“Besides,” Chase says. “I found the perfect spot to stand, right in-between the fancy auction baskets and the fancy board members’ suits.”
I turn my head quickly to look at the group of men gathered next to us.
“Wait, those are the review board members?” I ask with wide eyes. I make a point to straighten my posture, even though they seem to be looking literally anywhere other than actually at me.
“Yep,” Chase says. “Sterling, I think I saw your dad here a few minutes ago. Pretty sure he went to go get another drink.”
The mere mention of his father sends Sterling into an immediate cold sweat. His hand feels clammy against my palm and I can see him looking around the room without turning his head.
I don’t know what his dad did to make him hate him so much, but Sterling definitely doesn’t want to be anywhere near his father.
I feel bad for dragging him here, but that only makes it more critical for me to meet his father as soon as possible. The longer we stay here, the more of a chance there is of some sort of calamity befalling me—as it usually does.
Tonight, however, I’m more worried about Sterling.
“I want to try to talk to the review board members,” I say, determinedly. “But I’m not really sure how to approach them.”
“Well,” Chase says as he stares at a figure who’s just infiltrated the group of board members. “Just do what Bridget did and walk right over there.”
Sure enough, Bridget is in the midst of their conversation now.
I can hear her buttering the men up and telling them about all of her false accomplishments here at reform school and how happy she is that her parents sent her here because it was just what she needed. Everything that she says is a lie, and yet she makes it sound so sweet, like poison laced with honey.
I really can’t stand that girl.
And yet I still find myself taking mental notes in case I need to copy her.
“Maybe you could introduce me to your father?” I ask Sterling. I already know that he isn’t going to be fond of the idea, but I don’t know where else to start.
“No, I don’t think that would be a good idea,” he says. “Knowing me isn’t going to help you with my father. If anything, it’ll probably hurt your chances.”
I doubt that, but I don’t push him any further. I can tell immediately which man is his father, because when a man in a very trim and very couture looking suit rejoins the group with a martini in his hand, Sterling’s hands start to shake.
“I need to get some water,” he says. “I’ll be right back.”
Sterling leaves and walks toward the opposite side of the hall. I’m pretty sure there’s no water over there but I know that wasn’t why he left to begin with. He either needs some time to mentally regroup, or he’s planning to hide from his father’s sight for the rest of the evening.
Well, at least now I know which one is his father. He’s my ticket back into Brown. I suck in a deep breath and get ready to go introduce myself.
“You got this,” Chase says with a smile from next to me. “You’re the best candidate for Brown that this guy will see all night. Go knock ‘em dead.”
“Do you know why Sterling hates his dad so much?” I ask, suddenly, hoping to get a read on the guy before I go over there and start kissing up to him.
“No, I only know that I’ve never seen the two of them in the same room together, or even heard them talk to each other on the phone. No idea why though. I mean, most of the parents that send their kids here to reform school aren’t ideal. But we all deal with the cards we were dealt and try to make it through.”
Well that didn’t really help at all.
I wait another minute to try and muster up some courage before walking over. I know I can’t wait long, or I—like Sterling—am going to lose my nerve.
When Bridget smiles at the group of board members, and I hear her say her goodbyes as she turns to leave, I know that now is my chance. I force my feet to walk forward, even though my brain is saying “no, no, no.” But my body keeps moving all the way until I’ve taken her place standing in front of the review board members.
Some of them are sipping cocktails and talking to each other. Others are sharing a good laugh over something that I’m not privy to. And there are one or two that are glancing in my general direction as I walk up and approach the group.
“Hello,” I say as I reach out my hand straight to Sterling’s dad. “I’m Aubrey and I’m friends with your son.”
I immediately regret my choice of words. I should have trusted Sterling.
“That’s a strange way to address a member of the review board, isn’t it?” he asks without taking my hand. “Most students show at least a little bit of respect and decorum, and most refrain from referencing some form of nepotism at the very first greeting.”
I suddenly feel super awkward and withdraw my hand to let my arm rest back down at my side. Nepotism?
“It’s a strange outfit too,” he says as he eyes me from head to toe.
“Excuse me?” I ask.
“This is a gala, not a nightclub. One might have thought that you would have at least attempted to make a more modest impression. Especially considering your backstory.”
My … my backstory? It’s all I can do to keep a look of horror from marring the already stale smile on my face.
I
