Read Online Magnate (Acquisition Series Book 2) by Celia Aaron - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Celia Aaron
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emerald hanging lower than the rest.
“Do the Vinemonts own all the choicest emeralds in the world or what?” I walked over to her and lifted my hair so she could fasten the priceless strand around my neck.
The earrings were similar threads of silver with an emerald dangling at the end. I put them in and smoothed my hair back down.
Renee clasped her hands in front of her. “This is going to help us. It has to.”
“Us?” I turned to her, searching her dark eyes for some clue as to what she meant. Obviously, I wasn’t in this to help the Vinemonts. I couldn’t care less who became Sovereign.
“Winning will help everyone, Stella. You included.”
I peered down at her. “Did winning help you? You’re still here, aren’t you? Are you living out your wildest dreams? Did things perk up after your lover was ruined by becoming Sovereign?”
She waved my comment away with an impatient flick of her wrist. “Rebecca was strong, but Mr. Sinclair is stronger. Even Lucius is stronger. When either one of them is Sovereign, there will be so much they can do for you, for their mother, for the family, for all of us.” She closed the jewel case, her fingers shaking slightly. “Now that we’re in the running, winning would be the best outcome. There’s no way around the trials. But if you win,” she turned, an iron glint in her eye that I’d never seen before, “and you’ve played your cards right, you have a great deal of power at your fingertips. Power to destroy the ones who hurt you.”
“Like the Roses?”
She nodded. “Like them and others.”
I’d meant it as a barb, but she wore the Roses’ destruction like a badge of honor.
“Have you destroyed people, Renee? The ones who tortured you most during the trials?”
She took my elbow. “We should get you downstairs. Mr. Sinclair will be antsy to leave.”
“Renee, you can’t just cut me off. I need to know.” I hadn’t actually considered the proposal Lucius made in Cuba—the power he would have after winning Sovereign. But Renee was echoing his sentiments: win, and then everything else will fall into place. Was Renee right? Was helping the Vinemonts win the surest route to destroy the entire game? Take it all down from the inside? Maybe, but it hadn’t worked for Renee.
“You need to go. You can’t be late for Cal’s party. That would be a bad start to your night.” Renee swept past me and opened the door before ushering me through it.
I’d been around her long enough to know that the discussion was tabled. She was practiced at evading my questions. I just wished I could break down her walls, see everything inside and leave with the spoils of information. It would never happen. Not with Renee. Whether she’d always been evasive or was forced to be so because of the Acquisition trials, I’d never know.
I maneuvered slowly down the stairs in my heels with Renee at my side. Once downstairs, I heard voices on the front porch. Lucius and Sinclair.
“Tell me all about it when you get back.” She pulled a long, dark fur from the foyer closet.
“Is that for me?” I didn’t do fur, but the coat glowed with an amazing luster and begged to be touched.
“I had it brought from the climate controlled storage this morning. It’s the sable.” She held it out.
“I’m not sure.” I ran my fingers down the front, each strand of fur silkier than the last.
“I am. Come on. It’s cold out there.”
I turned and slipped one arm and then the next into the coat. It was heavy and warm, the softest thing I’d ever felt. I studied my appearance in the foyer mirror. Even in the few months I’d been involved in this cruel game, my eyes seem to have hardened. Or maybe it was what was inside that had changed, grown stronger. I tilted my chin up the slightest bit, as if steeling myself for what was to come.
Renee swept my hair from the coat and draped it over my shoulder. “Everything will be fine. They won’t harm you between trials.”
“Do
“Do the Vinemonts own all the choicest emeralds in the world or what?” I walked over to her and lifted my hair so she could fasten the priceless strand around my neck.
The earrings were similar threads of silver with an emerald dangling at the end. I put them in and smoothed my hair back down.
Renee clasped her hands in front of her. “This is going to help us. It has to.”
“Us?” I turned to her, searching her dark eyes for some clue as to what she meant. Obviously, I wasn’t in this to help the Vinemonts. I couldn’t care less who became Sovereign.
“Winning will help everyone, Stella. You included.”
I peered down at her. “Did winning help you? You’re still here, aren’t you? Are you living out your wildest dreams? Did things perk up after your lover was ruined by becoming Sovereign?”
She waved my comment away with an impatient flick of her wrist. “Rebecca was strong, but Mr. Sinclair is stronger. Even Lucius is stronger. When either one of them is Sovereign, there will be so much they can do for you, for their mother, for the family, for all of us.” She closed the jewel case, her fingers shaking slightly. “Now that we’re in the running, winning would be the best outcome. There’s no way around the trials. But if you win,” she turned, an iron glint in her eye that I’d never seen before, “and you’ve played your cards right, you have a great deal of power at your fingertips. Power to destroy the ones who hurt you.”
“Like the Roses?”
She nodded. “Like them and others.”
I’d meant it as a barb, but she wore the Roses’ destruction like a badge of honor.
“Have you destroyed people, Renee? The ones who tortured you most during the trials?”
She took my elbow. “We should get you downstairs. Mr. Sinclair will be antsy to leave.”
“Renee, you can’t just cut me off. I need to know.” I hadn’t actually considered the proposal Lucius made in Cuba—the power he would have after winning Sovereign. But Renee was echoing his sentiments: win, and then everything else will fall into place. Was Renee right? Was helping the Vinemonts win the surest route to destroy the entire game? Take it all down from the inside? Maybe, but it hadn’t worked for Renee.
“You need to go. You can’t be late for Cal’s party. That would be a bad start to your night.” Renee swept past me and opened the door before ushering me through it.
I’d been around her long enough to know that the discussion was tabled. She was practiced at evading my questions. I just wished I could break down her walls, see everything inside and leave with the spoils of information. It would never happen. Not with Renee. Whether she’d always been evasive or was forced to be so because of the Acquisition trials, I’d never know.
I maneuvered slowly down the stairs in my heels with Renee at my side. Once downstairs, I heard voices on the front porch. Lucius and Sinclair.
“Tell me all about it when you get back.” She pulled a long, dark fur from the foyer closet.
“Is that for me?” I didn’t do fur, but the coat glowed with an amazing luster and begged to be touched.
“I had it brought from the climate controlled storage this morning. It’s the sable.” She held it out.
“I’m not sure.” I ran my fingers down the front, each strand of fur silkier than the last.
“I am. Come on. It’s cold out there.”
I turned and slipped one arm and then the next into the coat. It was heavy and warm, the softest thing I’d ever felt. I studied my appearance in the foyer mirror. Even in the few months I’d been involved in this cruel game, my eyes seem to have hardened. Or maybe it was what was inside that had changed, grown stronger. I tilted my chin up the slightest bit, as if steeling myself for what was to come.
Renee swept my hair from the coat and draped it over my shoulder. “Everything will be fine. They won’t harm you between trials.”
“Do
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