Page 20 of Owned By a Billionaire

When I returned, I found Rey waiting. I pointed at the mark. “Oops, spilled a bit of champagne.”

His mouth barely moved.

Hoping to soothe his dark mood, I added, “I’m sorry. It was careless of me.”

“Mm…” He lit a cigar. “Now go and talk to Harry. Shift him. He likes you. I can tell.”

“And Alice?” I asked.

He shrugged. “She’s not a patch on you, dear girl. Use it to your advantage. If she acts pettish over your flirting with Harry, all the better. That’s something most males hate about women.”

“Not just men.” I pulled a mock smile.

Deflecting my comment, he cocked his head toward the house. “Go. Create a wedge between them.”

Parties were meant for fun, not tension, I thought as I released a tight breath.

I left Rey and helped myself to another glistening glass of champagne from a silver tray. I would have preferred to play the role of Cinderella rather than the evil stepsister.

Coming to my rescue, Harry found me, which was nice and made my task of channeling the coquette easier.

“I hear you’re killing it at Balliol,” he said. “You’re also breaking a few hearts.” He slanted his handsome head, his blue eyes shining with a hint of mischief.

“Well, I’m not sure about that. But I love being there. It’s such an honor. I want to make the most of every moment.”

“A commendable sentiment. Most of my lot party their way through their degrees.”

“I’ve noticed. How do they pass?”

He leaned in close. “It pays to be rich. In more ways than one.”

I frowned. “You mean they buy their scores?”

“Money is exchanged, but not in that way. Suffice it to say, some of the poorer alumni engage in entrepreneurial activities like composing essays and the like.”

“You’re joking.”

He wore the kind of smile a father would give a child who’d yet to experience the world in all its shades of cunning. “Anyway, you didn’t hear it from me.”

I absorbed that. “And what of your degree? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I’m studying business. Which is the academic equivalent to finger painting for those who can’t paint.”

I laughed at his self-deprecation. “We are talking Oxford here. A high score is still required to be accepted.”

“Let’s just say that mathematics was something I’ve always found easy. So sure, it wasn’t difficult to get the grades. And you know, I do like being there. Having fallen into the allure of hedge fund management, I’ve made some valuable contacts.”

“Now you’re talking in riddles.” I sniffed. “Is that a fund to ensure hedges are well pruned?”

His contagious belly laugh swept me along, and I giggled.

It was while I shared this moment of amusement with her husband-to-be that Alice joined us.

“What’s got you two all cozy?” she asked, swaying a little. She must have been hitting the punch hard.

“Just that Caroline was making a joke about hedge funds.” He cast me another warm smile, which I returned, despite Alice looking on.

I then excused myself, only to find Alice following me.

---