Chapter 5

Griffin' s text came an hour later. Kassie is hosting a small get-together for some clients at the country club tonight. You' ll be there.

It wasn' t a request. It was a command.

Part of her wanted to say no, to lock herself away and wait for her new passport. But she knew that would only make him suspicious. He would come looking for her, and he would use Devon to drag her out. So she agreed.

She didn' t bother with a gown or jewels. She pulled on a simple pair of jeans and a thin sweater. Her body was still weak from the blood loss, and a deep chill had settled in her bones.

The country club was a sea of glittering diamonds and fake smiles. And in the center of it all, like a queen holding court, was Kassie. She was wearing a stunning red dress that probably cost more than Allie' s entire college tuition. It was a dress Griffin had originally bought for Allie.

"Allie! You came!" Kassie cried, rushing over and grabbing her hand. Her grip was surprisingly strong. "I' m so glad you' re here."

Griffin was watching them, his expression unreadable. He noted the dark circles under Allie' s eyes, the paleness of her skin. He knew she' d been crying. It gave him a sick sense of satisfaction.

"What should I call you?" Kassie asked sweetly, her voice loud enough for everyone around them to hear. "Allie? Or should I start practicing calling you... Sis?"

The jab was meant to hurt, to remind Allie of her precarious position. A few months ago, it would have. Now, Allie just felt tired.

"Call me whatever you want," Allie said, her voice flat. She pulled her hand from Kassie' s grasp.

Griffin' s brow furrowed. He was used to her fighting back, to her tears. This cold indifference was new. It was unsettling.

"Are you feeling alright, Allie?" he asked, his tone softer than usual.

"I' m fine."

The whispers started around them. People recognized her. She was Griffin Ryan' s fiancée, the girl from Queens. And there was the new one, the pretty assistant. The gossip was thick in the air.

Allie ignored it. She just needed to get through this night. Just a few more days, she told herself. A few more days and she would be free.

Kassie, however, had other plans. She dragged Allie around the party, introducing her to people with a triumphant gleam in her eye. She would laugh and touch Griffin' s arm, and he would smile down at her, a doting, lovesick fool. Then Kassie would look back at Allie, her smile turning into a smirk that clearly said, He' s mine.

"You know," Kassie said, leaning in close to Allie, "Griffin says he loves me. He says I' m the one who truly understands him." She paused, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "He says you' re just... baggage from his past."

Allie didn' t react. She was an empty vessel. The words couldn' t hurt her anymore.

"Then you can have him," Allie said calmly. "I' m done."

Kassie' s smile faltered. She had expected tears, a scene. This wasn' t part of her script. "You don' t get to be 'done,' Allie," she hissed. "Griffin decides when you' re done."

"Is that so?" Allie said, a small, humorless smile playing on her lips. "You think you' ve won, Kassie. But all you' ve won is a narcissistic monster who will get bored of you the second the next pretty new thing walks by. You' re not his queen. You' re just his latest toy."

Kassie' s face flushed with anger. "You bitch!"

Just then, Griffin walked over. Kassie' s expression changed in a heartbeat. Her eyes filled with tears, her lower lip trembling. She subtly positioned herself between Griffin and Allie, a strange, calculating smile on her face.

"Let' s see who the real toy is," she whispered, and then she stumbled backward, letting out a piercing scream as she fell into the decorative pool behind her.

"Kassie!"

She flailed in the shallow water, making a great show of choking and sputtering. Allie, acting on pure instinct, reached out to help her.

But it was too late. Griffin was already there. He saw Allie' s outstretched hand, and his face contorted with rage.