Page 23 of Filthy Rich

Jake slips his fingers in between mine and tightens his hand around mine. “Oh, that’s not at all what worries me. Octavia hates being in the limelight, so I’ve done as she asked until now, but I’m done with it.” He steps closer to Patrice, dragging me along.

What’s he saying?

“Octavia Rothschild’s the most talented singer I’ve ever met, ever heard, and we just started dating. The only reason I’ve bitten my tongue until now is that she doesn’t like to make a scene.”

Gasps from all over the room confirm that I heard him right.

Dating.

Jake Priest just lied and said we’re dating.

That’s how he’s defending me against Patrice being an idiot? By making up some lie about how we’re dating? What good will that do? Who would ever believe it?

Right on cue, Patrice starts laughing. “Her? You want people to believe you’re dating her?” She scoffs. “So I came in for a fake apology, and you go straight to fake dating.” She shakes her head.

Jake’s hand tightens again, but this time, instead of saying anything, he turns toward me. The look on his face is thunderous. His eyes are flashing, and his hand’s holding mine tightly when his mouth moves toward mine, slowly.

His eyes search mine, softening a bit.

“Sorry, Octavia,” he whispers.

And then he kisses me.

Chapter 6

Jake

Dear Dad,

You’re never going to believe this, but remember how I joined choir just to have something in common with the Fansee family’s dumb foster kid, Bea? Well, they left me enrolled in it when I stayed with them, and I didn’t really care. I was just killing time, right?

Only, it turns out, I’m, like, really good at singing.

The choir teacher, Mr. Kline, says I could be a singer, like a real singer. The Fansees said they’d pay for me to get voice lessons from this really awesome lady who lives in the City, and I know you always say to take whatever you can get for free, so I know you’ll be excited to hear they’re paying a ton for them.

I’ll keep milking them for plenty, yeah?

Love,

Jake

Jake:

Quit choir right now. It’s for losers and dreamers. We only go after sure things. Stupid dreams are just that—stupid. Don’t waste your time on it for another second.

And stop worrying about the Fansees. I have something amazing in mind for them that will cover everything they’ve done and then some. Keep your ties to them minimal. I can tell you’re getting soft—it’s because you’re so young. You think they really care about you, but they don’t.

Remember our first rule. Never try to protect anyone else. It’s you and me against the world. Taking pity on losers is how you get dragged down with them.

Whatever you do, never let yourself get entwined with people weaker than you. It’s far, far easier to get dragged off a chair than it is to pull someone else up.

Never forget that either.

-Dad

When Bea says, “White Knight looks good on you,” I can barely make sense of what she’s saying.

White knight?