Page 10 of The Heiress

She and I have an okay relationship. We don’t talk much since we’re both busy people, but she’s never been anything but nice and cordial to me. Even so, she doesn’t call me unless she has a reason.

“You’ve got your invitation to my film premiere, right? You never confirmed with my agent.” Of course, that’s why my mother is calling. “It’s important that you go! You missed the last one, and the trash the tabloids came up with… saying that we’re estranged… don’t do that to me again.”

“What? You’re a supporting character. Who cares?” I lean back in bed with the magazine smacked against my face.

“Who… Lorde! It’s a series of vignettes with an ensemble cast! Everyone’s a main character! Come on. You have to see me star in a movie with Pedro Pascal. It’s been my goal to be in a movie with him for the past ten years.”

I sigh.

“I know you hate that sort of thing. Do me a favor though, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t be smart with me. This is Oscar bait and I need you in New York to support me.”

I pull the magazine off my face and stare at the candid collage of Daisy and Ashleigh. Mostly Daisy, of course. Okay, all Daisy.

While my mother blathers, I read the caption. “Rich socialite Daisy DeMonte enjoys lunch with fellow heiress Ashleigh Lee. Ms. DeMonte is relaxing during her summer break from college, although rumor says she has a packed week in New York planned.”

New York, huh? Daisy’s going to be there?

My mother’s movie premiere happens to be in New York… such a fateful city.

“I’ll be there.” I interrupt my mother, already planning how I’m going to find and approach Daisy DeMonte. Throwing that trash into my interview was a good way to get her in my apartment, but it ultimately failed at getting her in my bed – or at least naked and with her legs spread wide open so I can explore every inch of her. Great, Lorde. Think about these things while on the phone with your mother, why don’t you? “I got the invitation. I’ll be there. We’ll take some pics for the press…”

“Oh, I know you’re busy,” my mother tersely says. “Don’t worry. I’m in the first vignette, so you can leave soon enough. You don’t have to stay for the whole thing.”

“Great, yeah. I’ll be there. Love you.” I hang up before she has the chance to reply. My brain is going five thousand miles a second, coming up with as many ways I am going to finally seduce Daisy DeMonte. I won’t be able to function until I see how far this attraction goes.

You hear that, Daze? You’re relaxing for now, but when I’m through with you, you’ll be a panting, writhing, dirty girl unable to keep her legs closed around me. I’m not just taking you in my bed. I’m taking you everywhere.

Prepare yourself. I’m coming to devour you.

Chapter 6

Lorde

Chapter 6

LORDE

The girl looking back at me is damn fine.

It’s been a long day, and this evening will prove to be longer, I’m sure. After flying into JFK earlier this morning, one of my mother’s drivers took me from one tailor to another. My mother insisted after seeing that picture of me in the magazine.“You will not show up to my premier looking like the shaggiest kid on the block. At least get it trimmed!”Didn’t matter I had it cut back home. Nope. Had to go to my mother’s favorite New York salon so some guy named Felipe could fix it.

Then it was off to pick up my tailored suit for the evening. My mother arranged that too. Funny. A lot of things had been arranged for me even though there was no guarantee I was coming. But I have to hand it to my mother: she didn’t pick a bad suit for me at all. Valentino. Baby pink. Believe it or not,pastels look great on me. I don’t wear them often because they don’t really go for thevibeI project. But this pink Valentino suit begs to be paired with a lacy white bra that shows off my figure in the kind of ways that would scandalize my mother even if she weren’t Oscar-baiting several judges.“You will be dressed nicely,”she says before every event that she invites me to.“And you will be covered up.”So I pick out a pale beige camisole to wear beneath the pink jacket. And, fine. I’ll wear a damn bra. My breasts really should be on display in an outfit like this, but if it’s for mymother…

Hey, I’m not shy. I’m the kind of woman who’s naked the moment you suggest you want to hook up. I once camped out on a nudist beach for spring break. There are a dozen pervy pap shots of me standing topless next to a swimming pool in the Hollywood Hills. You can Google my name and see half of them in two seconds. My bra size and nipple color have probably been featured inJeopardy!questions at this point. (32B and pink, by the way. They match my jacket!)

I’m in New York for a few days, but I picked the day of my mother’s movie premier to come here. As soon as today is over, I’m going intowoo Daisy DeMontemode. I received confirmation that she’s in town when I saw her picture in a daily newspaper. With any luck, she’ll stay a few more days. Plenty of time for Lorde Sheen to work her magic.

My driver for the evening calls and informs me that he’s waiting downstairs. “Some flies are buzzing around,” he says. Good to know. I dab on some perfume before grabbing my wallet and heading downstairs to meet him.

“Lorde!” A light flashes right in my face the moment I step out of the apartment building. “Lorde, is your mother with you? Are you excited about tonight’s premiere?”

The driver wasn’t kidding. Some serious flies are buzzing around my mother’s New York apartment. I pull down mysunglasses, even though it’s dusk. If nothing else, it’ll keep that incessant flashing out of my eyes. I do throw them a few waves. It’s the least I can do.

As soon as we’re at the premier venue, I’m greeted with more damn lights. Way more. The cameras are so bad that an assistant pounces on me the moment I step out of the car and the driver zooms off to park until I need him again.

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