Page 55 of Bitter Secrets

“We’re not doing this,” Colette said, smile radiant, but her tone was icy. “Jasmine has to tidy up, and we all have duties to attend to.”

Ariana looped her arm through Rami’s and led him away, while Lyle went after his wife, who had already joined a small group. That didn’t dissuade Lyle, who made a space for himself beside Colette and wrapped an arm around her waist. Colette stiffened, but didn’t pull away. She couldn’t in this setting, which is why Lyle was pushing it. Jasmine wasn’t sure what Lyle got out of provoking her sister. Colette wasn’t the teasing type. She was an ice queen, but Lyle was unfazed by the chill she emitted, even after four years. They had a strange relationship.

She skirted the crowd and tried not to make eye contact with anyone. She thought she was home free until a man stepped into her path. Her heart stuttered before she realized it was Ford’s father and not her own.

“Mr. Baldwin!”

“I was told you were running late,” Parker Baldwin said repressively.

“Yes, sir, I’m sorry about that. I was studying and time got away from me.”

He looked slightly mollified. “I assume you’re at the top of your class?”

When she hesitated, his brows came together.

“That’s my goal,” she said earnestly, but wasn’t sure he heard, since he was scanning her with the same thoroughness that Colette had. He didn’t look like he liked what he saw.

“This won’t happen again,” she said hastily.

“See that it doesn’t. In the future, I expect you to be on time. We have an image to preserve, you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

He frowned. “What’s that?”

“What?”

He grabbed the same hand Lyle had. “What is this?”

"I was studying for finals."

He sighed and released her. “You're very different from your sisters.”

Her mood dipped as she heard the disappointment in his tone. “I’m going to be the best daughter-in-law, you'll see.”

“We’ll see. I guess it’s a good thing this will be a long engagement.”

Before she could figure out what he meant by that, he continued.

“Ford has many trips planned in the coming months. We’ll resume our monthly dinners once he’s back in the States.”

She nodded.

His eyes flicked down to her hands. “See that you take care of that. You only have one shot to make a good impression. Make sure it’s the right one.”

He walked off without another word. That was downright kind compared to her father’s reprimands.

She entered the bathroom and hurried to the sink to wash her hands. She bit back a curse when the ink didn’t fade. Oh, boy. She examined herself in the mirror. She didn’t look horrible, but she did look a bit… windswept? Most of her curls had unraveled. Not a surprise since she had done them so quickly.

A white towel entered her vision as the bathroom attendant offered one to dry her hands. Her eyes flicked to the pile of goodies she had.

“Do you have something for…?” She gestured to her hair.

The woman’s eyes lit. “Yes, yes. Sit.”

Relieved to let someone else take over, she sat on a bench and drummed her fingers on her knee as she let the film play out in her mind and drown out everything around her. She winced as the woman stuck bobby pins in her hair.

“There!”

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