She should know by now she’ll never lose this war against me. I’ll be ready for every single punch she throws my way. I’ll dodge the attacks and hit back harder myself. And I’ll keep going until the truth about Leonardo Brambilla comes out.
All those students in the hallways were happy to celebrate my arrival at the university.
It makes me wonder if they’d still be as happy if they knew I was the last person to see Leonardo Brambilla, their star student, alive...
They’d probably bring me in for questioning and try to arrest me. After all, I’m an outsider – the only one born without a pedigree. I’d be the easiest to blame and the easiest to punish.
Of course, I’m never going to let that happen.
4
FRANCESCA
I never knew how much debauchery happened at the university, but as I walk into my personal tutor Miss Ricci’s study, I realize everyone here is as corrupt as the rest of the world I’ve been in touch with.
I trip over the doorstep as I walk in, blushing as I realize Miss Ricci isn’t alone.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, I thought I had a meeting with you –”
I flush, shielding my eyes as the two figures inside the study scramble.
“I can come back later...”
I rush back outside, tripping again. My papers and books fly out of my hands, littering the hallway. Groaning, I drop to my knees and begin picking up my things. I feel a figure rushing past me to get out of the study and I force myself not to look.
Did I just stumble on Miss Ricci fooling around with a student?
“Get up.”
I look up from the floor where I’m kneeling into Miss Ricci’s cool blue gaze. She’s looking at me like I’m the worst scum that’s ever roamed the planet, and a traitorous flush colors my cheeks when I realize I’ve pissed her off.
Great. Just what I needed – another enemy in this stupid place.
I pick myself up and smooth down my skirt as I turn to face my tutor.
“You’re late,” Miss Ricci barks at me, pointing me inside the study. “Get in. Now.”
I clear my throat and enter her office where no evidence of her fooling around remains. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought I imagined the whole thing.
“Sit down.”
Miss Ricci points me to a chair and I hastily take a seat, still flushing furiously.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know I was disturbing you,” I mutter.
“Never mind that,” she waves a hand dismissively.
I use the moment to get a better look at the woman. She’s undeniably beautiful, with long, flowing blonde hair. Her eyes are icy blue and her complexion is tan. She’s wearing a pencil skirt with a wide waist belt and a crisp white shirt tucked into it. My gaze wanders over her chest and she clears her throat, catching me in the act. Flustered, I return my attention to her unbearably pretty face. Miss Ricci must be in her late thirties, and just being around her has made me feel unbearably childlike and frumpy at the same time. She’s so feminine and sexy, it’s hard to feel anything else in her presence.
“Are you going to say something?” she barks at me next. “Name, the reason you’re here...”
“I’m Francesca Esposito,” I manage. “I’m your eleven o’clock.”
“Right.”
She sorts through some papers on her desk, heaving a heavy sigh. I notice her shirt is buttoned the wrong way, and a peek of black lace is visible beneath. I don’t dare say anything, though. Instead, I focus on her eyes, swallowing thickly as I wait for her to go on.
“The disgraced girl.”
She smirks at me and I force myself not to let my bottom lip tremble. Of-fucking-course she knows about my family’s dark past. Who doesn’t at this point?
“You can just call me Francesca,” I mutter.
“You think you get to tell me what to call you?”
Her tone makes me remember all the things I’ve lost so far. It reminds me she’d never be treating me this way if it weren’t for my father’s fall from grace. My insides burn with hatred as I turn to face her.
“You want to play it like that?” I ask innocently, batting my lashes at her. “That’s fine by me, Miss
Ricci. We can do it this way, too.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“I mean,” I continue, eyes wide with pretend innocence. “I’m just a poor little student down on her luck, who’s just become friends with the principal’s daughter. And I walked in here to find you entangled with who I can only assume was a student. Isn’t that right, Miss Ricci?”
Her beautiful face pales. Those full lips thin out into a line and she glares at me.
“You can’t speak to me like that,” she hisses.
“I think you’re the one who should reconsider her tone,” I go on sweetly. “After all, I know something that could be very damaging to your position here.”