Chapter 62
Chapter 62:
“Stop it,” Liam snapped. “Stop blaming her for your laziness. You spend more time shopping and gossiping than you do opening a book. If you lose that scholarship, I’m not covering the tuition, Sera. My grandmother watches the accounts like a hawk p>
Seraphina’s mouth fell open. “You… you won’t help me p>
“I’m helping you by telling you to grow up,” Liam said. He checked his watch. “I have to go. I lost my appetite p>
He turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, the red D burning into her retinas.
Skye was in her dorm room—a small space she kept for appearances, though she slept at The Spire—when the delivery arrived.
A knock at the door.
She opened it to find a courier holding a wooden crate. He was holding his breath.
“Delivery for Skye Sterling,” he wheezed. “Sign here, please p>
Skye signed. The courier set the box down and practically ran down the hallway.
Skye pried the lid off. Inside sat a massive pile of rambutans—small, red, hairy fruits that looked like sea urchins from Mars. Nestled beside them was a card.
Prickly on the outside. Sweet and cool on the inside. I noticed you eyeing these at the Charity Gala buffet last week but skipping them to maintain decorum. An acquired taste for the refined palate. Like you. – A. T.
Skye burst out laughing. It was such a sharp observation. She hadn’t said a word to him about the fruit at the gala, but Alistair observed everything.
“Oh my god, what are those p>
Harper Quinn—Skye’s best friend from childhood, who had just returned from a six-month fashion internship in Milan—walked in, eyeing the box.
“It’s fruit, Harper,” Skye said, picking up one of the hairy red orbs. “Rambutans. Want some p>
“They look like viruses,” Harper laughed, tossing her Louis Vuitton bag onto the bed. “Who sent you alien fruit? Wait, don’t tell me. Is it the mysterious benefactor who’s been helping you evade Liam p>
𝖸о𝘶𝗋 𝗱𝘪𝗴𝗶𝘵𝗮𝗹 𝗅і𝖻r𝖺ry o𝗻 𝘣е𝗅nо𝘷𝖾lѕ.сo𝘮
“An admirer,” Skye said, peeling back the hairy skin to reveal the translucent white flesh. She took a bite. It was heavenly.
“You’re disgusting,” Harper laughed, sitting on the bed. “So, listen. My family is launching The Summit estates this weekend. Big gala. Cliffside hotel. Very bougie. I’ve been out of the loop in Europe, but I heard you need a stage to debut the new Skye p>
“I’m there,” Skye said, licking her thumb.
“Good. Because I heard a rumor,” Harper lowered her voice. “Seraphina is trying to get an invite. She’s desperate for money since her scholarship is on the rocks. She’s looking for a new sponsor p>
“Let her come,” Skye said. “She needs a stage for her final act p>
Just then, Skye’s dorm landline rang. She had blocked Liam on her cell, so he was resorting to the ancient technology on her desk.
Skye picked it up, still chewing. “Hello p>
“Where are you?” Liam’s voice was demanding. “I went to The Spire. The security guards wouldn’t even let me into the lobby. They said you weren’t taking visitors p>
“I’m at the dorm,” Skye said. “Studying. Unlike your girlfriend p>