Page 16 of Queen Of Dark Money

Iturned to my sister, who’d wandered back to remove me from my stepmother’s endless prattle, a champagne flute twisting between her long, elegant fingers. “Samantha, didn’t you sayEddySinclairand his daughter would be here tonight?I’veheard so much about his re-election campaign, andI’dlove to discuss his platform.”

Shesaw right through me, of course, but she was ever the game-player.Witha wink at our mother and a smile to the rest of the small crowd around her, her fingers curled around my bicep and tugged me along.Whenshe’d sequestered the two of us in an isolated alcove, her prim demeanor dropped, and the ruthless, cunning, cat-like girlI’dgrown up guarding my balls from came out to play, claws digging into the skin of my forearm.

“Whatexactly is your game here, brother?”

Iplayed stupid, shrugging with an unaffected air. “Ihave no idea what you’re referring to,I’msure–”

“Cutthe crap,Jasper.YouknowIknow your habits, and you avoid politics and those who play them like the fucking plague.”Hercold, dead eyes cut to mine, knowing, all-seeing.Icouldn’t hide from her, no matter how muchImight like to. “What’syour angle here?”

Pretendingignorance wouldn’t work on her, nor would hiding the truth.SoIopted for a half-truth instead, hoping it would be enough to get her off my back.

“I’mscoping out some new investments.Andperhaps one of those investments is a future alliance with the man poised to be the most powerful entity in this city within the year.”

Shetilted that pretty head of hers to the side, the wheels in her mind turning a mile a minute. “Youexpect me to believe thatyou, bachelor and supermodel serial daterJasperfuckingStone, is contemplating marriage to that waif of a girl?”Herlaughter had heads turning in our direction, but she seemed oblivious to the stares. “You’restupid as hell if you thinkIbelieve a bit of that.”

“Wecan’t all be experts in subterfuge, dear sister,”Iquipped, teasing her as if we were back in primary school.Somethings never got old. “Isit so hard to believe thatImight like to settle down with a submissive body to warm my bed, whose father’s coffers could warm my bank account, as well?”

“You’renot the type,Jasper,” she replied, haughtily tossing her ebony hair over one shoulder. “Butkeep your secrets.Icouldn’t give a damn what your ulterior motives were, as long as you stay the hell out of my way and don’t get up to any trouble.”

“Thenwe’re in agreement,”Iretorted, brushing off her icy glare. “I’llstay out of your business, and you stay out of mine.”

Samanthaleft me there to stew in my thoughts as she worked the room once more, ever the dutiful wife of a senator.WhileIwaited for the target to make an appearance, my eyes scanned the room for anyone else it might behoove me to commiserate with.Ispotted a somewhat familiar face from my childhood—or what passed for one, anyway.

“Well,I’llbe damned if it isn’tJasperStone.”

Herelegant heelsclackedagainst the marble floor as she strolled leisurely over like a model on a catwalk, every inch the spoiled, pampered princess she’d always been.Browncurls bounced atop her head, a few stray strands falling from her updo like a carefully curated tease.Hercunning brown eyes were outlined in a stunning white eyeliner, offset by her deep blue gown that plunged halfway to her navel in the front and back.Thoseperfectly manicured nails gripped a bejeweled handbag that probably contained only credit cards and some makeup.

And, of course, her man-eating stare was fixed on me.

“Ah,Felicity.Howlong has it been?”Notlong enough,Iwanted to say, but manners had been beaten into me from a very young age, soIbit back the sassy retort, knowing it would get back to all the wrong people ifIfailed to hold my tongue at this event.

Shetittered in that fake way women of her stature had about them, her hand coming up to cover the perfect white rows of teeth behind her perfectly pink lips.Iwas half convinced shecouldn’tgenuinely laugh, or maybe was just lacking a sense of humor.Thesound coming from her was sofake.

“Oh,Jasper.It’sbeen too long, far too long.Didyou miss me?”Herhand came down to rest on my arm, andIwas unsuccessful at hiding the slight cringe the simple touch elicited from me.

“Withevery bullet so far,”Imuttered under my breath, flashing her a dashing smile as was befitting my generous reputation as a lady killer. “Ofcourse, dearFelicity.Howcould one not miss your warm presence?”

Hergrin widened, and it reminded me very much of a crocodile about to snap off the arm of the stupid caretaker feeding it.Womenlike her were half the reasonIdidn’t bother dating anymore.

“You’retoo kind,Mr.Stone.Perhapsyou’d be willing to accompany me around the room this evening–”

Ishook off her hand with a slight hint of impatience, hoping she’d get the hint. “Unfortunately,MissCaldwell,Ihave other pressing matters to tend to, soIcannot escort you this evening.I’msure you’ll find another gentleman more eager to prostrate himself at your heels like a puppy, though.”

Iwalked away as she stood there sputtering in her pretty heels, her cheeks red from indignation and a hint of offended anger.

FelicityCaldwellhad been trying to lure me in since we both started attending these fucking events.ButStonemen grew up wary of women, thanks to our father’s loving descriptions of the harpies and gold diggers out there.I’dtried my hand at the marriage market and dating scenes and found it utterly lacking.ForallIcared, marriage could politely fuck off.Ididn’t need to chain myself to some ungrateful, money-grubbing whore and pop out a kid to validate myself.WhenIdied,Icould leave my money to whoever the fuckIchose, and there would be no one to stand around and spend it all against my wishes.Nobodyto fight over what they felt they were owed.

AndwhenIwent home at night,Ianswered to nobody but myself.

ExactlyhowIliked it.

Theroom quieted as the doors opened yet again to admit a few more of the upper society hags and their miserable husbands who were no doubt shopping for their successive wives while in the presence of their current ones.Iscoffed as they split into couples and groups of three to make their way from person to person, the usual tactics–divide and conquer.Someof these assholes were directly linked to the newDistrictAttorney, no doubt here to elicit money from the pockets of their many benefactors to fund his re-election campaign.

Itsickened me.

Ihated politics in general, butIhated political money grabs the most.

Thedoors to the patio area were just a few steps away, and with a heavy sigh,Islipped away from the annoying circus of puppeteers and their unwitting, dullard puppets, into the cool night air.Iwas virtually alone out here, save for a couple on the far side of the gardens, quite obviously hiding away for some affectionate alone time and failing miserably at it.Thecigar in my pocket that an acquaintance had stuffed in there earliercalled out to me, singing a siren call to entice me to light it, so with all the interest of a child being told to do their homework,Ijerked it free, and brought it to my lips.

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