d to fade. Raymond's words-Stop lowering yourself to their

with anger, but it was

th Raymond. "And here I was, thinking we were all studen

ingers tightened around the edge of the table. J

he said smoothly. "You ju

guy who probably pays so

the crowd. Nobody talked t

his fork. He didn't want to fight-he never

ing Jovita like she wasn't even worth a respons

" Isabel snapped. "I actu

dropped, just loud enough for her to he

t skippe

ds didn't sound like arroga

y anything, a slow clap

of older students stood watching. At the center of them was Ethan Ster

e was the heir to a multibillion-dollar empire, and unlike Raymond, his power

trolling toward them. "Looks l

o had been supervising the hall didn't interfere.

his shoulders. "Just

Because from where I'm standing, it looks lik

hter spread thro

Raymond's fingers

is

the kind of person who didn't just make enemies-he destroyed them. And

power, placed a hand on Jovita

't want to back down, but

tray and stood.

t Raymond, took a deep

didn't s

y, she felt his eyes

ew, withou

wasn'

ol – The F

adows across the parking lot. Most of the students had been picked up

together. Their parents couldn't afford chauff

ut they had declined-being too cl

te him," Jef

ita asked, rai

ea

ed. "No, y

look. "You think I

of her backpack, "that you hate what he st

ed, but he d

ck car pulled up beside them. The window rolled

ighed. "

at her. His eyes wer

t i

blinked.

mond repeated, his vo

rd. "And why the hel

s unreadable, but something flickered in h

and him," he said

ffed. "Not

e. You can come too. But if you're getti

nged a glance

as a b

y was a dang

heir better judgm

the Lio

leather and something vaguely citrusy. Jovita h

m them, tapping his fi

y for a long mome

stay away f

ou dragged us into

w ticked. "I

her arms. "And

ward. "Then I'll m

ement faded. "

on didn't change.

ning wa

harply. "You rea

gaze snapp

flinch. She

she continued. "But you're just contro

ickered in his expression.

as quickly,

t you to under

No, I think I und

d turned back to Jeffr

evenly. "I don't ta

le

ond smirk

he car rolled to a stop out

t o

he door first.

tepping out into th

Raymond leaned forward,

ur only warn

nd the car sped off, leaving

– Isabel's

massive bed, sta

hadn't t

the talking type-but after what happ

y. An exp

thi

here was o

the firs

Raymond Kingsley wasn't

she did

s going to

er what