Page 62 of Damaged

A shadow passes over his face. Alessia is walking back with a mimosa in each hand. “Yeah. It’s going to be outside under those string lights.” James points to a circle of perfectly manicured grass near the kitchen door I walked out of. There’s a long wooden table in the middle of it.

“What time?”

“Not sure yet.”

“Here you go.” Alessia hands James his drink. “I know you only like scotch neat, but there are only a few ways to drink in the morning without looking like a drunk.”

She clinks his glass with hers, but James doesn’t take a sip. He’s looking at his phone as it vibrates. “I’ve got to take this. Be nice,” he hisses at Alessia.

“I’m always nice. I’m the nicest,” she says, laughing like this is hilarious, but James just walks away. “Hmm.” Alessia hums as she watches him go. “He’s quite the man, isn’t he?”

I just lift my brow and sip my orange juice.

“Too bad he’s your boss. But I know how that can be. Bevery,verycareful. That one will chew you up and spit you out.”

“Good to know,” I say shortly.

“I’m just trying to help you. I saw the way he looked at you when you first appeared outside. I’ve seen him give many girls that look.” She cups her hand on her cheek and faux whispers, “It never ends well for them.”

“Why do you say that? Because he gave you that look once?”

“Oh he gave memorethan a look. But he’s a villain, darling. Dangerous in more ways than one. And you seem like such a precious little thing.” There’s nothing nice about her tone. It’s patronizing. “I bet you’d like to try him out, but… you must be this tall to ride.” She levels a hand and smiles. “Or you’d get hurt.”

“It sounds like you got hurt.”

“I knew what to expect. It doesn’t look like you do. No offense. You may think you’re different. That it would be different with him. But I’m warning you, he’ll crush you, too.”

I pause for a moment and let the breeze fill the silence. I finally shrug. “Maybe I’m a better fuck.”

Alessia stutters. She’s in shocked silence. I’m not very good at being a mean girl, and I start to laugh, genuinely. She laughs, too, and shakes her head.

“Perhaps I misjudged you.”

“Didn’t you hear? I stomped on that kidnapper’s foot.”

“I thought you were delicate for not getting him in the balls,” Alessia says with a slight smirk.

I laugh again. I don’t like to have enemies. Alessia might not be the most pleasant person, but I’d rather not duel it out with her. Besides, I pity her in a way. She’s stuck in this world of the ultra-rich. The ultra-pretty. A world of literal sunshine and rainbows. And vicious, petty bullying.

“I’m going to go eat breakfast,” I say, standing. “I’ll see you around, Alessia.”

“Of course, darling.”

I start to walk back to the house.

“And watch out for Kate,” Alessia adds.

“Sorry?” I stop and turn back, but she’s looking out at the ocean, acting like she didn’t hear me. I want her to elaborate, but clearly, she isn’t going to.

I have a feeling that was the warning I’ll find most helpful. The useful advice she decided to give after she changed her mind about me.

I go back inside. I’m nervous, but this time it isn’t because of James. It’s because I feel like I’ve been dropped into a pit of vipers.

Sophia

I hide most of the day. I don’t have the energy to meet six new people. Let alone rich elites who want to grill me on my pedigree. But I admit, they’re not all like Alessia. In fact, her husband Marco is a really easy guy to talk to.

He came into the study on a solo house tour when I was reading there earlier. He’s got a short black beard, man-bun, and long eyelashes that almost make it look like he wears eyeliner.

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