Page 2 of Secret Love

Chapter 1

Fox

“Fox, this is Dani,” my mother says with a smile. “She’s Bennett’s daughter.”

I don’t care.

Ever since my mother moved the two of us to Los Angeles a week ago, it’s been one introduction after another. Her new boss. My new school. Our new house.

And now, her new boss’ daughter.

Still could not care less.

The girl stares at me with a fake smile. Her blonde hair sits curled up on top of her head in a long braid, leaving the tight neckline of her purple dress exposed. Honestly, who wears purple to a Christmas party? California brats like her, I guess.

My mother nudges my ribs and I straighten up.

“Hey,” I say in greeting.

Dani nods. “Hey.”

“Dani goes to your new school,” my mother says. “I’m sure she won’t mind showing you around once classes start again.”

“Of course!” Dani says, still fake smiling at me. “I’d be happy to. Are you a freshman, too?”

“Sophomore,” I mutter.

“Do you have your schedule yet?”

“Yeah.”

When I say nothing more, she turns to my mother instead.

“How do you like the new job, Cora?”

“Oh, I adore it!” my mother answers. “Your dad is so much fun to work with and the talent coming in and out of his office—” She squeals happily. “Well, you know. You’re probably used to huge stars wandering around your house.” She gestures around the tall, crowded foyer. “I mean, just look at this place!”

Dani laughs. “A little bit, yeah. My dad hasn’t stopped talking about you since you joined his team. He seems really happy with your work.”

My mother blushes. “Well, that’s good to know. Oh, Dani, while I have you here…” She quickly glances around and reaches into her tote bag for the red box with a silver ribbon. “I got you something. Merry Christmas.”

Dani gasps. “Oh, you didn’t have to…”

“I know your dad said no gifts, but I couldn’t help myself. Fox and I are both very, very thankful to him for this opportunity.”

Yeah, sure we are.

Dani discreetly takes the box with a grin. “Well, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right?”

My mother chuckles. “Go on and open it before he comes back.”

Dani nods and pulls the ribbon loose. She slides the lid off, revealing a red and white scarf inside. It’s thick, bushy, and ugly as sin. Fortunately, Little Miss Perfect here seems to have picked up a few acting lessons from her Hollywood agent father over the years and manages to hide her disdain of it.

She lets out a gasp and smiles. “Cora, I love it!” she says, leaving the scarf in the box.

“You do?” my mother asks, playfully cringing. “I don’t know you all that well yet, so I wasn’t sure on your style…”

“No, no. It’s perfect. Thank you so much.”

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