Cruel Legacy (Cruel 3)

“And you are excellent at it. I think I handled your mother pretty well.”

“Yes. Until the end when I thought you were going to bite her head off.”

I gave him my best Upper East Side look. “Me?” I asked incredulously. “In polite society?”

He snorted and then gestured toward the auction tables. “Come on, my little minx. You catch on a little too well.”

I followed him further away from his mother and the problems she brought to the table. I’d been so mad at Penn for so long that it was strangely relaxing not to second-guess him. We made a shockingly good team. He’d been right. All of this was better with him. I let the last year slide off of my shoulders and delighted in his company.

“What do you think the most outrageous item is?” I asked Penn as we journeyed sedately down the line. Passing a signed first edition of a classic novel, an annual entrance fee to a gentlemen’s club in the city, and a yacht.

“I have no idea. I’d guess something to do with a private jet. That usually wins out.”

“You are correct,” a man said behind us. “The use of my private jet to a destination of the winner’s choice for a week.”

I realized that I recognized the man as Camden’s father, Carlyle Percy. And next to him was his wife, Elizabeth Cunningham. Our eyes met, and she smiled, clearly pleased to see me.

“Hello, sir,” Penn said, extending his hand to Carlyle. “That’s very generous.”

“Least I can do. It’s good to see you, Penn.” They shook hard. “And this is…”

“Natalie Bishop,” Penn said effortlessly.

I held my hand out, and Carlyle kissed the top. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Bishop.”

“This is the girl I was telling you about, darling,” Elizabeth said. She leaned into her husband’s arm, but her Upper East Side mask was as efficient as ever. “The one who had her picture on Page Six in that latest design I’d worked on.”

“Right. Of course,” Carlyle said in a way that made it seem as if he had no idea what she was talking about.

Then he immediately jumped into a conversation with Penn about business. I’d never heard Penn discuss his family business before. And for some reason, I thought he hadn’t been apprised of the conditions of his father’s company, which was now being run by a new CEO and the board of directors. But I’d been wrong.

Maybe it was the Upper East Side mask that fit into place, but the business talk seemed to come to him as easily as the philosophy lectures. I knew that he didn’t want to be running the company. But I was thrown enough by the conversation that I hardly noticed when Elizabeth tried to get my attention.

“Let’s leave the boys to their boring drivel,” Elizabeth said, pulling me toward the table she had been standing in front of with her husband.

I glanced down at the entry and saw that it was for a one-on-one consultation and fitting with Elizabeth herself.

“Wow. What a prize,” I told her.

“Yes, well, no one will actually take me up on it,” she said with a wave of her hand. “It’s always some woman who wants to say that she’s wearing the latest.”

“Of course, and who wouldn’t want to?” I said quickly.

“Speaking of, I adored that feature on Page Six. I’d thought that dress would be perfect for you. Someone already so bold.”

I shot her a knowing look. “I have no idea what you mean.”

Elizabeth’s lips curved upward. “I might have heard from my daughter that you’re shaking things up around here.”

“Am I? I thought I was just beginning to fit in.”

“If you ask me,” Elizabeth said carefully, “perhaps things need to be shaken up.”

“That so?” My stomach twisted in anticipation. Was Elizabeth actually going to agree that Katherine needed to fall off her high horse?

“Indeed. What are your plans for Fashion Week?”

I remained perfectly still. I’d heard of New York City Fashion Week. Melanie, was obsessed with fashion and would die if she found out that I might get to go. But I didn’t know when it was, nor did I have any plans.

“What do you have in mind?” I asked instead of the reel running through my head.

“Anyone who is anyone will be there,” Elizabeth said.

Katherine.

“I’ll have a ticket to you for my event and dress you for the gala.”

Her eyes were sly and cunning, saying way more than the offer sounded. By taking my side, she was going to piss off Katherine. And I was going to be in a guaranteed spot to see it go down.

“That would be wonderful,” I said with a smile.

“What would be great?” Penn asked, appearing at my side.

“Elizabeth invited to dress me for Fashion Week.”

Penn didn’t miss a beat, and I was sure only I could see the pain in his expression. “Perfect. We’ll see you there then.” His gaze dropped down to mine. “Let’s go bid on that auction you were interested in.”