Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me
Chapter 98
“I think the best thing to do is run multiple events at once; that way there’s a well–rounded experience,” Lara muses.
“Multiple events will be chaotic.” Valerie rolls her eyes.
1–nod at Lara. “The pet adoption event will take center stage, of course, bring their own pets.”
but we could run several side shows and encourage people to
Valerie scoffs. “It’s an adoption event; they’re supposed to take pets home, not bring theirs.”
Lara leans forward, her attention entirely on me. “I like that,” she says. “Pets can be brought in to experience the spa and get medical check–ups. Kids can even go to the petting zoo. We could also offer horse rides around the trails.”
I nod eagerly. “That sounds perfect. We could—”
“Okay, that is it!” Valerie snaps, her chair scraping on the floor as she bolts to her feet.
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Lara and I look up at her.
“I will not have you two treat me like I’m not here!”
“Well, we’d prefer you weren’t here at all but since you are, we have to do the next best thing,” Lara says calmly.
I think my head is going to explode from the effort it takes to hold in my snicker.
Valerie, too, looks like her head is about to explode–but for a completely different reason.
An ugly sneer twists her face. “You think you’re so special, Lara, because you don’t live in the mansion with the rest of us or because your family is influential and so close to the Ashfords.”
Lara raises a brow. “Well, there you go. What makes you think you’re special?”
“I don’t think I’m special!” Valerie says indignantly.
“Oh? So, your haughty peacocking and posturing, your desperate need to pull everyone around you down to ensure you stay on top, your whole high school mean–girl act, that’s all just because?”
Valerie’s nose flares. “How dare you?”
Lara folds her arms. “What are you going to do about it, Val? Stomp your feet and huff?”
Valerie’s face turns so red that I genuinely fear her head will actually explode.
I doubt she has ever met anyone like Lara before in her life–someone who sees through all her bullshit and returns it to her in equal–if not double–measure.
“I’m leaving,” Valerie hisses, panting–probably from the effort it’s taking her not to throw a tantrum. “You bitches can find your way back to the mansion.”
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Chapter 98
She stalks out of Vanessa’s office and slams the door so hard that it rattles on its hinges.
I stare at the door, stunned. Lara sighs. “Good riddance.”
I shift my gaze to her, and she tenses slightly, “What?” she asks, suddenly sounding self–conscious.
1 shrug. “I don’t know anyone with the guts to speak to Valerie St Claire like that.”
Lara sighs. “It’s why I don’t have friends–I’m too blunt.”
I raise a brow. “You don’t have friends?”
She shrugs. “It’s not that shocking.”
“Yes, it is. You’re literally perfect.”
She scoffs and shakes her head, her ponytail swinging. Today, she’s in more of a casual get–up–white high–waisted shorts and a sleeveless bodysuit with Air Force 1s. Still, she manages to hold on to that flawless elegance that leaves me in awe of her.
“I seem perfect, but I’m not–nobody is. But everyone is so hung up on that and they’re too intimidated to get closer. Those that manage to do so pull a Valerie once I open my big, no–filter mouth.”
I lean back in my seat. “Does that mean I should expect my own scathing take–down soon?”
A smile pulls at her perfect lips. “I don’t know. I haven’t felt the urge yet when it comes to you.”
“Yet?”
She chuckles. “I’m kidding. I actually happen to think you’re cool.”
It’s an effort not to jump up from my seat and squeal while clapping my hands like a retarded seal.
Lara Ellington thinks I’m cool.
She pulls out her phone–of course, she’s not obligated to turn in her devices—and starts to type. “Since dear old Valerie has ditched us here and taken the car, do you want to come over to my place to hang out?”
My knee jerks from the effort it takes to keep myself in my seat.
Okay, I know she’s just a normal human being like the rest of us, and I shouldn’t be idolizing her or whatever, but Lara Ellington just asked me to hang out!
I shrug and mentally pat myself on the back for being so composed. “Sounds like fun,” I tell her. “But I have to be back in time for my sister to return from school.”
She nods. “Done.”
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Chapter 98
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“…and apparently, Emily’s been taking notes for me, so I just need to do my backlog of homework and I’m all caught up. Isaac offered to help me with them after school.”
I smile, gently stroking my sister’s hair. “That’s great, Summer. I’m glad you had a good day.”
She shifts on the bed, hugging me tightly. “Thank you for letting me go to school.”
I wrap my arms around her. “You should thank Nathan.”
“I already did.”
“You did?” How is it always so easy for her to get in touch with Nathan?
She nods, her hair tickling my chin. “He picked me up from school with Isaac.”
“Oh.”
“And I think he wanted to talk to you when we got back, but you were still at Lara’s.”
“Oh.”
June shifts and looks up at me. “You know there’s twenty–five other letters, right?”
I roll my eyes and gently flick her forehead. “Cheeky.”
She grins and snuggles into me. “Goodnight, Spring,” she yawns.
I kiss her hair. “Night, Summer.”
It doesn’t take long for June to fall asleep, leaving me wide awake with
my thoughts.
After Valerie ditched us, Lara called her driver, who took us back to the Ellington residence. Lily wasn’t in, a fact I couldn’t help but be disappointed by.
Hanging out with Lara, however, was far from disappointing.
She proved that you really can’t judge someone until you get to know them. Gone was the flawless ice queen I’d admired–and been intimidated by–and in her place was this fun, outspoken girl who likes popcorn drizzled with ketchup and gory horror flicks.
Needless to say, there’s a reason I lost track of time and didn’t return in time to welcome June from her first day back at school.
Just as I feel the exhaustion of the day weighing down on my eyelids, a soft knock jolts me awake.
“Come in,” I whisper, not wanting to wake June. The person on the other end obviously doesn’t hear me because they knock again.
With a sigh, I gently extricate myself from June’s grip and pad to the door.
When I open it, I find that I’m not really surprised by who stands on the other side of the door. Regardless, my heart skips a beat- because how could it not when he always looks so damn good?
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Chapter 98
“Nathan,” I breathe.
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