Page 82 of Secrets (The Sins Trilogy 2)
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Iris
“Who was that cutie, and why is Tony dragging him away?” Yuna shouts in my ear. We’re sort of swaying to the music, but we aren’t dancing anymore. People around us are, though.
“His brother. Sounds like he owes Tony money or something.” I wish Tony would have introduced us before dragging him away. Although Tony knows Sam and Marty—the only two people related to me—I haven’t met anyone from his family, extended or otherwise. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember him ever even talking about his family. Does he not want me to know about them? Or is what Marty said the truth? That Tony’s really been disowned?
“Ooh, he’s in trouble. In my family, if you owe and don’t pay up…” She runs a finger across her neck.
“I thought your family was in a respectable business.” I looked up the Hae Min Group. It’s as legitimate as other big Korean conglomerates like Samsung or LG.
“Of course it’s all proper. I mean figuratively.” Yuna looks down at her feet. “I’m getting tired. Mind if we go sit down for a bit?”
“Sure.”
A few guys try to get us to join them as we slice through the crowd. As if. None of them can measure up to Tony. A couple of them reach out to grab at me, but Bobbi cuts them off with her body. The look that she gives them makes them step back.
Wow.I totally need to learn that skill.
“Ladies,” Bobbi says, herding us toward our table on the second-level balcony. The noise level is about a hundred decibels lower here.
“I’m going to the little sopranos room. You go ahead,” Yuna says.
I glance back and see a long line snaking toward the ladies’ room. “Good luck.”
I go to our table with Bobbi. I ask the server to give me whatever’s Tony’s favorite. I’m curious what he likes to drink when he’s out. He had something amber-colored at the bar, but I didn’t catch the name. Mr. Kim hasn’t touched anything except a bottle of water in front of him. Julie signals for another drink, her mouth set in a mulish line.
“You don’t like the club?” I ask, sidling closer so we don’t have to yell so much.
“It’s fine.”
“You aren’t dancing or having fun. It isn’t like you.” Julie adores clubbing. She did her best to drag me out every time we spent any time together overseas. Besides, if she’s upset with Yuna, she’s been holding it in for way too long. She’s more the type to just talk stuff out, even if it creates a big mess, than pretend everything’s fine.
She looks over her shoulder, toward the bathroom, then turns back to me. “It’s Yuna. She just…bothers me.”
“She does?” I blink, trying to remember what Yuna might’ve done or said that could’ve upset Julie. “Why?”
“Just… I don’t know. Arrogant and spoiled.” She slumps.
“Did she say something to upset you? If she did, it’s probably just some cultural miscommunication.” It’s a flimsy excuse. Yuna speaks English perfectly, and she isn’t personally weird. At least, I haven’t gotten any odd vibes from her. As far as I know, Tony hasn’t either. Yuna doesn’t seem to have any problem with Julie, and I want the two of them to get along. I have so few friends, I want to be able to keep and hang out with all of them without making one or another feel bad.
Julie cocks an eyebrow. “Really?”
“She’s nice if you get to know her, and doesn’t sugarcoat anything or fawn over you. What you see is what you get. Just give her a chance.”
My attempts only seem to upset Julie more. She starts to cross her arms, only to be interrupted when the server returns with our drinks. She grabs hers and gulps down half of it.
“I don’t know. I’m not a music prodigy, and didn’t grow up with such power and influence,” Julie says.
“Did Yuna say that?” I ask, stunned Julie feels this way.
“Didn’t have to. I can see it in her eyes.”
What the hell?Julie may not be a prodigy, but she’s a gifted pianist. And it isn’t like her family’s poor. The Pearces are old money and well connected. I don’t understand why she suddenly has this inferiority complex with Yuna. Honestly, I’m the one who doesn’t measure up. I’m a poor relation to a man who’s a manipulative jerk. Oh, and I forgot my cousin, who thinks I’m too ugly to be raped. Except for my talent with the piano, I have nothing—no money, no fame. The crazy wine fight video doesn’t count.
Frustrated with Julie’s weird attitude, I knock back the drink. A fireball explodes in my mouth and nose, and I start coughing hard.
I swear I asked for Tony’s favorite, not napalm.
