m

windows I had forgotten to close. For a moment, I lay there, takin

heavy on my finger-a constant rem

h a text from Jace:

morous. I slept alone in a r

he responded with

ed at my door. Ms. Chen entered without

ereux," she said crispl

ling the blankets around me.

x, you have responsibilities. The first being a breakfast me

I ran a hand through my tangled hair. "

inutes." She placed the tablet on my bedside table. "Your complete schedule i

ng the day's agenda with growing disbelief. Breakfast with board wives. Lunch with Devereux Foundation

be window dressing at important events, not to have m

t a message to Lucien: Did yo

antly: Yes. Part of the deal.

ery day? I

nt ones. Vincent

h, I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. If I was going to fa

t more than a month's rent at my old apartment. I dressed quickly, did my makeup, and swept my hair in

o myself, grabbing my purse

the door of a sleek black car. "Good morning

to my ears. "Good morning," I re

re made months in advance and the prices weren't listed on the menu. As I walked in, a group of impeccably d

recognize Marguerite Devereux, Lucien's aunt. Today she wore a crisp white suit that set

confidence I didn't feel.

air and a pearl necklace. "I'm Eleanor Blackw

n who had navigated the waters of New York high society for decades. I did my best to rem

uerite said, gesturing for me to sit beside her.

I lied, accepting a cup of

"The Children's Hospital has been a D

uction items, and the guest list. I nodded in all the right places, listening c

aid, "everyone's curious about Lucien's mysterious

sked, trying to ke

ble bachelor, suddenly married a complete unknown

mile with one of my own. "I'm sure it's

sked another woman, l

hrough mutual friends," I said smoothly. "We

with no social connections

in, her voice sharp. "That's

ver the table. I took a sip of

orld. I don't have the right connections or background. But

said, my dear. Now, about the

d questions. By the time I escaped to the car for my next appointme

the driver asked as h

aning back against the leath

than my background. I spoke about my interest in education for underprivileged children, drawing on my own experiences gr

lder man named Howard as we parted.

nother collection of wealthy women who seemed to have unlimited time for social events. Thi

the constant performance. I kicked off my heels in the foyer,

?" a deep

the doorway to the living room, jacket off,

ng to hide my irritation. "Three social events

ning a hand through his hair. "J

? Like I'm some

hed. "Welcome to my world, Am

anything else I should know about? Any o

urning serious. "It's important. The board will be

e?" I s

ged for a car to take you to the dress

pectedly helpful," I sai

s eyes. "Marguerite has h

Lucien? Besides keeping

unreadable. "Get some rest before your fitting,

sappearing down the hallway to his office. I watched him go

n-a stunning emerald green silk that complemented my olive skin and dark hair

But you need to work on your con

meeting her gaze in the mirror. "I ju

Never show vulnerability." She adjusted a pin in the dress. "

hat you di

to this family when I was younger than you. I learn

're helping me? Beca

ealizes it or not." She stepped back, examining the dre

. Inside was a velvet jewelry box containing a pair of emerald earrings

s, wondering about the gesture. Was it pa

cial marathon. But my dreams were restless, filled with faceless