THE STERLING INHERITANCE

: Cel

her jacket would make Mother's eye twitch. Both facts brought me a petty sa

ifteen minutes late instead of thirty. Still enough to make

and perfectly trimmed hedges. I pulled up next to Vivienne's Audi-o

er in her pearls. Father with his scotch. Vivienne looking immacul

iner slightly smudged, hair wild from the helmet

s was on family dinner nights, like t

, pushing into the dining roo

in line I knew so well. "Celeste.

ine Father was pouring. "We're installing a new exhibition-very controversial piece about cor

aid in that tone tha

Vivienne to bring the expensive stuff. "Everyone has an opinion, everyone's offended by something.

," Vivienne said dryly, cutting h

art. It should make

row. "Not all art needs

probably has a Monet

r, act

d choose something safe and exp

for aesthetic beauty, Mother trying to redirect toward something more appropriate.

ot entirely. But agreeing would mean giving up my role, an

, suddenly noticing our youngest s

a startled deer. "I

listen. Don't y

I

r," Mother interrupted. "Some peo

ed, she was erased-but Father cut in about so

her salmon. I we

ery comment was just shocking enough to get attention but not enough to get disowned. Wa

, not quite looking at me.

ll their polite inquiries. Are you wast

ally true if you ignored the months I'd had t

repeated, u

m curating an exclusive gala next month. Very high-profile donors. Billionai

ntion sharpen

g artists alongside established names. It'

ng for next month. I had a few wealthy clients. But "art event

th something other than disappo

I'd seen in the society pages. "His foundation does a l

s. I'd sent his foundation a generic sponsorship reque

e's voice was strange. "

w it is with billionaires-laye

r said, and I hated how much those words

is gala?" M

have to actually make this happen now. S

Mother said, but she was smi

ie about billionaire benefactors to earn a smile. I wanted to ask why Vivienne got approva

changed the subject to some mutual

hiding in the bathroom like she always did when things got too much. Viv

mments. Dramatic gestures. The w

eft, my face hu

p, staring up at the estate. Lights glowed warmly in ev

istant: *Installation is a disaster. Sculpt

my landlord: *Ren

oth without

and searched "Dominic Cross

la with billionaire attendance, I'd