Page 59 of Faux Real
This is good. This will show Granddad that I’m adjusting to my new life. That I’m staying out of trouble. He’ll surely pass the news along to my parents.
Kennedy’s a parental wet dream. Yes. Perfect.
nineteen
Social Hierarchy
KENNEDY
Itakeacoupleof steadying breaths as the town car comes to a halt. It’s just a fundraiser. It’s classy, upscale, and sophisticated. Everything will be fine. I doubt Corrine would start drama in front of Sawyer’s parents.
Oh, God. Have they met her? Do theylikeher?
No. Whatever. I don’t care. I’m doing this because Oliver asked me to be his date. Hisfakedate. Hisrealdate? No. Definitely fake. We’re going with fake. Fake is easier, fake is safe, fake doesn’t require feelings. No feelings. None.
Business partners. We are business partners. Nothing else.
“Miss? I can’t idle here,” my driver says.
“Sorry! Thank you!” I squeak, getting out of the car. Here goes nothing.
Swarms of photographers and newscasters linger outside the front doors of the Plaza Hotel trying to get shots of all the attendees supporting Malcolm Redford’s platform. I don’t see how he can be ‘For the People’ when the majority of his constituents are part of the one percent but hey, all is fair in love and politics. I straighten out my shoulders, a tingle pulsing in my fingertips when I spot Ollie by the front doors.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” he says, a cheeky grin spreading on his face as I approach. He cocks his head to the side, letting out a laugh. “Wow.”
“What’s so funny?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at him as I adjust my Chanel blazer. “Stop smiling, you’re freaking me out.”
“Oh, nothing at all,” Oliver blinks, suppressing another chuckle. “You’ve just somehow managed to age twenty years. Seriously, Kennedy, you look like a librarian. All you’re missing is a pair of specs; they would complete the entire ensembleperfectly.”
“Alibrarian? Yeah, well, you look—” I scoff, giving his surprisingly stylish suit a once-over. Damn, he cleans up well. Did hecombhis hair? Shocking. I would’ve bet good money on the fact he didn’t evenowna brush. “You look like you finally discovered the wonders of a bath.”
“I’m sensing there’s a complimentsomewherein there,” Oliver smirks, opening the door for me as we head inside. “I do look quite dashing, don’t I? Perhaps my granddad isn’t a total knob.”
“If only your IQ was as high as your ego,” I mutter, rolling my eyes.
He glances at me, leading the way to the ballroom. “Oh, come on now, I was just joking. You look great, I almost wish I had overdue library books.” His eyes gleam with humor as he lowers his voice. “I’ve always wanted to getslappedwith a fine and use my charms to get out of it.”
I blink. “Someone watches a little too much porn.”
“Call it revision, love,” he whispers, placing his hand on the small of my back as we enter the executive ballroom. “It’s educational really. I’m a visual learner, you see.”
“Right, educational,” I snort, looking around the packed room. “I’m sure the naked women don’t have anything to do with it.”
“Perhaps you’d like to quiz me one day?” Oliver tosses me a wink. “I’ve been told I exceed expectations.”
“What aromanticproposition but I think I’ll pass,” I say, clearing my throat, my cheeks burning up. “Can we not talk about sex right now? I hardly think it’s appropriate.”
“Lighten up, love,” Oliver says, his jaw tightening as he spots an elderly man at the far end of the room. He reaches for my hand, weaving us through the crowds. “Nothing’s more natural in life than sex.”
“Except death,” I note, casting him a threatening smile. “Need I remind you who my father is?”
Oliver chuckles, “Well played, Carmichael.”
“Commendable effort, Knight,” I retort in a whisper as we stop in front of Ollie’s grandfather.
“Oliver, you’ve made it,” his grandfather states, his gaze darting between the two of us. “And you brought afriend. How lovely.”
