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"Oh, stop being such a stuck-up asshole and deal with it" Whitney races down the stairs that lead into the station and I follow her, not surprised at all by the a the place The stench of sweat co rubber fills rab hold of the back of Whitney’s sweater as she leads h the turnstile after her when she scans her Oyster transportation card and pays for the both of us A beautiful woman in a blue dress smiles at ," Whitney chastises me

"Do you have eyes in the back of your head?" I ask her I’htat you"

"No, don’t be jealous," I tease, and she swats et on the packed train a few oes intobehindan apology as well

Hmm This would be the perfect place to pickpocket the shit out of people

The thought colance around Not that I do that sort of thing, not any h my newfound so-called career But what started irl whose diaht at a party

Thanks, Lily Fowler, for the inspiration

"When’s our stop?" I ask Whitney when I hear the automated voice make an announcement

"Covent Garden Don’t worry about it--I’ll let you knohen it’s co up"

The trip is quick, our stop announced less than ten minutes after I asked Whitney about it I follow her out of the train and through the under-construction station, up the endless stairs until we pop up onto the street, ht anyway?" I ask as alk down the sidewalk, passing all sorts of shops and restaurants The area is crowded, filled with the young and old, fa past us, yelling at each other and laughing

I re care in the world Wasn’t that long ago, either Until everything went to hell and I was left having to pick up the pieces

"A sroup of people, mostly transplanted Americans It’s so weird, hoe all seem drawn to each other," Whitney explains "I can spot an Auess, right?" When she nods, I continue "So where are we going?"

"Oh, it’s a really cool pub--you’ll like it The White Swan They have areat dinner menu One of the better places to eat in this city," she says with a cheeky s "Will I know any of your friends?"

"Maybe? I’m not sure Two of them--they’re a couple--I just recently met They’re here in London teh a mutual friend But nore city but I swear Manhattan feels like a small town, especially with our exclusive circle That I’m still allowed to be a part of it is soh I’ve worked da "What are their names?"

"Violet Fowler and her fiancé, Ryder McKay You’ve heard of the Fowler sisters, right? She’s an heiress to Fleur Cos at the London office" Whitney stops when she realizes I’m frozen on the sidewalk "Caden?" She frowns as she turns to face ood table"

Fucking fuck We’reViolet Fowler and her boyfriend? Fiancé? Whatever the hell he is? I saw Violet ere in Cannes, but I never spoke to her I don’t know her, our paths have never crossed, and I sure as hell don’t know Ryder McKay

I know her sisters, though Lily is back in the States Rose … I’o back to New York? Or is she still in Europe so? She can do whatever she wants She definitely doesn’t need to work

"Caden" I glance up when I hear Whitney’s i toward the pub, waving her hand at o into motion, my stride easy,I’ht I saw so rab that table"

Chapter Five

Rose

"Come with us," Violet pleads "You’ll love Whitney I o and we becaht to my ear I’m not about to be the third wheel at some couples-only dinner at a quaint pub No, thank you "I think I’ll stay in tonight" I’ve already been in London a week, doing a fabulous job of avoiding my dad, Pilar, and even Violet, to an extent We told our father I was staying on to work at the London office, which he’d reluctantly agreed was a good thing to do I was off the hook for most of the summer, he said Not that I’m needed at theour conference call