed. “Well, I wasn’t going to bring it up until tomorrow because I know how you get, but I’ve arranged a very important brunch date tomorrow with one of my best friends. Her youngest son is a real prospect, honey. And since he’s not the eldest, he’s completely free to run VanDoren Enterprises.” She smiled and pressed her hands together. “Isn’t that wonderful?”
I could only gape at her. I’d ask her if she was fucking serious, except I knew she was. Dead serious.
“Now.” She made a shooing motion. “Go up to bed and get some beauty rest. You need to look your best for tomorrow. Here, I’ve got a sleeping pill you can take if you’re still having trouble sleeping.”
“God, Mom, no, I’ll be fine. I’m not going to take your sleeping pills.”
She harrumphed and turned away. “Well then, don’t complain when I demand to help with your makeup and concealer because I refuse to bring a daughter to a matchmaking brunch with dark circles under her eyes. I have a reputation in this town too, you know! And after what Sullivan did to me and this family’s name...” She gave one of her long-suffering sighs, and I felt a headache coming on.
“Okay, Mom,” I said, giving in like I always did. “I’ll go to sleep now and be up with bells on for brunch tomorrow.”
Climbing the stairs to my room felt like voluntarily walking back to my tower prison after a wild night of perfect freedom. Would I only ever have this single night of rebellion to look back on and cherish?
The thought was so terribly depressing as I got in bed and closed my eyes, I fell asleep to dreams of cotillions and stifling brunches… that eventually turned erotic and debauched as a certain Darlington bachelor appeared and told me what a naughty, naughty kitten I’d been and how I needed another spanking.
When I woke in the morning, I was completely twisted in the sheets, turned on beyond all reason, and still absolutely exhausted. I face-planted into my pillow, knowing without even looking in the mirror my mother would get to have a field day with the concealer after all.
Four hours of painful primping later…
“Oh good, Percy, I’m so glad you could make it down,” Mrs. St. Claire squealed as she clapped her hands together. “Remember how I told you the VanDorens might be attending our brunch this morning?” She skewered her son with the significant look all mothers in Darlington trying to play match-maker were so good at.
And I wanted to curl up and die in the ridiculous over-the-top evening gown I was wearing at eleven in the morning, sweating my ass off in it.
Because Percy—or Percival Reginald Jack St. Claire the Third as everyone knew him as because he made sure everyone knew it—was not only the brother of the man who’d fucked my brains out last night. But he’d also been a grade below me in school and unlike his oldest brother, was well-known to be an absolute prick.
While I was dressed to the nines, he was wearing boxers and an undershirt. And unlike the way I imagined Walker might fill out the same, it just made Percy look like the little boy he still was.
This was who my mother had brought me out to this dog and pony show for?
His mom motioned for him to take the seat beside me. “Join us.”
She gave Mr. St. Claire a quick smile as he too took his seat. I grabbed my water and took a sip. Then I tried not to choke when I remembered I’d seen this respectable man last night in a silver cloak… and nothing else.
I hadn’t been trying to look or anything. But he was a politician—and one of Darlington’s favorite sons. He’d had his arm over some much younger woman’s shoulder as he led her out of the room last night. And with his other hand he’d been twisting her nipp—
Mrs. St. Claire piped up again. “We were just discussing how Jasmine here will soon be taking over VanDoren Enterprises and what that all entails. It’s quite fascinating.”
I smiled my beauty pageant smile to cover my nerves and gave a little wave to Percy and Mr. St. Claire. Then felt immediately stupid because I didn’t give two shits if Percy knew anything about me. No wonder Mom hadn’t told me where we were coming before we got here. And Mr. St. Claire—well, he was part of the Order. The very ones who’d kicked Sully out of the Trials in the first place so he couldn’t inherit the company himself. Now I was supposed to bow and scrape before him?