Page 50 of Old Money

“I didn’t realize you were bringing a date,” Angelina says, her eyes flashing back to me for a moment then back to Sawyer. “It’s very nice to meet you, Sawyer.”

But I want to be clear.

“Oh, she’s not just a date,” I say, my grip on her tightening. “We’re dating. We’re together.”

JULIAN

Angelina’s eyes widen, her head nodding slowly. For the years she’s been around, I’ve never brought a woman to any event, let alone announced that I was seeing someone. But seeing the look in her eyes, I know she’s also wondering how much of the spotlight will be taken off her this week because of it. If I can help it, it’ll be all about Angelina. I’ll protect Sawyer as long as I possibly can.

“Thank you,” Sawyer says, “it’s so nice to meet you too.” We stand in silence for a moment before Angelina waves us in, as if it’s her name on the deed to this place and not mine or my brothers’. But I let her go. We follow her inside, and the staff is finishing up final touches on decorations around the house. I feel Sawyer’s grip on my hand tighten as she takes it all in again, this time a little less rushed and a little less hushed.

My father—or, presumably, Angelina under the guise of my father—has really outdone himself for this. There are tables set up all over the main halls, decorations on what feels like every inch of the house, and a large portrait of Angelina hanging in the center of the foyer that he apparently had commissioned.

I can see the stage being set up in the main hall to my right, and I can hear the AV guys testing the sound system. I look down at Sawyer, and she looks back up at me.

“I can’t believe this is your house,” she breathes out with a giggle. I smile.

“It’s not,” I remind her. “None of us live here full time. It’s more of a venue.”

“Finally!” I hear Brooks say as he walks down the right side of the main staircase. He makes his way to us, bending down to hug Sawyer first then me.

“You positive about this, Big Brother? It’s gonna be a fiasco,” he whispers in my ear. I just smile and pat his back. There’s no turning back now.

“Well, what do we have here?” I hear my father’s booming voice call from the top of the stairs, looking down at us like he’s a god. Our eyes meet, and I hate how much I look like him. I love my father, but I know there is something evil in him. And I worry every day that if I don’t do enough, that evil will come out in me too.

He walks down the stairs like he’s floating, his thick gold ring that belonged to my grandfather gleaming under the chandeliers. When he makes it to the floor, he looks at us. Angelina appears at his side, just as she always does, but his eyes are on me and then on Sawyer.

“Julian has brought, uh…” Angelina’s voice starts to trail off.

“Hey, Dad,” I say as we stand feet apart now. “This is Sawyer.”

His eyes stay locked with mine for a moment longer, like he’s trying to figure something out. Then he looks to Sawyer.

“Miss Sawyer,” he says, holding his hand out. She puts hers in it, but rather than shaking it, he turns it and kisses it. She clears her throat quietly.

“Hi, Mr. Everett. It’s?—”

“Cato, please,” he corrects her, looking back and forth between her and me. “Will you be joining us for Angelina’s party?”

“Yes, she will,” I interject. “Sawyer and I have been dating for a few weeks. I wanted to introduce her to the family.”

My dad’s head tilts back slowly, a half-smile on his lips.

“Well, how ‘bout that,” he says. “I’ve never known my son to bring a date to an event, let alone a whole girlfriend. You must be special, Sawyer.”

It sounds nice enough, but I can feel the underlying intent.

What do you want from this?

How old are you?

“Thank you,” she says, “but I think Julian is pretty special.”

“Yes,” my father says. “Many do, my dear.”Fucker.Our eyes lock, and I glare at him. Within sixty seconds of meeting her, he’s already pointing out that she’s after the money. But I won’t back down.

“I’m sure many think that his name and his fortune are special,” she says, and I snap my mouth shut. “But I don’t know that many others know how much of what makes him so incredible goes so far beyond that. Or that he’d be just as amazing without all of this,” she says, waving her hand.

Damn.

---