Page 67 of Filthy Elites

I step back and flick my gaze to him. “You’d better stay out of my way tonight, punk.”

His eyes turn round. “Wait? Are you mad?” He shakes his head. “That’s the payment I receive for playing cupid.”

Sage tugs his arm. “Come on, Luke. Leave them alone.”

They finally walk away, and now I can properly enjoy Isabelle’s company.

“You look stunning tonight,” I tell her.

Her cheeks turn bright pink, and she glances down. “Thanks. You do have Luke and Sage to thank. They convinced me to get this dress and come to the party.”

“I’ll thank Sage. I’ll think about Luke.” I take her hand, and for the first time, I don’t know what to say.

“So… what happens next?” she asks.

The first thought that comes to my mind is to whisk her to my room and let her ride me while wearing that dress. But that’s a fantasy I can’t indulge right now. “We mingle. Come on.”

With my hand firmly clasping hers, I steer her to the outside area where most of my mother’s guests are. And then comes the performance. I become a different person in front of these snobby motherfuckers. They’re the most important and influential people in Triton Cove, and they’re as fake as they can be.

The first time I introduce Isabelle as my girlfriend, she tenses. I didn’t plan on doing it, it just came out and it turns out, I don’t mind the idea at all.

“I’m your girlfriend now? Thanks for the heads up,” she says under her breath when we get a reprieve in introductions.

“I figured it’d be easier. But I can introduce you as my delicious fuck-bunny if you prefer,” I joke.

And it goes right over her head, if her glower is any indication.

“Relax, babe. I was kidding.”

Finn spots us and makes a beeline in our direction. “Dude, where have you been?” he asks, not hiding his sour mood.

“I was biding my time. Why suffer these sycophants longer than necessary?”

“I’ve been here for half an hour and already had my fill of them.” He glowers in his parents’ direction.

“Hi, Finn, nice to see you,” Isabelle greets him in a sarcastic tone.

He grimaces. “Hey, Nicola. Sorry, these parties bring out the worst in me. You look pretty.”

“Thank you. You look… different.”

He tilts his head. “How so?”

“I guess it’s the tux and the fact your wild hair is bound for once.”

He reaches for his low ponytail. “Not my choice. My father insisted.”

“Ah yeah, that has Uncle Florian’s fingers all over it,” I chime in.

“So you guys are official now?” he asks.

“Yep.” I bring Isabelle’s hand to my lips and kiss the back of it.

“Donotintroduce her to my father if you don’t want your evening ruined.”

“I don’t think he can say worse things than Victoria did,” Isabelle replies, making my stomach churn.

I never learned what Mom told her while I wasfetchingmy violin.

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