allowed in or near the villa. Everyone on her security has been with her for at least five years and they’ve all passed background checks. The same for the staff in the house,” she said. “Remember why you’re there, Belle. Don’t let anything else distract you.”
“How can I not be distracted?” I rasped. “That text. He knows I left. Less than twelve hours after I left Bracknell, he knew. How did he know?”
“He doesn’t know where you are,” she said firmly. “And he will not find out. That is what matters. Now, you put this whole nasty business out of your mind. If you need anything or... if something happens, call us and we’ll be there faster than Jefferson can refuel the plane.”
“Okay.” For that brief moment I didn’t have it in me to be angry. “Thanks, Mom.”
“I love you, darling. We’ll talk soon?”
“Yes. Tomorrow. You’ll be back to Cecilia by then.”
To my surprise, she chuckled. “You can call me what you must as long as I get to hear your voice.”
And there she was. The mom I knew.
“Oh. Your father’s here. Say hi, dear.”
My smile vanished. “I have to get going.”
“Bel—”
I hung up.
Rescuing the rest of my makeup, I carried it into the bathroom and finished getting ready.
The villa was packed. I heard the chatter of friends walking past my door and the thumps of the person settling in above me. Downstairs the mixer/luau was kicking off with a buffet and dancing according to my information packet. Mrs. Desai was also kind enough to note the objective underneath.
Get to know each other in a relaxed, friendly environment.
They’re going to get to know me all right.
I swiped on my lipstick, did my hair up in a messy ponytail, and slipped into my white crochet top and matching skirt. Yes, I crocheted it myself. Yes, it was a bitch. But I wanted to learn and throwing myself into projects served as a great distraction. It would all work out if channeling everything I went through into design earned me the career I wanted. And the security that always felt out of reach.
Shaking away those thoughts, I gave myself one last look in the mirror and headed out. Music beckoned me from the staircase, leading me down and through a new hallway. Ahead of me, freshly minted graduates and coeds danced on the other side of the sliding glass door. I stepped out and dozens of pairs of eyes clapped on me.
Tiki torches and string lights cast a glow over the pool, veiling it in an almost romantic atmosphere. Couples took up lawn chaises. Friends sat on the rim kicking their feet in the water. Preston, Nathan, and Carter tossed a football on the lawn, laughing and yukking it up.
I landed on a group of girls staring particularly hard. “Does my reputation precede me?”
“It does, Belle Adler,” one of them said. “Come on. Grab a drink and join us.”
I shrugged. “Why not?”
The buffet table offered me a host of mocktails. I floundered between a Bahama Mama and a Fuzzless Navel, and then decided to get both of them.
“What are we talking about?” I asked, joining the group.
“You, of course.” The girl who invited me stuck out her hand, noticed my double-fisting predicament, and dropped it. “I’m Hazel. This is Nora, Mila, and Kelli.”
They were a cute bunch. Matching pink two-piece bathing suits under black kimonos. Shades propped on Hazel’s freckled nose and braids fell to Nora’s hips. Otherwise, they matched down to the same purple nail polish.
“Nice to meet you guys.”
“Why haven’t we met before?” asked Kelli. “You didn’t go to Blackburn?”
“Dad and the dame sent me to a local high school. I didn’t want to be too far away. Am I the only ‘new’ girl?”
“You’re definitely the most interesting,” Hazel said. “That speech you gave was hilarious.”
“Wasn’t meant to be comedic relief,” I muttered.
Kelli flapped a hand. “This whole thing seems weird if you’ve been outside of it, but how I look at it is a chance to snag Nathan Prince or Carter Knight for a summer of fun or a lifetime of it.” She pushed her breasts up, eyes drifting over my shoulder to the football game. “Either one sounds good to me.”
“It’s Preston I want,” Nora said. “He was a god on the soccer field. Sweaty and dripping like a mason jar filled with iced tea on a summer’s day.”
“Descriptive,” I said.
“You can lust after Preston all you want, but everyone knows he’s Delilah’s.” Hazel turned on me. “They’ve