Page 71 of Insatiable Park Avenue Prince

What was that saying?Money talks? Apparently it also gossiped, and who created better gossip than seven rich guys who did what—and no doubt, who—they wanted, whenever they wanted. It was insane.

Travis was all cocky confidence as he turned to walk inside the gates, but then his feet faltered and his back stiffened. For a second I wondered if I was projecting my own nerves onto him, knowing we were up next, but when Donovan whispered, “Oh shit,” I knew I wasn’t imagining it.

“What’s wrong?” I said as Travis angled his head up and walked closer to the group of photographers. I spotted a guy on the sidelines in a slouchy beanie with a camera in his hand, glaring his way.

“That’s Caleb. They don’t, um, get along. Shit.” Donovan looked around as though searching for someone to come to Travis’s aid if things got out of hand, but all of his friends were already inside.

“Do you want me to go and make sure everything’s okay?” I looked to where heated words were being exchanged, and figured I could take on this Caleb guy if need be. I was a good few inches taller than both him and Travis.

“No.” Donovan shook his head. “God no. That’ll make it worse.”

“Okay, if you’re sure.” I saw Caleb bring his camera back up, then Travis flipped him off as he turned and stormed inside the gates.

Donovan let out a breath, and I rubbed a hand along his lower back. “You ready?”

He nodded and took my hand, and anything other than him left my head as we stepped out in front of the cameras and lights flashed and questions were called.

“Donovan? Who are you wearing tonight?”

“Donovan? Who’s your date tonight?”

“Donovan? Look over here.”

It was weird that we were there for charity and yet that wasn’t once mentioned as we finished up the short step-and-repeat and then headed inside the gates, away from prying eyes.

“Sorry,” Donovan said as he led me toward the entrance of the grand old building. “I told you it would be ridiculous.”

“It’s fine, really. It’s just…a lot.”

“I know.” Donovan gave a rueful grin as the doors were pulled open for us. “And that’s only the beginning.”

“The beginning?” We stepped inside the Elysium, and as the doors shut behind us, we were left standing in an enormous hall with multicolored marble floors and walls, and a gold coffered ceiling that soared high overhead.

There were chandeliers casting a golden hue over the tables and chairs set up all around the hall, and elaborate floral centerpieces decorating each one. It was one of the most breathtaking things I’d ever seen, and I’d barely set foot in the place.

“Kelly?” Donovan’s voice snapped me out of my daze. “This way.”

I swallowed as I followed his lead, my eyes fixed on the grand double staircase north of the space. But before we even got to enter that area, it appeared we had to pass by some kind of welcome committee.

Several elegantly dressed men and women lined up greeting and shaking hands with attendees. Some even got kisses on cheeks as they said their hellos and then headed inside, and suddenly it really did feel like I was about to meet royalty.

As we waited our turn, I leaned down to whisper in Donovan’s ear, “Who are these people?”

“Oh, the head members of the club. Basically the parents of all the other guys, and the president.” He nodded toward the first guy in the line.

Wait, if these were the other guys’ parents, did that mean… “Are your parents here?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, they’re last in the lineup.”

“Holy shit, I’m meeting yourparents?”

Donovan gave me a sheepish smile. “Did I not mention that? My bad. But don’t worry, they’re cool, I promise.

“You might be the only person to ever call his parents cool.”

“Nah, I just mean they’re not the type to look down their noses like a lot of these folks.”

I looked at the line of club members, easily picking out which parent belonged to which of the Park Avenue Princes. I couldn’t see Donovan’s parents yet, and I wondered which of them he looked more like.

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