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.”

you country

banquet

murmured among themselves, their expressions

Who’s calling Ms. Hawthorn a country

maestro Q, not to mention

called a country bumpkin,

a smirk, “All this talk of country bumpkins. One would think Ms. Grimshaw was some kind of high-born

“You, I—”

would have slapped Vivienne then and there. Her face flushed with a

woman, once so easily bullied in Havenwood, held so many prestigious titles

said, “You just wait! I won’t let

…

Willa had just finished bathing Karen and was

you could slice it, making it

in the bathroom flickered twice, then went

nothing but darkness. Without hesitation, she followed

door cracked open, letting in a sliver of light. A man cautiously stepped in, making sure Karen was the only other person

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

…

party, the minor disturbance did little to dampen the

room. “Strange, where did Ramona go? She wouldn’t just leave like that, would

light-hearted tone, “Why? Were you

her demeanor was

no. I wish she’d leave faster. But you

way she acted just now, she’s clearly set her sights on Mr. Ellington. There must have been some incident; otherwise,