d outside the Columbia University gates. Mr.

Her arms were wrapped tightly ar

trees. Her mind raced, running through a hundred different scenarios of how

iron gates swung open slowly. The water in the grand fountain cau

foyer. She kept her head down, trying to sneak

s Tu

hallway. She smiled politely. "What do you have

uickly hid the box behind her back. "No. It is just som

r. She walked toward Arthur's study, raising her hand to knock on the door,

e box deep under her bed, and smoothed dow

he living room, elegantly sipping D

patted the empty space on

ded her hands tightly in her lap, feeling exactly like

a sharp clink. Her sharp eyes locked onto Chl

She shook her head quickly. "No. I am onl

t try to learn from your greedy father. Do not atte

er face turned chalk white. She looked down at h

er tone leaving no room for argument. "A normal, middle-class man. That wil

Chloe. She did not even have the right to c

e she had been saved from drowning. She stood up

e already seated at th

Without the sharp lines of his business suit, h

e and sat in the furthest chair. She did

as the quiet clinking of silver forks against porc

looked at Richard and complained, "Young girls these

ely on cutting his steak, completely unin

he tried to make herself as small as possible.

to his plate. The loud clatter shattered th

th his silver fork. "Serve her the rest of the French escargot," he ordered, his sudden interference completel

ngers spasmed, and her soup spoon drop

is fingers. "She is too skinny," he said flatly. "It is embarrassing

into Eleanor's obsession with the family's im

tip of Arthur's dress shoe pressed against Chloe's an