His Bet, Her Heist: A Calculated Romance

t his sprawling family home, in a study bigger than my entire apartment. His parents were rarely there, always traveling or at "functions." H

unded in my own. For his eighteenth birthday, the Thornes threw a lavish party at their ma

n, a casual, "You should come, it'll be

ept trying to pull Ethan away, to monopolize

tand our world, do they?" she' d said loudly,

to a group of his friends, I "accidentally" bumped into a waiter, sendi

y made-up face contorted with rage. "This

pression darkening a

, his voice cold. He walked ov

g embarrassment. "Just a li

a fuming Jessica in his wake. The Sterling Circle members exchanged knowing

yalty" when the time came. He was surprisingly gentle, almost hesitant. I gave him his birthday gift then – a custom leather bookmar

Alex, this is... this is the most

ign of deep affection. I saw him use i

Dalton in the locker room. I was suppo

was saying. "She's not like th

actually falling for the charity c

d, his voice a little too firm, "

ace. He was predictable. They all were. My grades were stellar. My S