I don’t blame them, but some things are necessary.
I hold my hand up and the boys stop, but they don’t leave. They stay right where they are, watching us with eagle eyes.
“All right,” I say to Victoria. “You have two minutes, killer. What do want to say to me?”
She narrows her eyes and growls venomously at me. “Don’t call me that. I’m not a killer!”
“There are four dead people who prove you wrong, murderer, and you know it, but go ahead. What is it you want to say to me?” I look at her coolly, and she knows she cannot ruffle me.
Victoria glances over at the boys and sees that they are growing impatient waiting for me. They want her gone. She leans closer and speaks with poison in her voice.
“I just want you to know that you’re not going to win this event; not the vote for the theme or the crown. That Valentine’s crown is mine. It’s been mine since I started at this school. Don’t think for a second that you’re going to take it from me!” She almost spits at me.
“Oh, you mean like you took my father from me when you killed him?” I shoot at her coldly. “Don’t think you’re going to stop me. You’re in way over your head, Victoria. You’ve got that defeat coming, and so much more. Later … killer.” I turn my shoulder sharply at her and walk toward the boys. They each sling a protective arm around me and walk away with me as they fire daggers back at Victoria over their shoulders.
“What was that about?” Blair asks, his head still turned to look down the hall behind us.
“Oh nothing,” I say, waving my arm again. “But on an unrelated note … have either of you ever run for office? I could use a little help swinging a vote.”
Wills and Blair look at each other over my head and exchange a grin.
“Good,” I say, needed no translation. “Time to get started.”
Dane messages me later and tells me that he has meetings set up for me to meet some people. I grow excited, thinking of the possible prizes that I can get for the upcoming auction. His lawyer is still drawing up the paperwork for my trust, so I can’t just buy them out myself just yet. Besides, I want to win the right way. Victory tastes much sweeter that way. I’m so determined to win it, and I’m willing to work hard to get there.
He says that he’ll pick me up on Monday, but I don’t mind missing a day of school. My grades are better than they’ve ever been, and I can make up whatever I miss. Even if I didn’t, I’d just promise to make the school a generous donation once my funds are unlocked, and I’m sure they’ll be happy to let it slide. That is how these things go, right?
I’m dressed for business and ready to go when he arrives. I’m not surprised when I see a brand new sleek black limousine pull up to the school. Dane gets out to greet me and I give him a raised brow as I check out the car before getting into it.
“A limo?” I ask, knowing full well that he could have driven his own car, which would have only been slightly less ostentatious.
He gives me a serious look. “You’re meeting important people today. First impressions are lasting. You dressed for the part, and that’s good. Now you need to arrive with the confidence knowing that you are the most important person in the room.”
I look at him like he’s an alien. “I’m not the most important person in the room.” I’ve never been the most important person in the room. Not in my whole life. “I’m going there to ask them for donations. I think I should probably do that with a little humility.”
I’d already worked out a spiel about my tragic past. The underdog. The struggle. This new advice is the exact opposite of that.
Dane’s eyes are locked on me. “Teddy, you’re very young and there are people in this world who might seek to take advantage of your naivete. If you sho
w them at the start that you’re not one to be trifled with, that you’re confident and strong, then you’ll have followers and teammates instead of usurpers. Do you understand?”
I realize suddenly what it is that he’s saying. I might only be an eighteen-year-old, but I am coming into these companies as the boss. Or, their soon-to-be boss.
“I wasn’t thinking about it that way,” I tell him, and he nods slightly. We climb into the limo and watch the school grow smaller as it pulls away.
For the first time, my uncle doesn’t look awkward around me. I’m his business protégé, not his new niece, so he can actually talk to me like a normal person. He’s in his element, and for the first time, he’s in control.
And of course I’m going to do whatever he says. He’s the one who helped build this empire, not me.
“This is the day you set a precedence. Set the tone for the future. Make it clear who you are and what you want and expect of them.” He leans back in his seat and watches me, and I know he’s reading me like a book. I do that same thing when I meet new people for the first time.
I can feel the confidence rising in me, buoyed by my strength.
I can walk in with my head held high and meet these people eye to eye. If I go in with the confidence he’s talking about, the confidence of a queen, then everyone I ask is going to try to impress me … the new boss.
That’s something I’d like to see. That’s something I could get used to.
We come to the first company and I’m surprised to find that they’ve set up a big, fancy breakfast in a large conference room to welcome me. It’s loaded with people, all of them curious to see me and meet me. I’m suddenly so glad that my aunt took me shopping, because I know, for once, I at least look the part.