look at me, as my mother's old bosses had, as an unfortunate
imposition, a blot on the otherwise impeccable record of the
finest Event Planner the West Coast hotel industry had ever
seen. Rather, he even looked pleased to meet me.
“She's just as pretty as you said, Rose,” Antonio said.
“And looks just like you.”
My mother laughed. “Just the Asian side,” she said.
“The Italian hair and those green eyes are all her father's.”
Her laugh died out suddenly. She looked me up and
down with a sudden concern, as she always did when she
slipped up and mentioned my father, as if searching me for
signs of childhood trauma. But there were none to be found.
I had long come to terms with the story of my conception –
a somewhat romanticized account of my mother's brief affair
with an Italian financier who had passed through a Roman
hotel early in her career – and although I knew little about
him beside his green eyes and penchant for midnight gelato,
I was perfectly content with the idea that my mother and I
constituted a family all our own.
“I'm glad you've come, Mackenzy,” Antonio said.
“Are you enjoying the dance?”
17
KAILIN GOW
“Oh, very much, sir!” I exclaimed.
“No 'sir,' here,” Antonio shook a mock wagging
finger at me. “We like to keep things simple here, informal.
I always tell my staff – what makes a luxury hotel isn't the
fine napkins or the glitz and glitter in the lobby, it's the
people who make a great hotel what it is. And we at Cutter
Imperial are a family. We all care about the hotel. We all care
about our guests. And that's what makes us the number-one
hotel in Aeros.” He laughed. “But I'm boring you, talking
business policy. You should be off with kids your own age.
With my son, as a matter of fact. Arrived back this morning
– but of course I haven't seen him for more than a minute or
two. He's probably gone out to get himself in trouble. Not
that I blame him, of course. I did far worse at his age.” He
chuckled.
“I'd like to meet him,” I said shyly. I knew that it
wasn't done for staff to mingle with the owners' children –
but this didn't seem like an ordinary hotel. Besides, my
senior year would be starting up in a couple of days, and –
although I had been reasonably popular back home – the idea
of finishing up my high school career alone and friendless
18
Princes of Paradise (M.A.G.E. #1 )
seemed ever more likely as the start of the new term loomed
closer.
“He'd probably like to meet you!” said Antonio. “He
needs to make some friends before he starts school.”
“But surely he must have...”
“Nah,” Antonio shrugged. “I sent Chance off to Eton
years ago – he's been boarding in England and learning to
take tea with counts and dukes. Not my sort of thing, of
course – but he insisted.” He sighed. “Any school that
teaches fencing as a varsity sport is irresistible to the ten-
year-old mind. Plus, he has family over there – I thought it
would be good for him to get a proper education, things
being what they are in the U.S...”
The Erosion had massively weakened the American
economy, as transport between the current American
Archipelago had grown massively more difficult and
agricultural production in the ocean that had once been the
American Midwest had all but stopped. The best schools –
the best everything, for that matter – were increasingly in
Europe.
“What made him decide to come home?” I asked.
19
KAILIN GOW
Few who could afford Eton's sky-high fees would willingly
choose an American school, although the town's Aeros
Academy, to which I was being sent thanks to the death of
an elderly and childless third-cousin, had a good reputation
as one of the toniest schools in the U.S. A reputation that was
growing more intimidating by the day.
“Decide, kicked out – same difference.” Antonio
spoke quickly, almost too quickly. “He got into a bit too
much trouble trying to sneak girls onto school grounds. That
ten-year-old swordsman didn't think too much about girls
when he went up there – but by eighteen...ah, well. Some
time in Aeros will be good for him. I don't trust the Brits,
Rose – too formal for my liking.” Antonio grinned, but his
smile no longer seemed genuine. It was plastic – almost
forced.
I smiled. I could sympathize with this mysterious
Chance. Playboy or not – certainly he didn't sound like the
class bookworm – Chance was likely to be as lost and alone
on day one as I was. Perhaps we'd make friends, I told myself
– perhaps, like his father, he'd overlook my lowly
background as the daughter of“the staff,” and we could
20
Princes of Paradise (M.A.G.E. #1 )
team up against the cliques and challenges of senior year.
“See, Mac,” my mother was telling me. “I don't know
what you were so worried about. You won't be the only new
kid in the senior class. You'll have Chance there. You two
can help each other!”
Antonio grinned. “I'm sure Chance will be glad for
the company. He needs good,
