Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 176345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 882(@200wpm)___ 705(@250wpm)___ 588(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 882(@200wpm)___ 705(@250wpm)___ 588(@300wpm)
“Fine, never mind,” Jason says when I don’t reply, and he walks off again.
“Awkward,” Irina muses, rolling her eyes.
I sigh loudly. “Tell me about it.”
“Done with classes today?” Brooke asks. “I still have one more.”
“Yup,” I reply. “Sorry, girl.”
“Don’t be, I love marketing.” She takes a sip of her own coffee. “I get to design lots of fun stuff.”
“Nice, I wish I could use those programs, but I’m completely lost every time I open them,” Irina says. “In fact, I feel lost with most of my classes.”
I frown. “You sure you’re at the right school, then?”
She shrugs. “My parents wanted me to go here. But I just want to marry a rich tech dude and live a stress-free life.” She grins and puts on her shades, making me laugh.
“Oh, what are you even talking about?” Brooke shoves her. “You don’t even need that. Your parents are loaded, and you’re their only kid. You don’t have to do shit, and you’re still set for life.”
“What about you?” I ask. “You’ve got any plans for the future?”
Brooke shrugs. “I just wanna work for Wall Street finance.”
“Wow. Aiming big,” I reply.
“Yup,” she says, opening her bag of chips. “I’m not settling for lower than the fucking top. The only shitty thing is the men there.”
I snort. “Aren’t they everywhere?”
“No. I’m convinced there must be at least one submissive dude out there ready to bow at my feet,” she muses, taking a bite.
“Ambitious,” Irina says with a nod. “I like it.”
Brooke raises her hand, and Irina gives her a high five.
I take the opportunity to steal a few chips from her and shove them in my mouth. That’s when I notice one of the guys from the Phantom Society hanging posters all over the cafeteria, his semi-crooked walk on one side of his body making me focus on him. It’s the guy with the blond hair, and every time he raises his hand, the obvious stump on his hand draws my attention. What kind of violence is he involved in that would make someone lose a finger?
“Oh look at that, Lana’s got a crush on Nathan?”
I almost choke on my chips as I swallow them down. “What?”
Brooke points at the corner where he’s hanging more posters, oblivious to my stares. “You were looking at him for quite some time, L.”
“She already has a boyfriend,” Irina says with a cheeky voice.
“Wait, really?” Brooke frowns. “How come you never told me about him?”
“I mean, not really,” I say, shrugging. “It’s more of a friends-with-benefits thing.” I laugh it off like it’s no big deal. “Anyway, I was just interested in the posters.”
“Well, in that case …” Irina jumps up from her seat and runs off before I can stop her.
And fuck me, she’s headed straight for him.
I don’t enjoy listening to my brother, but he wouldn’t warn me about those Phantom guys if it wasn’t serious. He knows me. He knows what I’m capable of. But those boys … they’re danger incarnate.
Irina grabs his arm, and he turns around to look at her. They talk for a while, but it’s impossible to hear from this distance. He hands her one of the posters, and she gleefully nods … then points at me.
Blood drains from my face when Nathan’s piercing blue eyes lock with mine, the penetrative stare almost drags my soul out of my body. He runs his fingers through his hair, a casual smug smile following suit. And with just that single stare, he’s gotten my blood to go cold like snow.
He knows.
He knows who I am.
I can tell from the way he looks at me.
Like all he wants is to hurt my brother and his friends where it hurts the most … by taking my fucking body and using it any way he desires.
Or killing me.
My nostrils flare, and I turn around, keeping my head held high as I take a big gulp of coffee.
“I wonder what they’re talking about,” Brooke mutters.
“Don’t know, don’t care,” I reply.
Irina comes running back and sits down like a happy kid on steroids. “Look. It’s a party.”
“Ooooh, let me see,” Brooke says, stealing the poster. “Everyone will be there.”
“I am soooo going,” Irina says. “Wanna go together?”
“Definitely, I could use a little pick-me-up after all these classes,” Brooke replies.
“If I’m going to find a rich dude to marry, it’s gonna be here,” Irina says.
Brooke throws her arm around my shoulders. “You’re coming too, right, Lana?”
I grumble. “If those guys are there too …”
“Who cares? The whole school is gonna be there. You can just ignore them and have fun.” She grabs my cup and holds it in front of my mouth. “Take another sip. Or twenty. Then say yes. And let’s get wasted.”
On the evening of the party, I slip on my red lace dress that fits my body to a T. After I stick on some fake lashes and swipe on mascara, I use eyeliner to create the perfect cat eye. I tie my hair into a high ponytail, leaving out my bangs, and put my ribbon in along with some spray to seal the deal.