Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Beth is deeply fascinated. “And?”
“And… he left.”
“What?” Beth gasps, her disbelief evident.
“I know.”
“But guys love virgins, don’t they?” She frowns. “I don’t get it?”
“But do they?” I scoff. “I’m twenty-four and I can’t get a man to come near me at all, Beth.”
She rolls her eyes. “Please, don’t insult my intelligence. You get plenty of men who pursue you.”
“Be serious for a moment and face the facts. I’m an ice princess who scares the majority of men away.” I sigh sadly.
“Don’t take offence to that. It’s not you, it’s Edward and everything that goes along with being a Prescott.”
I drain my wineglass because, God, this is depressing.
“And you really liked this guy?” she asks quietly.
I shrug sadly. “Not specifically him, more what he represents, you know? He was fun, naughty, and gorgeous. He’s older, too, and I would never be allowed to go out with him because he’s a well-known player.” I frown as I try to articulate my thoughts. “But… I just wanted to have fun for once. I’m not looking for a husband or anything, obviously. The only thing my family ever sees when they think of a man being with me is him only ever being with me for my money. I want men to be with me because of the woman I am. I want fun, carefree sex, like you get to have. Like every woman should be allowed to have in their youth.”
She nods, her face full of understanding. “Who knew being wealthy was so boring?” She tuts and stares into space.
I refill her wineglass. “Totally.” I pass her the glass. “And Wyatt was being all overprotective and annoying.”
“That’s his job. Don’t blame him for that.”
“Yeah, I get that, but Spencer was different. He wasn’t trying to woo me. He was honest and told me he only ever has friends with benefits. He was nothing but himself, and you know what? It was damn attractive.”
“So, you want friends with benefits now?”
“No. I don’t know what I want, but I know it isn’t this.”
“Hmm.”
I exhale heavily and lie back on the floor. “I just want a fucking holiday away from myself for a while.”
“Dropping F bombs now. You must be serious.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, I am.”
“What do you mean, you want a holiday away from yourself?”
“I mean I wish I was someone else for a while, with a normal shitty job, no money, and every man in the world trying to shag her.” I smile as I imagine a different life where I didn’t have to constantly toe the line. “I want to feel desired and carefree, instead of having guards, Bentleys, Edward, and all the boring bullshit that goes along with being a Prescott.” I exhale heavily.
Beth watches me for a moment, and I can feel her brain ticking. “If that’s what you want, why don’t you get it?” she asks.
“What?”
“Why don’t you change your name and be normal for a while?”
“What do you mean?” I frown.
Her eyes widen with excitement. “And this is the perfect time, too.”
I roll my eyes, here we go.
“You said your father and Edward are away for six weeks, right?”
“Yeah, so?”
“So, why don’t you take some time off from work while they’re away? Why not move to London and go undercover? You could get a shitty job and pretend your name is something completely different.”
“Like what?”
She bites her bottom lip and thinks for a moment. “Lottie Preston. Your friends call you Lottie, anyway.”
“Have you lost your mind?” I gasp, sitting up at once.
She beams at me. “Just the opposite, this is fucking genius. Get a job in a café or a nightclub pouring drinks or something. Nobody will know who you are, and you’ll be treated just like the rest of us. You can run amuck.”
I stare at her, wide-eyed as her idea rolls around in my head. “But what would I tell my father?”
“Hmm.” She thinks for a moment. “That’s tough because he won’t let you go anywhere without security.”
I flop back against the couch, dejected that my plan is already screwed. “It won’t work.” I sigh. “Why doesn’t Lara have the issues that I do?”
Beth rolls her eyes. “You and Lara are completely different.”
“Why?”
“Both her mother and father come from money. She’s had nannies and lived the high life her entire childhood. She has this entitled part of her personality that only rich people have. Your mother was different, Lottie. She didn’t have money. She fell in love with a rich man. You never had nannies and your main influence was your mother. She didn’t rely on money or see it as anything special. That’s why you’re different. Money doesn’t define who you are, and your family knows that. That’s why they feel you have to be protected so fiercely. They know that when you fall in love with someone, it could be with anyone. Social rankings mean nothing to you.”