Free Southern Charmed Billionaire by Kristin Frasier, Bella Bentley Page B

like you! I would never do that! But to be honest with you, I don’t know if I can handle this whole ‘high society’ thing with all these rules. It’s hard, Claire. I mean, it took hours to look like I did last night, and the spanx that I wore underneath was just unbearable! And you should have met Atticus’s sister. Brittany’s a bitch. And I swear her friends were like, just as bitchy, between the scathing looks and condescending laughs they gave me. Like, they had no heart. No compassion.”  
    “So? It’s not like he’s your boyfriend or anything. You don’t have to live with these people for ever.”  
    Boyfriend.  
    He surely wasn’t. I wouldn’t even know how to be involved with a guy like that. It seemed complicated. Very complicated. And I wasn’t about complicating my life any further. Besides, maybe Brittany was right—guys like that are paired with women born into that fancy rich scene, groomed for that life since infancy. If I ever, and I mean ever in a blue moon dated a guy like that, I’m convinced there wouldn’t be enough etiquette lessons to attend every day for a year to prepare me for that scene.  
    “You’re going to stick it out and treat this as a j-o-b, Kate. Just like you manage all the crazy cats in the music scene. Just treat these bitches like they are actors or something, alright? Smile and nod. Hold your tongue. Play the part. You don’t go telling off lead singers of other bands. You let them think they’re king and queen of the castle. Just switch gears and do the same here. As your cousin and practically your sister, it is my duty to help you stay the course. And $1,000 a day to attend an event is a pretty swanky deal. And please ! Don’t give me that, ‘do you know how long it took to get ready?’ routine. You know you enjoyed it!” Her smile was ear-to-ear. Well, maybe she was right. I did enjoy being taken care of for once.  
    “And if I were you, I would throw in some extra if you know what I mean.” She whistled. “Some extra lip, hand, vag, ass action. Whatever. I think you know what I’m talking about, girl.”  
    I sighed and rolled my eyes at her vulgar suggestion. That type of behavior just wasn’t me.  
    “Anywaaaaaaay,” I stood up and headed to the kitchen. “There has to be coffee in this kitchen somewhere.” Oh, this kitchen was just to die for!  
    “So, enough about me. Did you patch things over with Andy the asshole?” I didn’t expect her to actually say anything positive about it. I was just trying to change the subject.  
    “Heeeeeeey…don’t call him that.”  
    “Well, he is. He cheated on you and acted like it wasn’t a big deal in front of thousands of people, and now the world since that video went viral. What else can he really be called?”  
    “My, um, on-again boyfriend?” she confessed with a sheepish smile.  
    Oh, god.  
    “Now, before you get all judgey-pants. I’m thinking about the grand scheme of things, okay? He’s a rock star. We are in an up and coming band together. This is, like, totally normal for what they do. It’s like being with a professional NBA player. Most of them cheat, statistically. It’s just what happens. All guys want to fuck other girls.”  
    I sighed and rolled my eyes and moaned dramatically.  
    “Which may mean we still need your help,” she finished  
    Honestly, their sort-of breaking up and this new job with Atticus really allowed me to think about my future and what makes me happy again. I needed to think about it. I had a lot of things to think about.  
    “Well, look. I don’t know what to say right now, but….”  
    “But…but, but, but, but, no buts. Look, I’ve gotta go. You’re doing it. There’s only one you. We can work something out with lover boy, Atty. Andy and I are running to lunch. We’ll chat later. Kisses!”  
    Lover boy, Atty? Yeah, I didn’t need those thoughts running around in my head.  
    They were already there. Bad.  
     

Chapter