Page 39 of Stay Toxic

I freeze.

He doesn’t mean that. He just doesn’t. Right? We’ve only been flirting. And there’s Ari.

Who he just told you he wasn’t seeing, remember?

But…he doesn’t like me, does he? I mean, I’m just me. Not thin or pretty or social enough for my own mother, so boring my boyfriend replaced me with a prettier blonde, generally happier around people than books.

And Sebastian is…everything. Charming, charismatic, popular, fucking gorgeous.

This makes no sense.

Given my history, my mind supplies he must be after the fortune I’m supposed to inherit in three years, except he’s here, in this damn palace right now, surrounded by more love and luxuries than I’ve ever known. I have a choker around my throat worth a fucking fortune that belongs to his family. He doesn’t need my money, even if I have a fair deal more than him. And I don’t even get the feelings he wants it.

Back to the simple fact that this makes no fucking sense.

The Kellers are still talking while I’m having my existential crisis.

Augustus rolls his eyes, looking remarkably like his son. “If I survived a three-syllable name, so will you. It’s a pleasure, Tia.”

“Hestia, Mina and Augustus Keller, the disgustingly lovely couple I warned you about.”

And I can tell he was honest. They’re warm, and enchanting. Mina takes my hands and smiles like we’ve known each other for years.

She leans in and whispers, “As someone once pursued by a Keller, let me warn you: it’s not worth running.”

She winks and hands me a crystal flute filled with bubbly.

I choke on a laugh as both parents move to the center of the room, to twirl at the sound of the low, slow instrumental music.

They’re just…unbelievable. This whole place feels like a damn fairy tale, so fucking far from my reality.

“Come on, pervert. Let’s dance.”

16

Six months ago

A very different gala

I’m hiding, as I usually do at parties. The house my father built when he moved to New Mexico might be relatively new, but he set it up like an ancient mansion, with nooks and crannies behind every door. I like to think he did it to get away from Mother.

I made an appearance, as expected, and stayed long enough to toast and be photographed smiling and waving, letting my mother squeeze me into a hug and Robert grope my ass. Barf. But now everyone’s suitably drunk and I can get a moment of peace with a good book until the toast to Senator Cole’s reelection.

I chose my father’s study because it’s on the ground floor, close enough for me to still hear what’s going on at the party. There’s a nice seat on the windowsill, hidden by curtains, so the bodyguards can’t spot me if they do a quick sweep. Not to mention, no one else comes here.

At least, usually they don’t.

I hear the door fly open, and giggles soon follow, then a deep moan.

I roll my eyes. There are always couples finding empty rooms at this kind of party, but typically they make their way upstairs to get a bed. These two are happy with a hard desk, apparently.

“Robert,” I hear the girl squeal. “Don’t be so rough.”

Robert? That does catch my attention. It’s a common enough name—I’m sure there’s at least a couple different ones at the party, but one of them happen to be my boyfriend. And soon-to-be fiancé. Mother says I have to marry him. I suppose it could be worse. He’s my age, handsome enough, smart, well educated… I don’t think I love him, but I don’t dislike him either. Some of my friends from my old academy had to marry complete brutes, or guys much older than we are. I’m lucky.

Besides, unlike me he’s actually interested in Cole Industries, so when my uncle retires, he can take over, leaving me to my interests. Which willnotbe commercial law, or politics, or anything my mother’s planning for me. The moment I’m married, I inherit my share of Cole Industries. She will no longer be able to dictate my fate.

Robert wants us to get married soon, and maybe I should give in. My great-grandfather’s will, still in effect as my grandfather isn’t dead, stipulates that a female Cole can inherit her share of the company at age twenty-five or when she ties the knot, whichever comes first.