Victor picked me up the next day after school.Neither of us mentioned swimming the night before, and I try not to think about the feel of his body against mine.“Alex told me it’s time for you to get more familiar with his business and the Wilson Foundation charities.” Victor smiled as he closed the car door.“Is that we’re going now?”“Yes,” Victor replied and walked around the car to get behind the steering wheel. “You’ve never been to his offices before, right?”I shook my head. “But I’ve been looking forward to it.”Victor handled the car just as well driving in the city as he did on the country roads, and before long, we were driving down a concrete ramp into a parking garage.“Is this Alex’s building?” I asked as we walked toward a bank of elevators.“Yes, it’s one of several buildings your father owns. Alex uses the top four floors of this one for his offices, and the penthouse is used when he occasionally wants to stay in the city.”“What about the rest of the building?” I di
As I entered the massive building on Victor’s arm, I discovered the library was as delightful to visit as the museum.Like the museum, it was near the city’s college campus, and I hardly ever came this far into the city's center.The library was one of the oldest buildings in the city and was built by true craftsmen. Everywhere there was detailed woodwork that delighted the eye, and the entire building smelled like books.Behind the librarian’s station, I spotted a painting secured in a glass case that drew my eye. I’d never seen the painting before, but the colors and style seemed familiar.Then I noticed the signature in the bottom corner. “Look, Victor,” I pointed at the painting. “It’s signed by Delacroix. The same artist must have painted it as the one at the Phillips mansion.”“You’re right,” he said. “My mother will be proud when I tell her you recognized his work.”“I have been constantly learning since I started my new life, which makes me feel lucky. So many new doors have o
To my surprise, Victor was right. Family dinners at the Klein’s home were not always formal affairs.Lana and Harry wore nice, but casual clothes, and Victor told me Lana had helped prepare the meal.“Cooking is a hobby of mine,” she explained as she removed an apron covering her skirt and blouse.“Do you like to cook, Daisy?” she asked as she took her seat at the table.“Sometimes,” I said. “I like to cook better than doing the dishes.”I wasn’t as uncomfortable as I thought I would be despite Victor and his father being lost in talk about business.Lana occasionally joined in. She seemed as knowledgeable as the men. She was an excellent role model.Best of all, my fears of ruining the dinner by doing something clumsy were laid to rest in the first ten minutes of the meal when Harry accidentally spilled his wine.Lana raised her eyebrows when he continued to discuss a new client of Victor’s as the wine spread across the linen tablecloth.Saunders appeared at his elbow with a dry clot
Amy wasn’t at our usual spot outside the school the next morning. I panicked, wondering if she made it home last night. I shouldn't have left her by herself at the library.But then I saw her standing with a small group of Beta girls a few yards away. I hurried over to talk to her.“How was the rest of your evening?” I asked. “Did you find Justin?”“He was on the second floor, doing some research in the microfiche room,” she replied.“Why didn’t he tell you he was going upstairs?”“He did, but I was so involved in looking for a book for his paper that I didn’t hear him tell me he was going up there.”“Well, I’m glad everything worked out for you. And I still want to meet Justin.”Amy looked me over. “Wow, why are you all dressed up today?”I didn’t think I was very dressed up. My skirt, top, and sandals came from Gisele’s, but the outfit wasn’t over the top for school.But I looked different because I had my contacts in and was wearing my hair in loose waves around my shoulders.“Vict
I was ready to go five minutes before Victor picked me up.Jennifer and I chose a floor-length skirt and a silk top with an illusion neckline. The top showed too much of my skin, so I paired it with a short, light jacket.My hair was in a braided updo, and I was wearing red lipstick for the first time. Jennifer said my overall look was classy and chic.My reflection in the mirror gave me a thrill and a confidence boost, but the young woman I saw looked too good to be me.Victor let out a little whistle when he saw me walk down the stairs. “Wow! You look amazing.”I blushed. “Thank you. Let me say good night to Alex, and I’ll be ready to go.”Alex told me to have a good time, and we were soon out the door.We climbed into the Lamborghini, and we were off for the latest art show at Mirage, the most successful and trendiest gallery in the city.“What do you know about the artist?” Victor asked.“Emily Miller is in her early thirties. She became an orphan when she was ten and was put in t
I was downstairs wearing a pastel green cocktail dress while I waited with Alex for Victor to arrive. I told Alex we needed to speak to him before we left for the ambassador’s party.When Benson showed Victor into the living room, Alex greeted him warmly.“How are you, Victor?” Alex asked. “Daisy tells me you have something you want to speak to me about.”Victor sat next to me on the couch. “I’d like you to announce our engagement as soon as possible. There are some individuals among the Alpha males who are pursuing your daughter for her inheritance.”Alex was quiet for a long moment. “I see,” he said. “Does this attention bother my daughter?”“Yes, I hate it,” I told him. “One of them trapped me in a bathroom at the Phillips’ ball and tried to kiss me.”Alex’s face grew pale. “And you think a formal announcement would help the situation?”“Yes,” Victor replied. “Daisy would be safer from these encounters, and I would have more authority to protect her as her official fiancé.”Alex ra
The dinner party to announce my engagement to Victor was an hour away.I was lying across my bed in my plush bathrobe after showering while Jennifer rummaged through my closet, searching for the perfect pair of shoes to go with the dress I chose to wear tonight.“What about this pair, Miss?” Jennifer asked.Before I could answer her, my phone rang. The caller ID told me it was Debbie, my personal assistant at my mother’s charity foundation.Debbie and I had become well acquainted over the last week. She filled me in on the details of the day-to-day operations that even Victor did not know.I liked her very much. She respected me and my opinions and didn’t look down on me if I didn’t know something.I answered the call. “Hello, Debbie.”“I’m sorry to bother you before your dinner party,” she apologized. “But I needed to ask a quick question.”“Did you want the invitations for next month’s charity auction sent out first thing Monday morning, or do you want to wait until after the articl
William went straight to my father. “Mr. Wilson, I apologize for showing up at your dinner party uninvited.”“Nonsense. William, you are always welcome in my home,” Alex told him. “I’m glad to see you have returned to us.”Mrs. James couldn’t control herself any longer and jumped to her feet. She threw her arms around William’s neck. “William, I’m so happy to see you. Please tell me you are staying.”He returned his mother’s embrace and wiped away her happy tears. “I’m staying. I’m sorry if you were worried, but I’m back now, Mother.”“How did you know we were here?” his father asked after he shook his son’s hand.“The staff at our house told me you were here. So I had to come here to tell you I have returned to the city. From your letters, I knew you were eager for my return.”“It’s wonderful to have you back, son,” Mr. James said. “We’ll talk more later.”“It's great to be back, “ William said. He glanced across the table at me and smiled. “Daisy, it’s wonderful to see you. And you