The Ashley Project Read Online Free PDF Page A

squares of smoked salmon and minute cucumber wedges. They never didfind out what happened to those four sad turkey sandwiches, and the two of them had never discussed it.
    This time, instead of handing over a sagging brown bag, Trudy proudly gestured to a portly Englishman wearing chef’s whites who followed behind them. “This is Graham,” she said. “Can you show him and his staff the kitchen, please?”
    The chef and his crew lugged overstuffed grocery bags bearing the logo of the city’s premier gourmet grocery, as well as a towering structure that was a scale-size replica of the school’s main building. To compensate for last year’s faux pas, Trudy had flown in a private chef from one of London’s best restaurants to concoct authentic and delicious English treats. And just in case that wasn’t impressive enough, she’d thrown in a massive chocolate fountain based on the school’s architecture as well.
    To Lauren’s mother’s disappointment, the Spencers’ butler didn’t look at all surprised and ushered the Pages into the sunroom and Graham and his workers to the kitchen without comment.
    Lauren had never been in Ashley Spencer’s house before, and she looked around eagerly, as if the sun-dappled walls would provide a clue as to how to makeAshley like her more. They walked past the marble entryway into the light-filled great room with a CinemaScope view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the blue waters of San Francisco Bay.
    Last year the two of them had been intimidated by the Li family’s lavish home, but this time they hardly blinked at seeing the Picasso hanging above the grand piano. After all, they now owned two of the great master’s works themselves. However, Lauren couldn’t help but notice that the Spencers’ view of the bridge was just a little nicer than theirs.
    â€œTrudy! Lauren! Welcome!” Matilda Spencer said, graciously receiving them with her customary warmth. Ashley’s mom was dressed in a simple linen sheath, a lustrous pearl necklace as her only accessory. She looked stunning.
    Lauren could never understand how Ashley could be so mean when her mom was just so nice . She probably didn’t even realize that her daughter was a beast from hell.
    â€œAshley, come say hi to our guests,” called Matilda.
    The three of them waited patiently for Ashley to say hello. When she finally made her way to her mother’s side, Lauren’s only thought was, Oh, no.
    Ashley was wearing the same exact bib-front Chloé dress and ankle-strap platforms.
    Lauren watched Ashley’s expression change from indifference to horror upon seeing her. She was sure Ashley’s head would explode.
    Thinking fast, before Ashley could say anything, Lauren gave her a big, bone-crushing hug. “Cute outfit, Ashley! I wish I looked as good as you do in it! I know it’s all wrong for me, but it looks killer on you.”
    â€œReally?” Ashley asked, pinking. Her shoulders relaxed. “It looks cute on you, too,” she said graciously.
    Lauren exhaled. Okay. If Ashley Spencer was this easy to please, maybe there was still hope.

6
DON’T MESS WITH THE QUEEN OF PARLOR GAMES
    COULD LIFE BE EVEN MORE unfair? this was not how it was supposed to go down. You’d think that after the welcome splat they’d given her that morning, this Lauren chick would get the message. So what if her dad had become some kind of Internet gazillionaire like everyone in class was saying? And okay, so maybe Lauren was now really pretty. Even Ashley had to grudgingly admit that the girl was like some sort of Jennifer Lawrence clone.
    But c’mon, this was Lauren Page they were talking about—in kindergarten the Ashleys had made her eat mud! Every day! Until Lauren’s mom had finally complained to the school that her daughterwas coming home with strange stomach pains, and they had to stop. Things just didn’t change