“What the hell is the meaning of this? You can’t even watch a child?” comes my grandfather’s irate voice from the living room.Oh, that’s right…He’s joining us for Christmas in Paris today. “And you kids! You just let her walk out?”
“We didn’t know. She snuck out behind our backs,” Vonnie says.
I walk inside, the thick carpet muffling my steps. Dad, Karl and Vonnie are standing on one side, with Mom and Grandfather on the other. Mom isn’t standing next to Grandfather to render support, but to calm him down so he doesn’t yell at Dad too much.
There isn’t even a hint of concern for my wellbeing on Dad’s face. The only thing that he’s worried about is that Grandfather is upset. Dad knows it’s Grandfather who controls the money in the family, not Mom.
Then Dad notices me. “Lucie! Where have you been? You had everyone worried sick!” he says, instantly jumping into blame-Lucienne mode. He knows Grandfather won’t yell at me the way he does at others because I’m the youngest and I’m legally a Peery.
I look at the man who basically donated sperm to make me. He has no qualms about using me to shield himself. I don’t know why I ever thought he was my dad.
“I didn’t know you were so worried,Roderick.”
He flinches in shock, his olive complexion paling a little. This is the first time I’ve ever called him by his first name.
I almost laugh. I don’t know why he’s acting so stunned. He should’ve known he couldn’t stomp all over me forever. I turn to Grandfather. “I’m sorry, but I needed to take a long walk to blow off some steam after Vonnie took my pearls and refused to give them back,” I say calmly, trying not to be whiny or pleading. Grandfather hates both equally.
His blue eyes, cool under thick platinum eyebrows, then swing to Vonnie.
Tears instantly fall down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Grandfather. I didn’t realize Lucienne would be that upset. I just wanted to try them on because they looked so pretty.”
“I told you not to touch my things,” I tell her with forced gentleness before Grandfather can respond.
“You should’ve told me you wanted pearls too, Vonnie. I would’ve bought some for you.” Mom walks over and runs her hand down Vonnie’s dark hair, trying to ease the tension in the room.
But is that attempt for me or for everyone else?
I look around slowly. Mom wants me to give in and bring peace. Roderick wants me to be an obedient little girl and “share” what’s mine with him and his other children. Karl is an opportunistic jerk who treats me like shit because he can, while enjoying what being my half-brother brings him. Vonnie wants anything that’s mine.
Take away what they want the most from you. Mr. Cashmere Coat’s voice rings in my head.
“Give them back,” I say to Vonnie, palm out.
Her lips tremble. God, I’m so sick of her theatrics. Poor, poor Vonnie. So persecuted by her mean little half-sister.
Grandfather watches, his expression unreadable. Mom is wringing her hands, anxiety flickering in her pale blue gaze. Roderick stays back, observing the scene, probably trying to decide how he should behave next, and Karl glowers at me like I’m being a bitch.
“Well?” I prompt when Vonnie doesn’t move.
Her gaze darts around. When nobody comes to her defense, she reluctantly undoes the clasp and hands the necklace to me.
I take it by the end—the part she didn’t run her tongue all over.
If I want to follow Mr. Coat’s advice, I need an ally. I slide my gaze to Grandfather, study his granite Nordic features—the platinum hair, arctic-blue eyes and hard mouth. What would he do if he were me?
He thinks I’m not fit for Peery Diamonds because I’m a girl—too weak and too soft. And he might be right. If somebody messed with him, he would never walk away like I did. There’s a reason Mr. Coat told me I need to stay and fight if I want to keep what’s mine—that I need to respect myself enough to fight for what’s mine.
Vonnie screwed with me, and I need to show Grandfather I’m not some soft little girl. Not if I want him to see me as his true heir, somebody he can leave the Peery fortune to. I need to act like the way a man would—a man who’s furious that somebody touched what’s his, even if the item in question isn’t that sentimental.
I throw the string of pearls into the flames of the fireplace.
Mom gasps. Vonnie shouts, “What the hell?” while Roderick and Karl stare at Grandfather, waiting for the most powerful man in the room to explode first before they join the fireworks.
“Those were nice pearls,” Grandfather says, his voice hard.
“I know,” I say, keeping my gaze steady as I look up at him. “But the necklace could be infected. Sincesomebody licked it all over like an animal.” My eyes slide over to Vonnie, who’s flushing. “Why should I keep something she grossified?”
“You could’ve let her have it,” Grandfather says, his tone still the same, although his eyes are gleaming with a hint of approval.
