Wild Submission Read Online Free PDF Page B

God!” she exclaims, sounding
frazzled. “I forgot to pick up the cupcakes for later, could you
stop by the bakery on your way?”
    It takes me a moment to remember: today I’m
supposed to meet with my friends to help organize an upcoming
charity function. “Of course!” I exclaim, feeling guilty I’d
forgotten. I was supposed to host, but Olivia has stepped in to
help me out. “Just text me the details, I’m on my way.”
    “You’re an angel!”
    Olivia hangs up and I swing into action.
Jeans and a casual T-shirt may be my preferred outfits when I’m
lounging around the house, but if I’m going to take my usual place
in the society clique, I need to be at the top of my game. I select
a cream designer dress from the wardrobe Cam ordered me, and add
hand-tooled Italian leather boots and a huge pair of
sunglasses.
    When I look in the mirror, I see my old self
again. Isabelle Ashcroft, heiress and party girl. But it’s feeling
more and more like a mask these days: hiding the true self I’m so
scared to reveal.
    What if Cam sees me for who I really am?
    I feel a chill, but I shake off the thought.
I head downstairs and hail a cab, stopping by Magnolia Bakery to
pick up a box of cupcakes before arriving at Olivia’s apartment on
the Upper East Side.
    “Miss Ashcroft.” The doorman tips his cap as
he holds open the heavy glass doors. I nod back, struck with how
many doors that name has opened for me.
    I didn’t lie to Cam last night, but I didn’t
tell him the whole truth either. I glossed over my childhood,
because I swore I was putting that life behind me, once and for
all. From the day Ashcroft and his wife took me home with them, I
was determined to belong in their wealthy, privileged world. I was
young, but I learned everything I could about manners and
etiquette, mimicking the people around me and researching online
and in books until you’d never guess I grew up poor, eating boxed
mac and cheese—on the good days.
    They wouldn’t regret choosing me. They
wouldn’t wish they could give me back.
    Now, I’m a part of this world. Most of my
friends don’t even know I was adopted, and those who do, barely
remember. I’ve fooled them all with my performance, because it’s
the one thing that keeps me safe from the shadows of my past.
    “Hi!” Olivia greets me at the front door,
looking breathless. “The others are early, they’re in the sun room.
You look great!”
    “Thanks again for playing hostess.” I step
inside. The apartment is magnificent, a huge pre-war overlooking
Central Park that’s been handed down in her family for generations.
The tall ceilings and huge windows are highlighted with powder blue
silk drapes, and priceless antiques are everywhere. Olivia keeps
chatting as we head to the kitchen, where her housekeeper, Olga, is
plating a perfect English tea on bone china plates.
    “Here are the cupcakes.” Olivia opens the
box and gives a peal of delight. “Don’t they look pretty?”
    “It’s a good thing we won’t be eating any,”
I note wryly. “Lulu and the others will just coo and then ignore
them.”
    I stop, realizing what I’ve said, but Olivia
snorts with laughter. “You’re right,” she says. “We better have one
now, before they see. I promise, I won’t tell,” she winks, holding
out one of the tiny confections.
    I take it and nibble at the sweet frosting,
feeling like a naughty child. I’ve just taken a huge bite when Lulu
waltzes in.
    “Isabelle, darling. Calories!”
    I reluctantly put it down as she smothers me
with air kisses. Her sharp gaze looks me up and down. “Where have
you been hiding? I haven’t seen you in forevs.”
    “Oh, just around,” I say vaguely.
    “You’re in the middle of a redecoration,
right?” Olivia pipes up.
    I stare blankly, until I remember: I told
them I moved out of my apartment because I was overhauling the
design. Not because I couldn’t spend another moment around
Brent.
    “That’s right!” I laugh. “God, these