Cruel Legacy
Page 28
“Back to the topic on hand. Thomas was a douchebag. We can’t judge everyone based off of him. I mean things were looking up with the guy before him. Sam, right?”
I swallowed and hastily turned to my vanity. “Yeah.”
“You need to find another guy like him. I liked him.”
“I don’t really know if there are any other guys like Sam,” I said as I applied a coat of red lipstick.
“It’s not like you’d know, Lark.”
“Hey, I date sometimes.”
“Robert Dawson?” Anna asked disbelievingly. She snagged a necklace and offered it to me without comment “Aren’t you just friends with benefits anyway?”
“No,” I muttered. The necklace really did go well. Damn her. “We’re not really anything. I don’t know. Why the third degree about dating?”
Anna grinned. “I have a new client…”
“Oh no. No way.”
“Come on. He’s a movie star. You could wash clothes on his abs. You’d be into him.”
“I love you, Anna English, but no way. No movie stars. No TV playboys. I am not doing another blind date. I have too much work. Talk to me after the election is over, and I’ll think about getting back on the horse.”
“Literally.”
“Metaphorically,” I said with a laugh. I put on a pair of black Jimmy Choos. “How do I look?”
“I’d fuck you,” Anna said conclusively.
I shook my head. “You’re a riot.”
“Well, I’d come with, but I think my current client would rather bury himself in blow and hookers than show an interest in politics, but good luck.”
“Dear god, your job.”
“It’s a miracle I’m as well adjusted as I am, right?”
I furrowed her brow. “Would we say you’re well adjusted?”
“I got married in Hollywood. Probably not.”
“God, I’m going to miss you.” I pulled her into a hug. “When are you coming back to New York?”
“Probably next week. Same time and place?”
“You’re the perfect coffee date.”
“Yeah. Yeah.” Anna waved her glasses around. “That’s because I always bring you cold coffee.”
“Thank god for that.” I nodded toward the door, grabbing my jacket. “You’re the only one who gets how crazy it is.”
Anna fell into stride beside her. “Everyone gets it. Just no one understands why you are still working these hours. Working on the presidential campaign was one thing, this seems excessive.”
“I like it,” I said with a shrug.
And I did.
I wished that I could really explain to everyone what I loved about campaigning. It wasn’t even the political aspect. I was sure my parents would be happier if I was the politician. But it was something in campaigning itself. The joy of packaging and marketing and selling a candidate. To reaching out to thousands of people through phone calls, knocking on doors, volunteering, banquets, rallies, and more. At the end of the day when all the votes were tallied, there was nothing more satisfying than my candidate winning. I worked hundred hour weeks for that high. And I’d keep working at it until I reached my ultimate goal of running a presidential campaign.
“Whatever you’re into,” Anna said as they took the elevator downstairs. “I mean, I’m a fixer. I like cleaning up other people’s messes. To each their own. Just promise me one thing.”
I sighed and pushed my dark red hair out of my face. “You know I hate promises.”
“Try to remember that you’ll only be young once and enjoy it.” Anna kissed my cheek and fluttered her fingers at me as she exited the building.
I sighed. Anna was right, of course. I couldn’t keep punishing myself because no one was like Sam or out of fear that they were all like Thomas. With my grueling schedule, it was easier to have someone like Robert on standby, but maybe I needed to try for something more. Maybe after the campaign.
“Your car just arrived, Miss St. Vincent,” Harry said.
“Thank you, Harry.”
I pulled on my jacket, stepped out into the brisk spring weather, and sank into the car service. With my mind completely consumed by work once more, I was surprised at how quickly we arrived at my destination. I took the steps inside and went straight to the backroom where I knew I would find the scheduling coordinator, Demi.
“Oh thank god, you’re finally here,” Demi said when she saw me.
“I’m not even late.”
Demi waved her hand. “Girl, look at you!”
“What? This isn’t that different than normal.” I slung her jacket up in the room and tried not to blush. Demi was one of my favorites in the office. She was a vivacious black woman from Brooklyn with curves I would die for and short corkscrew curls that she pulled off like no other. Meanwhile, I was lucky if I had time to brush my hair.
“Yeah. Sure. You look hot, girlfriend.”
“Thanks, D. What’s the emergency?”
“We’re an hour from start time. The interns aren’t answering on the headset. We’re down three ushers. The musicians aren’t in position and haven’t practiced in the space at all. I just heard that Mr. and Mrs. Chambliss thought that the two tables they ordered were for ten people and not eight tonight. So now I have to find space for four extra people and figure out how to politely ask for ten thousand more dollars,” Demi said with an eye roll. “Mayor Kensington will be here in fifteen minutes and everything needs to be done before then.”
