Chapter 1
I'm bored
No, beyond bored.
Miss Anderson has been talking about the human circulatory system for what feels like hours, and I'm convinced I could recite her lecture in my sleep.
Doesn't she ever get tired of teaching? Honestly, the woman deserves a vacation.
Oh right. I should probably introduce myself.
I'm Tamryn Olivia Brooks, daughter of Mr. Charles Brooks, CEO of Brooks Corporation. The man who owns a chain of luxury hotels, restaurants, and resorts.
People usually assume I'm a spoiled little princess, dripping in diamonds and attitude. Spoiler alert: not true.
Sure, my parents give me anything I ask for, but that doesn't mean I'm pampered. Not really.
At the moment, I'm sitting in my homeschooling lesson.
Yes, you heard right. I don't go to a regular school. My teacher, Miss Anderson, is brilliant and, well. . . a little too enthusiastic about blood vessels at the moment.
I love her, but sometimes I wish I could trade all this quiet, gilded isolation for noisy hallways, crowded cafeterias, and actual teenage friends.
I've begged my dad to let me attend a real school after all, you're only a teenager once, right?
But ever since "the incident" ten years ago, when some men tried to kidnap me, he's kept me on a very tight leash.
The only time I'm allowed out is for carefully supervised events and family functions.
"Miss Brooks, are you listening to me?"
The sharp edge in Miss Anderson's voice yanks me back to reality.
Uh-oh. She only calls me Miss Brooks when she's mad.
"Umm. . .yes?" I answer, but it comes out sounding more like a question.
Her arms cross. "Then what did I just say?"
I rattle off her last sentence about the circulatory system in one breath, hoping to win her over. It works....sort of.
Her stern expression softens into a smirk. "You're lucky you're smart," she says. "But you weren't paying attention"
"I know, I'm sorry, and it won't. . . "
"You were thinking about going to school again, weren't you?" she interrupts without even turning around.
I blink. "How did you . . . ?"
She finally faces me, her eyes warm. "I've known you forever, Tamryn. You're like my little sister. I know what's on your mind
And she's not wrong. Miss Anderson, twenty-five and sharp as a whip, is the closest thing I have to an older sister apart from my cousin Vanessa and my childhood best friend Brandon, who's studying abroad. They're basically my entire friend group.
"Miss Anderson, don't take this the wrong way. I'm really thankful to have you as my tutor, but . . . sometimes I wish I could trade all of this for a real school, just to know what it feels like to have friends my own age." I exhaled, absently twirling the pen between my fingers.
She studied me quietly for a moment, then placed a gentle hand over mine. "I understand."
"Listen. . . I get that this is hard. But sometimes the best opportunities come disguised as the worst situations. Make the most of what you have. Don't give up just because it's not what you imagined."
It's a lovely speech, but I can't hep wondering why she's suddenly getting all deep on me.
"What happened to the Miss Anderson who was scolding me ten minutes ago?" I ask.
She smacks my shoulder lightly. "That's for being a smart mouth."
I laugh. "There she is."
"Promise me you'll take my advice seriously," she says, giving me her patented don't mess with me look.
I groan. "Fine, but you know I never break promises. Totally unfair."
"That's exactly why I made you promise." Her smirk returns. "Now, back to the blood cells..."
But before she can finish, a low voice cuts through the room.
"I think she's had enough for today."
I freeze upon hearing the voice I've been very much familiar with.
And I know exactly who it belongs to.
