My shoulders are stiff, every inch of me rigid, and Koen’s hand tightens on my waist.
My mother’s attention shifts from me to him, her smile growing as she looks him over, and she extends her hand.
“Oh, well, hello there. You must forgive my daughter. We raised her better than this, but she’s clearly forgotten her manners.” She shoots me an annoyed look. “Allow me to introduce myself, Bridget Rousseau Ralston, Briar’s mother.” She plasters a wide smile on her face before turning to place a light hand on my father’s chest, who’s at her side but whose attention is elsewhere.
“And this is Briar’s father, Eric.” At the sound of his name, my father turns, politely offering Koen his hand for a firm handshake. “Eric Ralston. Pleasure.” His response is friendly, though short and clipped, as he quickly appraises my date.
“Eric Ralston, as in Senator Eric Ralston from New York?” Koen asks, shaking my father’s hand while his eyes slide back my way.
“The same!”
“Koen O’Rourke.”
My stomach twists, and I know Koen can feel the tension running through me when his hand falls back to my waist. I didn’t want him to find out who my father is;I didn’t want to give him another reason to use me.
My father looks up at Koen with a contemplative expression on his face. “O’Rourke, you say? You wouldn’t have any relation to the O'Rourkes making waves in the Boston real estate market, would you?”
“Oh, Eric dear,” my mother interjects, smiling politely, “I’m sure he’s not?—”
“Yes, actually,” Koen interrupts her, and my mother’s smile falters.
I pinch my cheek between my teeth in order to hide my smirk. Shehateswhen people interrupt her.
“My father started acquiring property around the city, and you could say my brothers and I have taken over the family business.”
I scoff at Koen’s so-calledfamily businesscomment, drawing everyone’s attention by accident. I take a sip from my glass as cover.
I haven’tseenmy parents in over four years, and I’ve barely talked to them in as much. When I finally gathered up the nerve to tell them I was pregnant, they told me to get rid of it. And while I support that right for other girls, I just—I just couldn’t. Plus, by that point, it was already too late. But my parents were clear: if I had that baby, if I didn’t give it up for adoption, they were cutting me off.
I left that night, fleeing to Lily’s house, and by the time I arrived, they’d already revoked access to my bank account, shut off my credit cards, and contacted Delacroix about terminating the dorm agreement. Only my scholarship saved my spot at the school. They hoped they could bully me into making a different choice, but I was done dancing at the end of their strings.
They didn’t give a shit about me or their future grandchild; all they cared about werethe optics.How would it look if Senator Ralston’s daughter turned up pregnant with abastard? And during an election year!Oh, well now, that just wouldn’t do.
Oh shit,Remi. A bolt of fear rips through me. What if they bring up Remi? My gaze flickers nervously up to Koen, who’s listening intently to my father droll on about mutual funds and property taxes. Not that they’ve ever asked about her before—but things have a habit of not going my way lately….
“Briar.” My mother’s icy eyes survey me again. “You look like you’re eating well.”
I stiffen and feel Koen’s attention shift back to me, observing our interaction despite continuing the conversation with my father.
“Yes, mother. You mentioned that,” I say sharply, lifting my chin.
“You know the winter showcase is right around the corner?”
I blink at her. Seeing as we’re at the gala specifically celebrating the upcoming winter showcase... I think I do, yeah.
But I don’t say that. Instead, I bite my tongue and respond with a tight-lipped, “Yes.”
She hums audibly, and I look away, anywhere else, finding my glittering shoes a marvelous distraction.
“I have to tell you, your father and I were shocked when we saw your name on the literature sent to sponsors. I would have expected the Conservatory would have wanted to go with a fresh face. You know how those young dancers just have so much drive and ambition; they really are a sight to see.”
I keep my gaze on my toes. I painted them black; they look good against the silver shoes.
“But then I heard about the original girl… What a shame. Caterina, right?” She clicks her tongue. “A broken ankle right in the middle of the season!” she laments, though her tone is dripping with venom. “But at least it all worked out for you though, sweetheart, right? You were first understudy? Still an admirable position to hold, and now you get to headline!”
The snide smile she’s shooting at me down her nose tells me she already knows, so I lift my chin when I say, “No, actually I didn’t get understudy. Julia Zhang did.” My mother gives me a satisfied smirk. “But one thing led to another, and they asked me to take the role.” I shrug, trying my best to look bored with the conversation, but Koen’s sharp eyes aren’t missing any of it.
“Oh, well, even more exciting!”
