Privilege 5 - Pure Sin Read Online Free PDF Page A

here--that of a girl who had just found out that the only family member she had left in the world had just died.

    "Miss Covington?" Jessup said.

    "Y Ariana said. She turned her profile to Lexa and gripped a low-hanging branch on an elm tree for support. She knew she should be crying,

    es," but she couldn't seem to summon any tears for the old woman. "Yes, I'm here. I'm just . . . stunned. What happened?"

    "It was peaceful," the man replied. "She passed away during the night. I'm very sorry for your loss."

    "I can't believe this is happening." Ariana squeezed her eyes closed, forcing herself to think back to one of the worst days in her own life--the day of her own funeral. She'd watched her mother and father sob over the ashes they thought were hers. She felt a choking sob hit her throat, and tears stung her eyes. Lexa stepped closer and took her hand.

    What is it? she mouthed.

    "My grandmother," Ariana whispered.

    Lexa covered her mouth with her free hand.

    "I know this is short notice, but I'm flying to DC tomorrow so that you can sign the paperwork," Jessup said, all business.

    "The paperwork?" Ariana repeated. A tear spilled over onto her cheek, and she would have wiped it away if Lexa weren't crushing her fingers in her grip.

    "Yes. So that you can receive your inheritance," Jessup said impatiently.

    "What?" Ariana blurted. Lexa was now alarmed. She searched Ariana's face, as if looking for some kind of answer as to what, exactly, was going on. Ariana's pulse raced like mad. "But I thought that was supposed to be held in trust until I was twenty-five."

    "I don't know anything about that," Jessup said. Ariana could hear papers rustling in the background. "As far as your grandmother's estate is concerned, it all goes to you upon her death, and your parents' estate is to be released to you as well. As of three o'clock this morning, Miss Covington, you are a very wealthy young lady."

    Ariana looked at Lexa, who was clearly desperate for the exact details. It took every single ounce of control and strength and sheer will inside of Ariana to appear as devastated as a truly dedicated granddaughter would have felt at that moment--to keep from twirling in a circle on the grass, throwing her head back, and singing at the top of her lungs.

    Because she wasn't Briana Leigh Covington. Not in her heart of hearts. Down deep, she would always be Ariana Osgood. And thanks to good old Grandma Covington's timely kicking of the bucket, all of Ariana Osgood's fondest dreams were about to come true. "Are you going to go home for the funeral?" Lexa asked as the elevator rose to the top floor of Privilege House that evening. They'd spent the past few hours in the library with their American history study group, but Ariana had zoned out, daydreaming about what she was going to do with all her newfound money. But hearing Lexa's words, Ariana's heart dropped, as if the lift had suddenly taken a dive for the ground. She hadn't even considered the funeral--which she absolutely could not attend, because someone would undoubtedly notice she was not the real Briana Leigh.

    "I don't know. The lawyer didn't mention any plans," Ariana replied, trying to keep voice steady.

    "Do you want me to call him back for you?" Lexa said. "I understand if it's all too much."

    "That's sweet, but don't worry about it," Ariana said, trying to think five steps ahead, trying to come up with a plan to get out of going to Texas. "I'll figure it out."

    They exited the elevator and turned the corner into the hallway leading to their rooms.

    "It's freezing in here," Ariana said, pulling her wool coat tighter around her body.

    Lexa touched Ariana's arm, her eyes wide. "Why's the door to my room open?"

    The two of them walked cautiously down the hall together. They found Maria standing just inside her and Lexa's room, wearing flannel pajama bottoms and an Atherton-Pryce sweatshirt, her arms folded as she kept an eye on a janitor, who was crouched to the