The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

“Country bumpkin?”

Vivienne arched an eyebrow, an expression that hadn’t crossed her face in quite some time.

She surveyed Ramona with a critical eye, noting the girl couldn’t be more than twenty. With her doll-like features, it was no wonder she had become an overnight sensation.

It wasn’t just the push from her handlers behind the scenes; that pretty face was surely a factor.

Withdrawing her gaze, Vivienne’s clear eyes shifted to Dorian. “Dorian, what’s going on? Didn’t we agree that Kala was to be the face of the new perfume line?”

She paused, noting Dorian’s evasive look.

She asked, “You’re in trouble, why didn’t you talk to me?”

“I will explain everything later, Vivienne,” Dorian replied, his face showing distress. “Ms. Grimshaw, this is my daughter. Please be respectful.”

After he spoke, he turned to face Ramona with a stern expression.

Something was off.

Vivienne tugged at Percival’s sleeve, and without a word, he understood. He gestured to Thomas, indicating he should lean in closer.

Ramona, meanwhile, was visibly irked by Percival’s blatant disregard for her, his attention solely on Vivienne.

Her voice dripped with jealousy, “Percival, darling, look at them! I wouldn’t have taken this ad gig if it wasn’t for your sake. Now, they’re all ganging up on me.”

Her whiny voice grated on Vivienne’s nerves.

Vivienne’s elegant eyebrows knitted together as she scoffed, “Ms. Grimshaw, are you supposed to be some kind of mother hen? Clucking away like you’re laying eggs at the Hawthorn family talent show.”

at Vivienne. “You, you country bumpkin! What right do

attention of the entire banquet hall to the

guests murmured among themselves, their

Who’s calling Ms.

as the perfume maestro Q, not

as Ms. Hawthorn is being called a country bumpkin, what does

didn’t escape the group, and Anna chimed in with a smirk, “All this talk

“You, I—”

restrictions of the setting, Ramona would have slapped Vivienne then and there. Her face

easily bullied in Havenwood, held so many prestigious titles unknown to

as she said, “You just

…

Willa had just finished bathing Karen and was carrying the

was so thick you could slice it, making it impossible to discern if anyone was

the bathroom flickered twice, then went

find nothing but darkness. Without hesitation, she followed the rope that someone had used to climb in through the

cautiously stepped in, making sure Karen was the only other person there before advancing with a syringe aimed

needle could make contact, the room flooded with light, and Willa, with lightning-fast reflexes, threw a dagger that pinned the

…

the minor disturbance did little to dampen

the room. “Strange, where did

a light-hearted tone, “Why? Were you hoping

joking, her demeanor was cool

explained, “No, no. I wish she’d leave faster. But

of those who had crossed Ramona recently, Kala shivered. “The way she acted just now, she’s clearly set her sights on Mr. Ellington. There must have been some incident; otherwise, she