“I’vealwayshated these things.” I cast a weary glance at the stuffy crowd. “Why am I even needed here?”
“The people need to see the future President’s beautiful family.” He wagged a finger at me before I could protest. “And yes, as Leopold’s captivating companion, that includes you, Ottavia.”
“I’mnothis ‘companion,’ Dad.”
Once upon a time, maybe, but those puppy love days were long gone.
He ignored my remark and tried a different tact instead. “Well, what else were you going to do tonight, anyway?”
“Unpack my things and get settled in? See what my friends are up to? Start looking for a summer job?”
“What? A summer job? Why?” He laughed, the idea apparently preposterous. “Look, if you really wanna work, I can set you up with an easy office job.”
I rolled my eyes. “You know I don’t want an office job.”
Much less one where I don’t actuallydoanything because of who my dad is.
“Right, right. You want to be an actress.” He snickered. “So what are you gonna do? Find a summer acting job in the wanted ads?”
OfcourseI wasn’t going to find an acting job this summer; I knew that. I just wantedajob,anyjob, that a normal twenty-one-year-old girl might have. Plus, it’d help with my acting if I had at least a touch of real-life experience to draw from.
“Face it, hon. Your best bet of becoming an actress is rubbing elbows with the right people,” Dad said, his hands gripping my shoulder as he spun me around to face the crowd. “Look around; they’re all out there. There’s incredible power in people, Ottavia. You just have to know how to use it.”
“That’s not me,” I said and slipped out of his grasp.
“Listen, I know you’re not thrilled to be here,” Dad said, trying to maintain a smile. “But I am glad you came. It’s important for you to be here. If not for me, then for William and Leopold.”
I fluttered my eyes at him. “So … foryou,Dad.”
“This is going to be huge for both our families, Ottavia,” he said. “By the way, I got something to show you.” He patted hispockets, searching for something in his suit jacket. He handed me a photograph. “It’s from the very first day you two met.”
With a sigh, I reluctantly glanced at the photo. I’ll admit, I was expecting to remain annoyed at this fleeting glimpse at the past—but it was impossiblenot to be sucked into a portal to the past. In the ancient photo, Leo and I are just cute-as-a-button toddlers, standing outside by the shimmering pool at the Capuano residence, with our smiling dads watching over us in the background. Leo and I are both wearing precious onesie swimsuits with orange floaties hugging our tiny arms. My face is full and round with cherubic delight as I plant a big ol’ kiss on Leo’s bright red cheek. But little Leo, with his curly mop of blonde hair, isn’t so sure about me. His terrified reaction is comically frozen in time—with a crestfallen face and a mouth forming a perfect square, Leo appears to be letting out what I can only imagine was a piercing scream that could be heard formiles.
I couldn’t help but giggle when I saw it.
“Is that cute or what?” Dad asked, snickering.
“Itiscute,” I had to admit.
“That little boy had no clue how stunning you’d become.”
I scanned the crowd. “Where is he, anyway? Shouldn’t he be here?”
“He’s around here somewhere. I’ve seen him working the room all night, shaking hands, making connections. The kid’s got the gift of gab. He’s a natural, Ottavia. You’d almost thinkhewas running for President instead of his old man. Someday, though. Someday.” He winked. “Trust me. He’s a safe investment.”
“Well, I don’t see him,” I replied.
“Maybe he ran up to your suite?”
“Mysuite?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I arranged for you and Leo to have the penthouse luxury suite all week.” With a flick of his wrist, Dad produced a hotel key card and handed it to me. He leaned in and sang, “That way you two can catch up and make up for lost time.”
“Your kindness knows no bounds, Father,” I said, dripping with sarcasm.
“Oh, my talented little actress,” he gushed, equally ironically, and pinched my cheek.
Dad’s attention shifted to his trilling cell phone, which he quickly fished out of his trousers pocket. He held the phone to one ear and plugged the other. “Hello? . . . Yeah. Uh-huh . . . And what’d he say? . . . Oh, that little rat piece of shit. . . . ”
