Cruel Legacy (Cruel 3)

Between that and Katherine revealing my pen name, my world had shattered. And I was being pieced back together out of order. Into a deep, dark, vengeful version of the Natalie I had been. The one that said I was ready to burn this city to the ground, and nothing would stop me.

“So, what are you going to do about Penn?”

I sighed out heavily. “I’ll handle it.”

Amy stared at me in a way that said exactly what she thought about that. Before she could voice her concerns, Pierre reappeared then with a purple garment bag. He unzipped it to reveal a long, flowing gown that made my eyes widen with both excitement and alarm.

“Whoa,” Amy whispered from across the room.

“That’s…wow.”

“You did say you wanted to blow everyone away.”

I nodded mutely.

There was a twinkle in Pierre’s eye as if he had been waiting for someone this daring. “Well, this is the dress.”

I scanned it, admiring the simplicity coupled with its inherent boldness. A statement number that said I wasn’t slinking away into the shadows and letting the Upper East Side chew me up and spit me out. I was here to play.

“Let’s do it.”

A few hours later, I pulled up to Trinity in a limo. Nerves quaked through my body, but I refused to let it show. Not for this crowd.

Flashes went off at the first glimpse of my Louboutin heel and continued as they took in my daring Elizabeth Cunningham gown. The mostly sheer material fell down my body in a form-fitting sheath, giving it the appearance of artful lingerie. Black accents covered my full breasts and ran down the middle of my body. They crawled up from my feet as if I stood in a ring of black flames. It was fitting, as I was rising up from the ashes.

My fingers moved to the edge of my black lace mask that obscured the upper half of my face, and I checked to make sure it was secure. I hastily dropped my hand and stepped into the spotlight.

Alone.

Alone for the very first time.

Every time I’d ever made this sort of appearance in the past, I’d had an Upper East Sider crutch to help me through it. First, Katherine, then Penn, and then Lewis or Jane. But now, it was just me. Just me taking on the world. And I wasn’t going to cower.

I raised my chin, put a devilish smirk on my cherry-red-painted lips, and stepped into the spotlight.

Despite the fact that I hadn’t been born into this life and had no real money of my own, my name was on their lips. The scandal from last week had given me a sense of notoriety. If I hadn’t returned, perhaps I would have floated away into obscurity, but since I was here, now I was someone. All on my own.

The crew had given me that. Penn had given me that by drawing me into this world with a bet. Katherine had given me that by making me a pet project and then a household name. Lewis had given me that simply by putting me on the arm of a Warren. Even Jane had given me a piece of it by including me, befriending me.

And she was the one who had told me to fake it. I intended to heed her advice.

I posed for a few carefully positioned pictures, slowly making my way up the red carpet. Giving everyone a view of the dress, of me.

Take your fill, boys.

I shot them one more devious smile and then stepped across the threshold into Trinity. It was bustling with partygoers. I had no idea who would be here tonight. Which Upper East Siders I would run into during this. But I wasn’t here for them. I was here to be seen and photographed and gossiped about. Mission accomplished.

A passing waiter offered me a glass of champagne, which I took with relish. I could do this. I could see through the glossy shine of this world. The rhinestone society polished to look like diamonds.

Money couldn’t hide the sewage, and when I was done with them, money wouldn’t save them from it either.

Now for the real fun.

I withdrew my phone from the matching black clutch and read the waiting text from Penn.

I’m here. You didn’t really give me specifics. Where should I meet you?

My lips curled in excitement as I sent my reply.

Do you want to play a game?

I’m listening…

If you can find me, you can have me.

Chapter 2

Natalie

This was the moment that would determine it all.

Would Penn play the game? Would he chase me here, as I suspected he would? He’d said that he wanted this. That he would wait for me. But a week of radio silence as I’d figured out my next move meant anything could happen.

Especially considering what had happened to me.