Page 594 of Filthy Elites

“Yeah, well, some of us are slower. I got it eventually. The only person I should concern myself with is you.” I reach out, wrapping my arms around her gently. “I’m keeping you, Erica Simons. Today, and tomorrow, and the day after. We’ll go to Massachusetts together, and then, conquer the universe.”

“The entire universe, huh?” she echoes.

“Yep. All you have to do is say yes, and it’s yours.” I play with the ring on the finger of her broken hand, twirling it around.

“I get to say yes? I thought you’d pretty much decided how my life was going to go.”

I smile against her back. “You absolutely get to say yes. I can also work with a no, though.”

Whatever she says, she’s mine.

“All right.”

I sit up, so I can see her face. “Did you just say all right to my proposal?”

“That was a proposal?”

“A world domination proposal, at the very least.”

“Universe,” she corrects. “And sure. We can conquer the universe.”

She’s playing my heartstrings like a fiddle, and she knows it.

“And you’ll marry me.” I don’t ask her, because it’s not a question. She will. She has to.

Erica Simons was made for me, and I’m not letting go.

ChapterThirty-Five

It’s beentwo months since I woke up in Chase’s bed, and I haven’t slept alone since.

My mother has all but moved out, permanently staying in the Archer manor—I see her occasionally for dinner, more often than not with Xavier. He’s all right, really. He tends to chuck money at most problems in life, but there are worse sins. He bought me a car for Christmas, which is sweet, if a little useless. Chase prefers to drive me, and I’m not fond of being behind the wheel, so I let him.

I stand tall next to my table, attempting to smile, as I consider murder.

ChaseknewI didn’t want him to interfere in any way with my college application; I made that clear. Yet he’s walking right next to the couple of recruiters from MIT, like the entitled dick he is.

“And here she is. Angela, Luke, this is my fiancée, Erica.”

My jaw tightened. “If you recall, I never accepted that proposal.”

“You’re still wearing my ring,” he shoots back.

I’m embarrassed and pissed he’s distracting those people from my work. They’re supposed to pay attention to what I’ve done, not my boyfriend’s name.

“Algaculture? That’s a popular subject.”

“It should be. Our fuel consumption has been a problem for generations, and there’s not nearly as much research into alternatives to liquid fuel.” I talk them through the oil press and my calculations of energy potential, comparing it against gas.

It’s the twelfth time I’ve given the presentation, but this one is the one that matters. I want them toseeme. Fuck Chase for messing with that. If I get in, I’ll never know if it’s because of him or my own merit.

The recruiters ask a couple of questions and seem appropriately enthusiastic. In a few minutes, they’re gone.

I kick Chase’s shin. “I told you to leave them alone!” I snap.

“Well, I couldn’t very well do that, now, could I? Luke’s a friend of Camden’s dad. Angela’s dating Rhys’s first cousin.”

“You really could stop my acceptance.” When he’d threatened that in November, I hadn’t been certain it was in his power. Now, I know better.

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