Empire High Elite (Empire High #2) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,119
How sorry he was. But this wasn’t his fault. None of this was his fault.
“Tick tock,” Isabella said. “Only one minute left. What are you going to do?”
It wasn’t a choice. I couldn’t let Isabella kill my best friend. I couldn’t let her out Donnelley. I couldn’t even let her blow up her evil dog.
I picked up the map.
“Good girl. And don’t worry. I’ll take great care of Matt. Now disappear, trash goblin.”
I pulled the map to my chest. I wanted something to come to me that would help me out of this mess. Something clever. But all I could think about was that I had to run. I had to save them.
A gust of wind made goosebumps rise all over my skin. The map blew out of my hands. I tried to grab it, but my feet slipped in a puddle. I fell to my knees, the water splashing all over me.
Isabella laughed.
I looked down at myself sitting in the puddle and I hated that I saw what Isabella saw. Trash. I couldn’t think of a clever way out of this because I wasn’t a scholarship student at Empire High. I was the janitor’s niece. I never belonged here. All I’d done was broken the Caldwells and Hunters lifelong friendship, put my best friend’s life in jeopardy, and ruined the last few months of my uncle’s life. I’d been trying not to think about the last few months, but as soon as I did, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It didn’t matter that Uncle Jim had reassured me otherwise. He still could have been doing anything in the world, but he gave up everything for me. And why? I stared at my hands in the muddy puddle. I was trash.
“Oh, and Sissy?”
I didn’t turn to look at her. I didn’t want her to see the tears streaming down my face. I didn’t want her to know exactly how much she had won.
“If you ever come back to NYC, I’ll shoot you in the face.”
How had it come to this? Yes, I’d made mistakes, but I wasn’t trash. It was just like Matt had said. Even people who made mistakes were allowed to be happy. I didn’t want to have to leave without telling him that he was right. Right about that. Right about us. A sob escaped my throat.
Isabella’s laughter pierced the autumn night.
And it was like the sound of it shook me out of my trance. Isabella was a monster. But I was half Pruitt. That meant that I was half monster too. It was in me somewhere. I knew it was.
I took a deep breath and stood up. I tried to hide the fact that my body was shaking from the cold. I put one foot in front of the other, ignoring the pavement tearing at the soles of my feet. And I tried to keep my head held high even though her laughter tried it’s best to cut me down.
I’d make it look like I was leaving NYC. But Isabella wasn’t the queen. And I refused to bow down to her. As soon as I was sure Kennedy was safe, I’d be back. I would never let Isabella win. I would never let her break my spirit. I would never let her hurt me like this again. I would never let her torture Matt. Nunca.
* * *
Thank you for reading Empire High Elite! I have good news and bad news:
The bad news is that Book 3 doesn’t come out until January.
But the good news is that you can find out what Matt was thinking when he first met Brooklyn! CLICK HERE to get your free copy of Matt’s point-of-view in Matthew Caldwell - The Untouchable.
The Untouchables. That’s what everyone called us. The nickname had followed us around since we were kids. I wasn’t sure who started it, but the premise behind it was simple. My friends and I could get away with murder. Literally. That’s what happens when your parents own the two biggest companies in Manhattan.
We were untouchable. And I was…sick of it. I was sick of the lies and the secrets. I was sick of the pedestal we had to stand on. And I was sick of the girls throwing themselves at my feet like I was some sort of god. I was tired of being untouchable. Especially when all I wanted was someone who would never belong in my world…
CLICK HERE to get your free copy!
Temptation
Matthew Caldwell isn’t the only Untouchable with his own story! When James Hunter grows up, he gives up his billionaire lifestyle in NYC to become a professor. But he never expected to be teaching such a beautiful student. He has to resist her. He needs to walk away. Penny deserves better than a man with his demons. But she’s daring him to cross the line. And he’s never been one to resist temptation.
*Temptation does NOT contain any spoilers about Matt & Brooklyn!*
CLICK HERE to keep reading about the Untouchables!
Shy student Penny Taylor always follows the rules. At least, that’s how it appears to her classmates. But she has one illicit secret – she’s fallen hard for her professor. And she’s pretty sure he’s fallen for her too.
Everyone loves Professor Hunter. He’s tall, dark, and handsome. And completely unobtainable. But it’s the secrets hiding behind his deep brown eyes that allures Penny. Secrets darker than she could ever imagine.
James Hunter gave up his billionaire lifestyle in NYC last year to become a professor. The easiest new rule to follow: don’t fraternize with the students. It’s easy to follow because he’s become quite the recluse in his new town – the only way he knows how to keep his secrets buried.
But he never expected to be teaching such a beautiful student. He has to resist her. He needs to walk away. Penny deserves better than a man with his demons. But she’s daring him to cross the line. And he’s never been one to resist temptation.
CLICK HERE to start reading in Kindle Unlimited!
A Note From Ivy
I know what everyone’s wondering - why is Brooklyn never mentioned again in The Hunted universe? And why is Matt single? Is this the answer? Maybe? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!
I know, I know…I’m pure evil. And another cliffhanger? Seriously, Ivy? But I promise all will become clear soon. Afterall…this is Matt’s story. I’m not sure I ever said it was Brooklyn’s…
But I have another quick story for you right here right now. It’s about my dedication for this book. Growing up I was terribly shy. I always tell my husband that I had an awkward stage between kindergarten and 12th grade. 100% accurate. And with a voice too shy to speak up for myself…it wasn’t a great combination. So it was easy for me to write Brooklyn’s character because as a little girl, I’d been through some of her struggles. Yes, Empire High is all about love, friendship, and betrayal. But it’s also a story about bullying.
And the ironic part? While advertising book one of this series, I posted some pictures and videos of myself. Do you know what happened? Tons of comments telling me my hair looked terrible, that color looked bad on me, I should stick to writing and not be put in front of a camera. People laughing. Calling me names. Pointing at me. Hateful comments about my body to hateful comments about me as a person.
But guess what? I’m not that same little girl anymore. I’ve spent the years since school focusing on believing in myself. Several years ago, if I’d read one of those comments I would have burst into tears. But seeing them now? I refuse to let people like that affect how I feel about myself. I will not let others shame me into silence. Even if their voices are louder than my own.
For all those people out there that have had to endure comments like that: Ignore the haters. Shake it off. Other peoples’ opinions do not reflect who you are. There’s no room for people like that in our lives. You are loved. You are brave. You are better than the trolls of this world.
And to all those hateful people out there like Isabella: I hope you one day find peace in a world that is too forgiving for you. Later, Wizzy.
P.S. Thank you to all the people that defended me. The Smoaksters will always bring each other up instead of tearing each other down.
Ivy Smoak
Wilmington, DE
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