Page 75 of The Heiress

She shook her head. “Your father…let’s just say, it was too late by the time I realized what was happening. I’ve spent the last five years trying to outmaneuver them. Sometimes I win, sometimes they win.” And then her eyes flashed with determination. “But now you’re here. Perhaps the tide will finally turn in our favor.”

* * *

The other thingI was starting to get used to was how quickly things moved in this world. In my old life I could spend a week getting around to running an errand. Not now. If something needed to be done then it needed to be donenow.

Which was why I had just taken ahelicopterto Miami for an interview withtheJulia Aston. And also, speaking of my old life, I took the quiet car ride to the television station as an opportunity to call Hazel.

“I was starting to think you’d forgotten about me!”

“We talked three days ago.” Yesterday was all frantic text messaging.

“Yeah, but back then you were just my quiet friend Sam. Now you’re famous!”

“I should have called sooner.” I was a really bad friend.

“What? No! I’m not guilt-tripping you right now. I was just…ugh, I don’t know, trying to lighten the mood? You’re in the middle of a whirlwind. Calling me when you have a strong, sexy support system sharing your bed is not necessary.”

Except it was. But I appreciated her understanding. Jace was driving (again) and insisted that I had to sit in the darkly tinted backseat of yet another armored car. We had another police escort. The four men from Devil’s Wrath rode in the car behind us.

And I must say, those men were my favorite part of the last few hours. Watching them argue over who would sit where, who would drive, and just the general awkwardness of getting in a car, was hilarious to watch.

“I miss your face.”

Hazel sighed. “I miss your face, too. When can we get together?”

My head still whirled from the meeting with Jasmine and Kennedy. There was so much happening this week in Key West, then it was off to New York City for board meetings.

“Do you think you could get a couple of days off?”

I could practically hear her smile through the phone line. “Sure! Where are we headed?”

“I should warn you, traveling with me is no fun. I have bodyguards and armored cars. Although I did just take a helicopter to Miami and yesterday I flew back to Key West on a private jet, so there are perks to traveling with me as well.”

“Oh it sounds dreadful,” she said. She might have been a bit sarcastic, too.

“I’m flying up to New York. I have meetings but we can have a slumber party in the hotel.”

“I’ve done a lot of things in my day, but I’ve never shared a man with my best friend.”

Jace took the time to glare at me in the rearview mirror.

I rolled my eyes. It was such a Hazel thing to say. “I’m pretty sure he would sleep in a different bed. You could too. We could all have our own beds. Beds for everyone!”

She laughed. “I’ve always wanted to be friends with someone super rich and famous. This is going to be so awesome!”

For a few minutes I forgot all the complications that came with being super rich and famous. But reality came calling as I hung up and the car pulled to a stop at the side gates of the local television station where Julia Aston had arranged for our interview.

The police escort remained outside the gates while our two cars parked deep inside the private parking garage. A security officer met us at the door, confirmed all our information, and then led us into the bowels of the three-story building.

Julia was shorter and smaller than I expected, but I suppose that's common with people you’ve only ever seen on a screen. Her hair was coiled into an amazing bun at the nape of her neck and her makeup was impeccable.

“Samantha. I am so honored to be doing this interview with you. How are you?” She clasped my hand in both of hers, maintaining constant eye contact. It was all very formal and practiced, but performed with the ease of someone who’d done this thousands of times.

“I’m well. And I’m honored to meet you, Miss Aston. This is all very surreal.”

“I’m sure. Why don’t we chat for a bit to get to know each other?”

In an adjoining room there were drinks and a small buffet of delicious food. My biker escorts looked at the canapés and sushi like it might bite them. Once again, their addition to my life made me smile. Storm, in particular, kept looking around like he’d entered Oz.

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