I raised my chin, put a devilish smirk on my cherry-red-painted lips, and stepped into the spotlight.
Despite the fact that I hadn’t been born into this life and had no real money of my own, my name was on their lips. The scandal from last week had given me a sense of notoriety. If I hadn’t returned, perhaps I would have floated away into obscurity, but since I was here, now I was someone. All on my own.
The crew had given me that. Penn had given me that by drawing me into this world with a bet. Katherine had given me that by making me a pet project and then a household name. Lewis had given me that simply by putting me on the arm of a Warren. Even Jane had given me a piece of it by including me, befriending me.
And she was the one who had told me to fake it. I intended to heed her advice.
I posed for a few carefully positioned pictures, slowly making my way up the red carpet. Giving everyone a view of the dress, of me.
Take your fill, boys.
I shot them one more devious smile and then stepped across the threshold into Trinity. It was bustling with partygoers. I had no idea who would be here tonight. Which Upper East Siders I would run into during this. But I wasn’t here for them. I was here to be seen and photographed and gossiped about. Mission accomplished.
A passing waiter offered me a glass of champagne, which I took with relish. I could do this. I could see through the glossy shine of this world. The rhinestone society polished to look like diamonds.
Money couldn’t hide the sewage, and when I was done with them, money wouldn’t save them from it either.
Now for the real fun.
I withdrew my phone from the matching black clutch and read the waiting text from Penn.
I’m here. You didn’t really give me specifics. Where should I meet you?
My lips curled in excitement as I sent my reply.
Do you want to play a game?
I’m listening…
If you can find me, you can have me.
Chapter 2
Natalie
This was the moment that would determine it all.
Would Penn play the game? Would he chase me here, as I suspected he would? He’d said that he wanted this. That he would wait for me. But a week of radio silence as I’d figured out my next move meant anything could happen.
Especially considering what had happened to me.
I wasn’t the same person I’d been when we had sex in that hotel suite at The Plaza. I wasn’t the same person who had turned him away because I wasn’t ready for a relationship. I was someone…something else entirely.
I didn’t know where that left me.
Let alone us.
But I dared to find out.
I had to.
My eyes skimmed the crowd as I sipped my glass of champagne. My dress drew looks like a moth to a flame. People whispering behind their hands. I was sure they were explaining who I was. The risk I’d taken in showing up tonight. And I just tilted my chin up and let them look, let them talk. With luck, it’d get back to the people I wanted it to. It would snowball from there.
I smiled viciously at the thought of Katherine’s face when she found out that I was back in the city. But that wasn’t here or now.
I couldn’t predict how Katherine would react. But I was making my own way now. No longer waiting with the ball in her court.
Right now, I needed to focus on Penn.
My phone buzzed, and I glanced down at the message that had come in from him.
Fuck.
I laughed despite myself.
Yes, that’s the idea.
What are you wearing?
That’s cheating.
Any hints?
I took another sip and tried to reel in the giddy feeling at the center of my chest. Penn was dangerous in every way to my heart. But I figured I should give him something.
I flipped to the camera and took a picture of the crown necklace dangling at my throat. The crown that he had given me a year ago. The crown that I’d thrown at his feet when I found out about the goddamn bet. The crown that he’d returned to me when he decided to pursue me again.
Even though my heart still skipped when I was near him, I’d been certain that I’d never go back to him. Never allow myself to fall into his trap again. And yet, here I was, in his necklace. Maybe I’d catch him in my trap this time.
I approve.
The pad of my finger traced his comment before I returned the phone to my clutch. He’d find me. I was sure of it. Not that I intended to make it easy for him.
I went looking for him in hopes of drawing out our game and the anticipation. But I found Jane first.
Jane Devney was a force of nature. Shoulder-length ash-blonde hair and hazel eyes with a small stature that might make you overlook her. But she had stepped into the Upper East Side and claimed it as her own. She’d opened Trinity with sheer willpower and the enormity of her connections.
Tonight she looked stunning in a rose-gold dress as she clutched on to the arm of Court Kensington. Penn’s brother looked so much like him that it was sometimes jarring. While they were similar in looks, they were opposites in personality. Even if he wasn’t as bad as Penn had always made him out to be…or at least to me.
I evaded Jane. I wasn’t ready to see her yet. Or to hear her excitement at me being back and how she was right that it had all blown over. When I was certain that it hadn’t.
I escaped into a crowd of people and came out on the other side to find Penn standing there with none other than Harmony Cunningham, the daughter of the designer whose dress I wore currently.
My smile disappeared. I knew that Penn and Harmony had history. He’d used her to make Katherine jealous—or so Lewis had said. Right now, I didn’t know what to think of them. She was standing awfully close with her hand on his arm. Not that he looked pleased by it.
I hated the jealousy that settled in my stomach. It was an emotion I wanted to snuff out.
I retrieved my phone, snapped a picture of them standing together, and sent it to Penn with one line attached.
Wrong girl.
Then I creeped deeper into the crowd, keeping my eye on him as Harmony left his side and he checked the message. I reveled in the smile that lit up his features. He looked as sexy and alluring as James Bond. Dark hair artfully styled, blue eyes wide and bold, tuxedo crisp and tailored to his incredible build. But it went beyond that. To the casual confidence that had been bred into him. From living in this world with its expectations and scandal and silver spoons.
He was an enigma. It was what had drawn me to him in the first place. The Manhattan royalty playboy who wanted a different life. Who was so much more than what he portrayed to the world. The morality that he so fiercely tried to cultivate. The duality of his character that strove against his upbringing for a better life.
We all stumbled. We didn’t all get back up.
I circled Penn like a lioness stalking her prey.
He might be coming for me. But I was keeping him in my sights. Drawing it out until he got closer.
I turned away for a second to grab another glass of champagne, but when I looked for him again, he was gone.