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“Thank you,” Iris says before meeting Mum’s eyes and moving toward her. “Happy birthday, Cass—” But she doesn’t get to finish that sentiment because her eyes land on me. “Wow, Calli. You look incredible. That dress is stunning.”

A wide smug smile appears on my lips as her eyes run the length of me.

“You look so grown up. It amazes me every time I look at Jerome to think how quick the years have sped by.”

“And where is he?” Mum asks in a clipped, clearly pissed-off tone.

My breath catches at what she’s alluding to.

“Jerome is coming?” I ask, my brow pinching.

“Yes, sweetheart. He’s just grabbing your mum’s gift from the car.”

Why? Why the hell would he agree to this hell?

The word ‘setup’ screams loud in my head, but I don’t want to believe it.

All four of them smile at me, although it’s only Iris and Chris whose are full of happiness. Mum looks about ready to kill someone, her eyes dropping down to my pretty exposed chest every few seconds. All the while, Dad looks half amused, and half mortified. He wants to stand with Mum. The past seventeen years have been evidence of that enough. But with him caving to finally train me up, I’m starting to wonder if I’m not the only one who’s rebelling.

“Oh, I think Clio and Michail have just arrived,” Jocelyn says, mentioning Isla’s parents. I bet there’s a very, very slim chance of them dragging one of their kids with them.

Footsteps head this way and we all look to the door as Jerome appears, carrying the biggest bouquet of weird and colourful flowers I’ve ever seen, and he has a blue Tiffany’s bag swinging from his wrist.

“Happy birthday, Cassandra,” he says politely, passing her the humongous arrangement which she quickly shoves at Jocelyn, who can barely lift the thing, before taking the bag.

“Thank you so much, Jerome. You’re such a good boy. And you’re looking so smart tonight. Don’t you think, Calli?”

At her mention of me, Jerome’s eyes lift and he immediately finds me. Much like everyone else, his eyes widen in surprise, but there is no anger in them. If anything, I’d say there is some desire. And I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that.

Jerome and I have been friends for years. But I have never, ever felt any kind of flutters of excitement or desire when it comes to him.

Something I’ve always wondered if Mum is disappointed by.

“Whoa, Calli. You look…”

I drop my eyes down his standard Cirillo black suit, but still there’s nothing. He just doesn’t wear it quite right. He doesn’t have the swagger that gets my heart racing and my belly knotting with desire.

I swallow down my disappointment. I’m sure it would be a hell of a lot easier if I did react that way to him.

Mum and Dad would surely be more than pleased, and there would need to be no sneaking around, stealing forbidden moments in the dark if my heart wanted Jerome.

Sadly for everyone in this room, I couldn’t be less interested if I tried.

“You too,” I breathe. It’s not a lie, he’s clearly put some effort in for tonight. The reason behind that makes my stomach knot uncomfortably.

“Why don’t you two go and get a drink,” Dad encourages as more voices hit my ears.

“Sure.” I can only hope my options are a little more varied than water tonight.

I turn to escape, more than ready to go and hide somewhere away from Mum’s judgemental looks. But before I get to move, her hand wraps around my upper arm.

“I don’t appreciate your defiance, Callista.”

“I thought you’d be pleased,” I hiss. “Jerome seems to love it.”

Her grip on my arm tightens, but she quickly releases me with a little shove in his direction. “Then you’d better go and remind him how incredible the girl falling out of it is as well then.”

My teeth grind at her words. I’m hardly falling out of this dress. If she truly believes I am, then she really needs to attend a Knight’s Ridge party and see the kind of outfits Teagan and her posse turn up in.