C1, PT. 3 (Patreon)

Her dad’s grumpy best friend scowled at her. “I’m not related to you, girl. Why would you call me that?”

“It’s more respectful than calling you by your first name, don’t you think? And you’ve known me since I was born, you’re like an uncle.” She gave him a winning smile, but when his severe expression didn’t ease, she mumbled, “I guess not.”

Warren gave her a long look before he switched his attention to Penelope and Kira. “And who might you two be?”

Jasmine made the introductions. Penelope curtsied again, while Kira gave him a weak but dignified nod.

“My friends just wanted a peek at where you and Dad do business, but I know Dad will be along any minute now, so we’ll just…”

She took a step forward, but Warren held up a hand.

“Your father won’t be along. We had our meeting before the party started.”

“Oh?” She gave him a slightly giddy smile. “That’s great news.”

“Indeed,” Warren agreed and focused on Penelope and Kira and said rather abruptly, “Did you tell your parents you left the ballroom?”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Penelope and Kira glance at each other before they shook their heads. A tense silence fell. Warren had always been brusque and socially inept, but this was strange even for him. He was blocking the exit and not making any attempt at conversation. He was just standing there, looking at them like…

Penelope’s hand twisted in the back of Jasmine’s dress, letting her know she was uncomfortable. She wanted to reassure her friend that Warren was one of her father’s closest friends and odd, but harmless. But when Kira gripped her wrist, also conveying her unease, Jasmine decided to take charge.

“I think it’s time we,” she began, but a flurry of movement in the doorway made her heart stutter. Her knees went weak with relief when her sisters advanced into the room.

“Warren,” Colette greeted with a gracious smile. “I apologize. Did my sister and her friends disrupt you?”

“No, not at all. They were keeping me company,” Warren said as he ran his fingers through his thinning hair.

“Jasmine knows better than to wander off during events. We’ll escort them back to the party where they belong,” Colette said.

Warren grunted and wandered over to the chess game in progress. He examined the board for a moment before he used the queen to take a pawn and attack a rook.

Jasmine’s smile faltered when Colette grabbed Jasmine’s arm and gave her a little shake.

“You know better than to leave the ballroom without informing someone where you’re going. I’ve been looking for you for fifteen minutes.”

Jasmine stared up at her sister, stunned into silence by Colette’s bruising grip and the fury that destroyed her polite facade. She’d never seen Colette this upset.

“It’s my fault,” Kira piped up. “I really wanted a tour. Jasmine didn’t want to, but I pushed her to—”

“Jasmine knows better.” Colette’s steely gaze didn’t shift from her youngest sister. “Do you know what could have happened to you?”

“But we didn’t leave the penthouse,” Jasmine said, bewildered by her sister’s overblown reaction to showing her friends around. “We were just down the hall—”

“We have nearly one hundred guests and countless staff coming and going constantly. Anything can happen at any time. You never let down your guard, even in your own home. Do you understand?”

She didn’t, but she was too scared to ask her sister to elaborate. Colette may be ten years older than her, but at times like this, their age gap seemed much larger. Colette felt more like a strict aunt than an older sister.

“Come on, you two,” Ariana said, gesturing to Penelope and Kira to proceed her out of the room.

“It’s not Jasmine’s fault,” Kira began again, but Ariana held up a hand and shook her head.

As she and Colette followed in their wake, she whispered, “Please don’t tell Dad.”

“It seems he’s the only person you listen to,” Colette said.

She clasped her sister’s hand between both of hers and tried to appeal to a soft side she knew her sister didn’t possess. “But he’ll banish me from attending any parties for the rest of the year! I won’t see you or Ariana for months!”

“So be it,” Colette said coldly, her earlier agitation hidden behind an impassive mask. “If seeing us meant so much to you, you wouldn’t have broken the rules to impress your friends.”

“Please, Colette,” Jasmine begged. “I swear, I’ll never ever—”

“Colette,” Warren called.

Colette stopped in her tracks. “Yes?”

“I’d like to speak to you privately.”

When Colette made no reply, Jasmine glanced up and took in her sister’s curiously blank face. She squeezed her lax, cold hand. “Col?”

“Go with Ariana,” Colette said, jerking her chin at the door.

Jasmine hesitated. “If you don’t tell Dad, I’ll…”

Colette jerked her hand out of Jasmine’s. “This isn’t a negotiation.” When Jasmine opened her mouth, she tacked on, “And if you don’t leave now, I’ll personally add onto whatever punishment Dad issues.”

Warren grunted in approval. “Someone needs to put her in her place. She’s willful, disobedient. Nothing like you and Ariana.”

She gave Colette one more beseeching look, but her sister’s stony expression made it clear it was a lost cause. As she made her way to the exit, she saw Ariana and her friends had already disappeared. At the door, she hesitated, unsure whether to close it or not. She looked back and was met by a strange sight.

Colette sat in one of the leather armchairs, looking up at Warren who stood before her. Her sister ruled boardrooms at her father’s side and had graced at least a dozen magazine covers. Her sister was beautiful and regal. Confidence personified, but at this moment, as she looked up at Warren, she looked so unlike herself. She looked… vulnerable.

Despite Colette’s threat to increase her punishment, Jasmine took a step back into the room, gaining Colette’s attention. For a moment, their eyes met, vivid blue to hazel. The anger was gone. So was that detached remoteness that made her oldest sister her father’s favorite. In its place was something else. Something that made Jasmine’s heart race. As she opened her mouth, Colette gave a slight shake of her head.

Jasmine hesitated.

Colette blinked rapidly, hands balling into fists on her lap, before she mouthed, “Go.”

When Jasmine hovered, torn, her sister’s eyes narrowed.

“Now.”

She was no match for Colette’s iron will. As she backed out of the room, closing the door behind her, the sound of Warren’s monotone voice was abruptly cut off. He’d been oblivious to their exchange as he droned on about some major deal he’d recently done.

Jasmine stood before the closed door, trying to tamp down the strange feeling that Colette needed her.

“Jasmine! What are you doing?” Ariana hissed, appearing at her side. “Where’s Colette?”

“Warren wanted to speak to her.”

Ariana required no further explanation. She grabbed Jasmine’s arm and marched her back to the ballroom.

“Where’s Penelope and Kira?”

“With their parents,” Ariana said.

Jasmine glanced over her shoulder at the library. “What do you think Warren wants to talk to Colette about?”

“Business,” Ariana said impatiently. “He speaks of nothing else. He’s taken her under his wing and taught her things he hasn’t even shared with his own daughters. He’s a valuable mentor.”

“Right.”

She considered telling Ariana about Warren’s strange behavior before they arrived and what she’d seen before she left, but one glance at Ariana’s face told her that her concerns would be dismissed. And what had she seen? A break in Colette’s icy composure? What did that prove?

All thoughts of Warren and Colette were forgotten when a man stepped out of the ballroom. She and Ariana halted abruptly.

“You told Dad already?” Jasmine whispered.

“No,” Ariana said, voice low. “He must have noticed Colette and I have been neglecting our duties.”

Jasmine’s heart sank. “I'm sorry.”

Ariana straightened her shoulders. “I’ll make up an excuse. Stay out of trouble.”

She caught her breath. “You’re going to cover for me? But Colette said—”

“I’ll handle Colette. I’m not sure why she panicked when we couldn’t find you, but no harm was done.” Ariana glanced down at her. “No more wandering off, yes?”

“Yes.” She gave her sister a quick, grateful squeeze before she slipped away, leaving her sister to face their father alone.

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Sins. Please do not share or distribute.

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