“You figure out the ushers and have Aspen work on the seating chart. We’ll send Her Honor over to the tables at the end to warm them up, and then I’ll do the big sell before they leave.” I put on a headset, grabbed a clipboard, and was halfway out the door as I said, “I’ve got the interns and will kick the musicians into gear.”
“Thank you, Lark. You are a godsend.”
“Love you too, D.”
I hurried out of the back room and into the banquet hall. It was a huge ballroom with dozens of large round tables with black table clothes. Red, white, and blue Mayor Kensington banners hung from the ceiling around the perimeter of the room. She headed toward the stage and saw the problem immediately. All the interns were congregated in one corner chatting rather than working.
I rolled my eyes. This would be fun.
“Bailey, Kolby, Marcel, Sonya.” I clapped my hands twice. “Let’s get moving. Headsets on and responsive.”
Their eyes rounded in shock and then immediately dispersed with mumbled apologies. It was like none of them wanted paid jobs at all.
“Interns are a go,” I said into the headset.
“Roger that,” Demi said.
I shook my head and then continued toward the stage. I’d have to deal with the crappy interns sometime later. Right now, I needed the musicians to do their job. They were getting paid.
I was nearly to the conductor when the short, squat man tapped his baton two or three times and the orchestra moved seamlessly into their chairs.
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” I muttered sarcastically. I whipped around, ready to deal with whatever the next fire was.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t paying attention when I turned and ran right into a rather solid man. I reached out and grasped his shoulders to keep from toppling over in my high heels. His hands came out and clutched onto my hips, steadying ,e easily.
“Oh god, sorry,” I said. I tried to find my balance again, feeling like a clumsy fool.
“No, no, it’s my fault. I was standing in your way. You just looked like someone I….”
I froze.
I knew that voice.
I knew the perfect cadence of it.
The way it rolled over my name.
The intimacy of it.
My eyes slowly rose to meet the deep dark brown orbs. They crashed over the short brown hair, the stubble on his jawline, the Cupid’s bow of his perfect lips. The shock clear on his face.
“Lark?” he asked in disbelief.
My heart flutter
ed just hearing the way he said it.
“Hi, Sam.”
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Acknowledgments
Thank you to everyone who helped make the Cruel series possible. It was quite an adventure bringing their story to life and incorporating so much inspiration from the classic novels that I love. I hope you enjoyed Penn & Natalie’s journey, and if so, would leave a review!
I can’t wait to bring you the next wild adventure on the Upper East Side with The Lying Season, a sexy second chance stand alone romance!
A L S O B Y K. A. L I N D E
CRUEL
One Cruel Night
Cruel Money
Cruel Fortune
Cruel Legacy
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Like stand alone companion novels about one big family—
WRIGHTS
The Wright Brother
The Wright Boss
The Wright Mistake
The Wright Secret
* * *
A single mom and widow discovers love again.
The Wright Love
The Wright One
* * *
Like angsty second chance romance—
AVOIDING SERIES
Avoiding Commitment
Avoiding Responsibility
Avoiding Temptation
* * *
Avoiding Extras
Avoiding Intimacy ✦ Avoiding Decisions
* * *
Like scandalous political affairs—
RECORD SERIES
Off the Record
On the Record
For the Record
* * *
10 years of an open relationship until one of them changes the game. Stand alone spin off.
Struck from the Record
* * *
She must decide between the easy love she deserves and the boy she’s always wanted.
Broken Record
* * *
Like drama-filled sports romance —
DIAMOND GIRLS SERIES
Rock Hard
A Girl’s Best Friend
In the Rough
Shine Bright
Under Pressure
* * *
Like rockstars—
TAKE ME DUET
Take Me for Granted
Take Me with You
* * *
Like vampire paranormal romance about blood whores—
BLOOD TYPE SERIES
Blood Type
Blood Match
Blood Cure
* * *
Like YA romantic fantasy about a girl who discovers magic in a world where magic doesn’t exist—
ASCENSION SERIES
The Affiliate
The Bound
The Consort
The Society
The Domina
* * *
Like a heart-pounding love story of one girl desperate to find herself again—
Following Me
About the Author
K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team.
She loves reading fantasy novels, binge-watching Supernatural, traveling to far off destination, baking insane desserts, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super-adorable puppies.
www.kalinde.com
* * *
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