ong oak table stretched across the room, draped in hea

absolute power-directly between her fat

her heavy, carved chair, she let the wooden legs drag against the

ghosts, pouring deep red Domaine de

led the blood-red wine, her eyes fix

tness that shattered the quiet of the room. "Tell us, what private academy di

ilent. The clinking

hook as she reached out, ready to reprimand

over her mother's trembling fingers, giving them a firm, rea

ooked directly into Vivian's eyes, her g

smooth and slightly bored. "I attended the public high sch

l gasp. She slapped a hand over

Elayne, Curtiss, you realize this is a disaster. If the Manhattan social circle finds out

napkin onto the table. "

ers approached, carrying silver platters. They set down the first appetiz

ross her face. Escargot required highly specific etiquette and specialized tools. A girl f

n't even lo

gers bypassed the standard forks and picked up

t shell, securing it perfectly without a millimeter of slip. With

ic

tal didn't scrape. The shell didn't slip. She brought the fork t

ized every single step. Now, just execute, she thought. To the rest of the table, the execution appeared absolutely flawle

nished. Her jaw l

o hard she dropped her own fork. It hit the po

und pride. He didn't ask how she

ners of her mouth with slow, deliberate grace

ne laced with ice. "Do you think the cafeteri

r mouth, but no sound came out. She grabbed her water glass and

Beth slammed the base of

rtment will release an official statement to the press. Next week, we host a gala

ked down at their lap

He picked up his glass of wine. His dark eyes burned into

e raised his glass towa