Sometimes people didn’t make the connection. If they found out my last name, it was common enough that they may not make the connection, but among the hyper wealthy and elite groups...it made for interesting conversation.

Last semester I kept my head down well enough, but being seen with Garrett meant I was due to be found out–if you could call it being found out.

I countered him. “How do you know my mother well enough to use her first name so casually?”

“Because your company and my company are good, good friends.”

I gritted my teeth. There was no way that I would end up working with him in the future. No. Way. “What does that mean?”

“My grandfather, Augustus Vaughn of Chamberlain Industries, knew your mother, worked with her, and spoke very highly of her.” He sighed and rubbed his face. “Look, Blondie. This isn’t the point of why I’m here. You may get dragged into some shit that one, you’re not even aware of and two, that you don’t need to be dragged into.”

I shook my head and looked over at Kelly, who was looking ready to start back up with a fresh bowl of popcorn to watch us go back and forth. “What I’m asking is this: why do you care? You and me? We’ve hung out in very clandestine ways, and you seem to care more about being full of yourself than caring about other people. Is the point of all this to make me feel like you care about anything other than yourself in some weird way to get me to sleep with you?” I backed up to sit on the couch ledge. “Unless it’s just a way to keep things contained in your family’s business. If we’re as connected as you say, it could be you trying to cover your ass.”

Sometimes I wondered how much of my mother I had in me. If I had some of the business savvy mindset she did. Or, if I had some of the discerning powers that led her to become wildly successful. If I did, honing them would be on the docket to make it in the world I was oblivious to.

“The rumors have already started, and things like this take a swift turn to ugly if you’re not careful. I can’t tell you what to do, but these people around you are cut-throat and will aim straight for your jugular. Look at me,” he raised his arms and turned in a circle. “I appear harmless, don’t I?”

I shared a look with Kelly. What did he mean by harmless?

“Okay...humor me. What did they say?”