Page 75 of Beware of Dog

“I really think that green top will suit you nicely,” Raven said from her perch on the arm of Toly’s chair. “It has a bit of blue undertone in the weave and it’ll bring out your eyes.”

“It’s beautiful.” Cass folded it carefully atop the others. “Thank you.”

“Alright,” Toly said, lighting a smoke. “Give her the big one.”

Raven rolled her eyes, but went to the console table and came back with a small, plain black envelope. Bemused, Cass lifted the flap, fished inside…and came out with two tickets to the Met Gala.

“What?”

Looking mighty pleased with herself, Raven returned to her seat with Toly and his arm went around her waist, casual and automatic. “Toly and I are going. It’s obligatory on my part. And Ian’s going as well, as Jean-Jacque, of course.” She rolled her eyes, then grew serious. She still looked tired, because she always did lately, but a spark of freshness lit her gaze as she said, “I think this could be a wonderful opportunity for you, Cass. I know you’ve waved me off, but I’m quite serious about you designing a junior’s line.”

As quickly as her excitement had exploded—a mental burst of jewels, and flashbulbs, and acres of celebrities; an enticement for anyone—it dimmed. “Oh. This again.”

“What?” Shep sat forward and took the tickets from her hand to examine them.

Raven’s jaw set at a mulish angle. “Yes, this again. Every time we talk about it, you act as though I’m torturing you, when really I’m offering you an opportunity that most twenty-year-olds would kill for.”

“Raven,” Toly said, softly.

“What are you talking about?” Shep said.

Holding Raven’s gaze with a stubborn one of her own, Cass said, “Raven wants to take some of my art and print it on super expensive t-shirts and dresses.”

“Uh…isn’t that a good thing?”

“It is,” Raven said, cutting over Cass’s response. “It would be an exclusive line, listed in Cass’s name, under whatever label name she decided upon. She’d make a killing, I’ve no doubt.”

Cass folded her arms. “I’m an artist, not a fashion designer.”

Raven threw up her hands, as though she were hopeless. “You can be both! The designs would beyour art. It would appeal to an entirely new market—”

“See?” Cass pointed at her. “That’s why I don’t want to do it. It’s about the market, and the brand, and expanding the business.”

“I can do those things and help you launch a real career!”

“I don’t want to live in your world, Raven! I don’t want to be rushing off to meetings, and shaking hands with creeps, and cutting ribbons in front of stores! I want to do my art and be my own person!”

Toly made a dispelling gesture with his cigarette-laden hand. “Ladies—”

Raven got to her feet, arms folding tight across her middle. “You’re so bloody stubborn, do you know that? I’m not saying you have to sign your whole youth away. Go to the gala.” She gestured to the tickets, which Shep still held for some reason. “Bring one of your girlfriends, bring a cute boy from school you’re trying to impress.”

Shep made a choking sound, tossed the tickets on the table, and headed for the kitchen.

“Meet a few people. Design some mockups. That’slife, Cassandra. I’ve let you live in the dorms, and play at schoolgirl—”

“You’veletme?”

“Who do you think is paying for your tuition? For your food, and your clothes, and—” She cut herself off, hands pressed over her eyes a long moment. It gave Cass a chance to take a few deep breaths and blink her eyes dry.

“I don’t want to fight,” Raven said, hands flopping to her sides like she was too exhausted to hold them up. She shook her head. “I won’t mention it again. Just…I want you to be happy. You deserve that. God knows this family’s yanked you around enough.”

She looked so miserable that Cass wanted to take back all that she’d said.

“Keep the tickets. Go to the ball.” She attempted a smile. “You’ve seemed awfully cheeky lately. Has someone at school caught your eye?”

It was a supreme effort not to look toward the kitchen. “Maybe.”

Raven nodded. “Bring him, then. It’s a once-in-lifetime experience, for sure. And you don’t have to sit at our table if you don’t want to.”

---