Puretaboo: - Pristine Edge - What-s In It For Me...

Pristine’s blood cooled. “You don’t believe that.”

The Benefactor laughed—a dry, ugly sound. “Clever girl.”

“A performance.”

“I believe someone wanted her quiet. And I believe you look… remarkably like her. The same bone structure. The same defiant set of the jaw.” He leaned forward. “I want you to attend a party next Saturday. A private gathering. You’ll wear her clothes, speak in her manner, let a few old friends see that she’s still… with me.”

Then, around midnight, Julian led her to a study. Locked the door. The pretense dropped. PureTaboo - Pristine Edge - What-s In It For Me...

“No,” Pristine said, unlocking the door herself. “Just expensive.”

Pristine didn’t flinch. She’d learned young that nothing was free. “What’s in it for me?” she asked, though she meant what’s in it for you . Pristine’s blood cooled

But Pristine thought of her mother’s trembling hands. Of the eviction date stamped in red on the notice. Of every boy who’d used her in high school and called it love.