Page 38 of Filthy Little Pretties

“I can’t seem to stop making him ashamed that I’m his daughter. Like it’s my function in life.”

“Whatever he’s said is bullshit. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. I see you, I always have, and you’re stunning, inside and out.”

“What if I’m not that same girl anymore?”

Her whisper sounds of quiet regret as her head relaxes heavily into my hand, dropping forward until her forehead leans against my shoulder. My palm runs down her hair as I drop a kiss to the top of her head.

“I prefer the one sitting in my car—hotter body and she has bite. There’s nothing that you could tell me that would change my mind.”

“Don’t be so sure.”

“Do you want to test that theory?”

She shakes her head against my shoulder, and I want to push her for information, but whatever Donovan survived in Spain was enough to turn her against herself. That’s not something I’d thought possible for her future.

“All right then, do you want me to try for a hostile takeover and ruin his business? McCallister Inc. is all mine as soon as I turn eighteen, after all.”

Her head pops up, shocked. “It is? You could do that?”

I chuckle as she sinks back into her seat. “Probably not, but I could try.”

Her laugh fills the sky, and just like that, I begin falling for the girl.

“Okay. Drama’s over.” She breathes out in a whoosh, brushing her hair back. “Now answer my question.”

“What question?”

Donovan looks at me dumbfounded, as if me forgetting is a crime.

“What’s something unexpected you’ve done during my lengthy absence?”

“Oh yeah.” I smirk, and she pokes my shoulder. My hands tighten on the steering wheel, the leather quietly squeaking as I push, extending my arms straight. “Qualified for the Olympic rowing team.”

I let my arms buckle as I look at her stunned face.

“What! Grey, that’s amazing.”

Her hands find my shoulder, and she gives a tiny squeeze, as I lean in sideways closer to her. “Nobody knows. That’s our little secret.”

She pushes against me, mouth gaping. “Why aren’t you yelling it to the rooftops? It’s an amazing fucking accomplishment.”

My hand wipes across my mouth before I give a light punch to the center of the steering wheel.

“Because it’s not in the cards for me. I can’t walk away and know that everything my family built would remain intact. My life is my legacy. If I leave, it would all crumble…I won’t do that in her name.”

Donovan’s eyes soften. She knows I’m talking about my mother. Her hand comes to cradle my cheek as she levels me, pulling her sunglasses down and locking eyes on me.

“Sweet boy, since when does anyone choose for you? Find a way to do both. If anyone can, it’s you, no matter what anyone else says. My Grey does as he pleases without apology. It’s what makes him king of the Upper East Side.”

“Is that so?” I answer, turning my head to kiss the inside of her palm.

“Absolutely.”

She keeps her smile as she turns to rummage through her bag again.

“Am I that, Donovan?”

“That what?” she answers absentmindedly, pulling out her lip gloss and opening the tin, the scent of cherry unleashed.