Page 9 of Wild Elite

“Nice to meet you, too,” Mellie offered with another dazzling white smile. I still hadn’t figured out if the niceties were all for show or if she was actually a sweet girl. “I’ll take care of your daughter!”

She gestured to the right, and I fell into step beside her. “So, have you decided on your major yet?” she asked, slipping her gloved hands into her cream coat pockets.

“Journalism,” I said. “And you? What year are you in?”

“I’m in the same boat as you. I’ll be a freshman next year. Finance major.”

My brows shot up. “Wait, what? If you haven’t even started, then how are you giving me a tour?”

She stopped and waved one hand around. “I practically grew up on this campus. My full name is Melania Whitney Davenport. Sound familiar?”

“Oh! You’re the Dean’s daughter?”

“Yup.” She gave me a rueful smile and rolled her eyes. “Please don’t ever call me Melania, though. I prefer to be more casual than that, and I hate the idea of people knowing the Dean is my father, so… shh.” She put a finger to her lips.

“Your secret is safe with me.” I returned her smile. The Davenports were one of the oldest and wealthiest families in the state, but so far, Mellie seemed similar to Willa—cool and friendly. I guess I was lucky she’d been assigned to give me the tour.

“So, anyway,” she said, trudging onwards. “I’ll take you to the residential colleges. You’re in the same one as me. That’s why my dad roped me into showing you around.”

“Ah.”

We headed past several stunning buildings and courtyards. Mellie pointed out each one, telling me their names and functions as we went. “That’s the Law Library. Stay away from there unless you want to get into the most boring conversation of your life with whichever pompous ass you run into,” she said with a wicked grin. “Oh, and that is the best café on campus. Trust me,” she went on, pointing at another building. “Their hot lobster rolls are to die for.”

A few minutes later, we arrived at a large gray medieval-inspired building with an enormous courtyard to its right. “This is Bamford,” she said. “It’s our residential college. You have an idea of how it all works, right?”

I nodded. I’d read all about it online.

Roden was set up a little like a British boarding school, with all incoming students assigned to one of ten residential houses known as ‘colleges’. Whichever college you were assigned to would determine where you lived, which dining hall you ate in, and which intramural sports teams you’d pledge allegiance to, if you were into that sort of stuff. Each college had its own academic advisors and staff who took care of college-based organizations, clubs and social events.

The different colleges also had their own distinctive architectural style and private courtyards along with activity areas, a movie theater, dance studio, library and gym. A real home away from home for those who were used to having their own entertainment centers. For me, it brought on a sense of dizzy excitement and anticipation. Such lavishness, and in just a few months, I would have access to all of it.

Mellie punched a security code into a keypad on the lower left side of the front door, and then she swung it open with a flourish. “Here you go. Welcome to Bamford College.”

She gave me an extensive tour of the colossal building, and my mind whirled with the sheer opulence of it all. Most college students were given cramped dorms to share, but here, we were given our own private suites.

“Whoa,” I said, my eyes widening as Mellie opened the door to number eight on the third floor. The room beyond looked massive. “This is really a freshman suite?”

“Yup. Normally I wouldn’t be able to show you your suite this early, but the girl who was previously assigned to this one dropped out, so it’s been empty for a while. By the way, I’m going to be in number eleven, just down the hall from you. We’re floor buddies!”

“Cool.” I swallowed hard and took a few steps inside. “It’s really all for me? I won’t be sharing with anyone?”

“Yup. Comes with a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room,” Mellie said, breezing past so she could point everything out to me.

“Holy shit.” I looked around the suite, marveling at everything I saw. It was fully furnished and boasted a cream-colored carved stone fireplace in the living room along with wood-paneled walls. The little kitchen was stocked with all manner of appliances, including an espresso machine and a smoothie blender, and the bathroom was twice the size of the cramped one I shared with my parents at home. “I can’t believe we get all this to ourselves!”

Mellie sniffed. “Well, they have to do something for us with all the tuition we pay. Eighty grand a year is a lot.”

I felt my cheeks turning red. “I’m on a scholarship, so technically I’m not paying tuition.”

I waited for the judgmental stare and curling upper lip, but Mellie smiled instead. “Oh, that’s right. You’re getting all this for free! So cool.”

My shoulders relaxed. “Yeah. I guess I’m lucky,” I said softly.

She cocked her head to the side. “Well, no. I’m the lucky one, really. My family can easily pay the tuition for me, plus I get a discount because my dad is the Dean. Getting a scholarship here takes a butt-load of work. So you aren’t lucky. You’re being rewarded. Right?”

I must’ve looked shocked, because Mellie dissolved into giggles. “Oh my god. You should see your face. Is it really that surprising to meet a Davenport who isn’t a complete stuck-up bitch?”

I knew I was beet red by now. “No, I’m so sorry. I didn’t….”

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