Cruel Legacy (Cruel 3)

“Always?” I asked in confusion.

I’d never done this before. Why would she think that?

“This is Katherine’s box, right? She loves a good tequila shot with her girls.”

This was Katherine’s box? I’d sat in it with Penn and Lewis the first time I was here, but I hadn’t realized there was some unwritten rule that it belonged to her.

I glanced over at Harmony, who was grinning like a fool. She had been the one to call and make the reservation. I didn’t have to ask if she knew. Because of course, Harmony had known. She had likely asked for it personally and put her weight behind it, like she had with the limo. I appreciated the gesture. It wasn’t something I would have even known to do.

“It used to be Katherine’s box,” I told the waitress. “I’m Natalie.”

“Oh!” the girl said in surprise. “Sorry about that. Still want tequila?”

“Sure. Might as well.”

The waitress poured out thirteen shots along with limes and salt. We each took a shot and raised it into the air. Everyone looked to me to make a toast. Amy had always been the one to do that. Oh, how everything was turned upside down.

“To new friendships,” I started, tipping my head to Harmony.

“New hook-ups,” she cheered.

“Lots of sex,” Jane added with a wink.

“And getting fucked up!” Fiona cried.

“I’ll toast to that,” I said with a laugh. Licked the salt and then tossed the shot back.

The rest of the girls followed suit, drinking the potent liquid and then sucking on limes.

The girls moved back into their own small circles while others went out onto the dance floor to find man candy for the night. Harmony among them. I grabbed another drink from our personal bartender before sidling up with the lackeys. I was surprised to hear them discussing Lewis.

“Oh yeah,” Sloane said, “I have a friend who works for Warren. The whole place is a mess.”

“Damn,” Isabel said. “It looks so bad, and he’s single. Do you think that I have a chance now?”

“No,” Fiona said baldly.

“Oh sorry, Natalie,” Isabel said when I drew close. “I know that you dated.”

“He’s all yours,” I said easily.

“Of course, Isabel. She’s dating Penn Kensington now,” Fiona said. Then she snickered. “We’ve all been there, right, girls? We all found out how good that was last year.”

I froze in place at her words. At the close way they all watched me, as if waiting for a reaction to Fiona’s words. Then it all came together. These must have been some of the girls that Penn had slept with after we broke up. I couldn’t believe he hadn’t had more discriminating taste. But I knew he had done it to get back at Katherine. In some sense, wasn’t I using them for the same reason?

“Oh yes, he mentioned that,” I said evenly. Though I would bring it up with him later as to why he hadn’t. How many other girls on the list had he also slept with and let me walk into the lion’s den without a warning?

Fiona seemed startled by my response, but Sloane’s dry voice filled the silence. “I wish my choices were between a Warren and a Kensington.”

Jane snickered next to me. “You three are so fun.”

But the way she’d said it, it was the most Jane way ever. I had to fight from laughing at the quip that went over their heads.

“Penn and I are happy. That’s all that matters.”

“It is,” Isabel agreed easily.

“Though I heard Lewis is so miserable,” Sloane said.

“And his poor mother,” Fiona said.

Jane shrugged. “If you do bad business, there are consequences. No one is exempt. Not even a Warren.”

“Ugh,” Isabel groaned. “Let’s talk about something else. When I hear the word business, I start to break out. I’m going to marry someone and never have to think about it again.”

Fiona giggled. “Isn’t that everyone’s plan?”

Jane straightened. “I don’t think it is.”

“Yeah, but, like, owning a club isn’t a real job,” Sloane said slowly.

I placed my hand on Jane’s before she could go off on them. “Jane works really hard for her club. She’s amazing at it. And she enjoys it. Some of us don’t mind working. And some of us don’t want to. Either is fine,” I said evenly. Even though I couldn’t imagine never working again and letting Penn cover everything.

“Oh god,” Fiona grumbled. “Look who just showed his face.”

We all turned to see who had appeared.

“Don’t look. Don’t look!” she cried.

“You just told us to,” Isabel grumbled.

But it was too late anyway. We were all looking and found Camden Percy striding into Club 360. He’d be super-freaking hot in a gray three-piece suit if he wasn’t such an unbelievable dick. No amount of good looks could make up for the hideous personality lurking darkly underneath it all.

“Why are we looking at Camden?” I asked, turning back to the lackeys.