The Queen They Buried

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The car pulled up to a cozy, old-school courtyard.

“My buddy’s restaurant. Decent grub,” Bowen said, hopping out and offering Aubree a hand like a true gent.

Aubree was surprisingly relaxed, thanks to Bowen keeping things laid-back.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

Alvin shot Bowen a side-eye. ‘Weren’t we hitting that fancy spot tonight?’

The place was cute, with a little garden out front that screamed charm.

The food was total win. The soup was so good Aubree grabbed a second bowl.

Funny thing-the dishes they ordered were perfect for a sensitive stomach, all warm and hearty. Pure luck? Who knew.

“Hey, Ms. Miller…” Bowen started, leaning in.

“Time for the real talk, Aubree thought.

“Just use my name,” she said with a grin.

Bowen chuckled. “Alright, Bree it is.”

That nickname hit her hard. Back at the orphanage, her sponsor, “Mr. Quinn,” sent her cash every month with a letter, always calling her Bree.

No one else ever did.

Aubree bit her lip but didn’t argue. “Sure.”

Bowen lit up when she went with it.

He said,”So, Bree, I heard you snagged a spot in Rithol Art School’s program. That’s dope! You’re into art, right? You know Alvin’s in your class, but his art grades? Straight-up rough. Got time to swing by our place on weekends to tutor him?”

Alvin’s jaw hit the floor. ‘Is he serious?’ He glared at Bowen like he’d lost his mind.

Alvin wasn’t bad at art-he was just lazy.

teachers were pros. And now he couldn’t believe some high school kid

sign up

look shut

smile said, “Don’t even

‘Fine. Guess U have no

real? With Alvin’s family cash, they

asking you to do it for nothing,”

would run, but that’s 600

Chapter 8

calling her. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Bowen knew she was broke and

rush, no pressure-just

didn’t shoot it down. She

just the money. It was Bowen-his network, his

was to make waves, then use

plan. If she could get the Turner family to back her business, that was not just

in,” Aubree said with

late. Wanna swap

smooth as ever.

hand like he was in school. “Uh, I

look. “Relax, Alvin.

Alvin muttered,

led Aubree out, the bodyguards in the car gawked

the kid to play taxi

Alvin Turner’s classmate. Probably just being nice, right?” the

his dad is nice to some random

Silence hit the car.

Turner’s way older than her. He’s not that

guy smirked. “Didn’t Kelvin say Mr. Bowen Turner had

first guy growled, “Man,

Aubree trailed Bowen by

gorgeous. She’d seen hot guys-her Wilson family had faces that could stop traffic. Her brother Trevor, the movie star, had a jawline that screamed Hollywood. But

here. Sharp cheekbones, wickedly bold features that hit like a truck. His eyes were deep, like they could see people’s

in a plain tee and jeans, but on him?

rubbed her nose, slowing down. She wasn’t bad-looking-hell, in her old life, Carmen was jealous enough to mess