as a group of teenagers swarmed into the pristine foyer,

pensive prep school uniform was deliberately rumpled, his tie hanging l

to the polished marble floor. The loud, d

g their bags and laughing loudly, completely

timately through Leo's. She cast a sneering, h

tentionally raising her voice to ensu

at happens when you buy a new trophy wife to live off your

ooke's mean-girl archetype. It was the exact same venomous e

early enjoyed the blatant disrespect d

ough her nose. She decided not to hide in the shadows. She need

The sharp click of her low heels d

An awkward, suffocatingly tense silence fell ov

She crossed her arms loosely over her cashmere

ice was smooth like glass, entirely devoid of the anger

yone. Please, make yourselves comfortable." She played the par

e was clearly frustrated that his attempt to publicly humilia

She pasted on a fake, overly sweet smile t

t name. "My parents are close friends with Julian. We summer in the Hamptons tog

g eye contact until Brooke nervously broke the gaze, shi

the girl constantly positioned her shoulders to physica

hly manipulative and viewed the billionaire

open expression, stepped out from behind

dly but incredibly awkward greeting to the inti

trying to be respectful but compl

uth. The word Ma'am hit her like a physical blow to the stomach,

y into her palms. She reminded herself she was technica

ace, nodding gracefully at Nate t

ated smoothly. "I'll have the kitchen

d to leave the teenagers to their devices an

d. She glanced back slightly and caught Leo glaring at her ba