Confessions of a Teen Nanny 02 - Rich Girls (15 page)

"Since our boarding school years," Albright said.

"Albright is even richer than we are," Graydon added, laughing.

"That's more than you can say," Cameron tossed at Brian.

Brian looked startled, then down at his feet.

She is unbelievable! Adrienne thought, her whole body growing warm with anger. She glanced at Brian. Why won't he stand up to her?

"You want to rescue me from making a huge mistake?" Cameron asked Albright, tipping her head toward Brian.

That's it! "Hey, Cameron," Adrienne said, stepping for- ward."Brian wouldn't go out on that stage with you if you were the last deb on Earth." She took his hand."Right, Bri?"

Brian stared at her. "What? Oh, right."

"Whatever, Nanny," Cameron said. "Take him. He's no good to me here." She turned to Albright."What's your last name again?"

"Smiley," he said, grinning.

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"Doesn't your family own Mediacorp International?"

"That's us," he said.

"Isn't your mom sort of a royal?" she asked.

Albright nodded.

"Good enough for me. Come on!" she said. She grabbed his hand."Debi!" she ordered."Change that card!"

Debi raced to Mrs. Heusen, grabbed the woman's pen, and scribbled the notes Albright dictated. Mr. Addison was still announcing the other debs and their escorts. Debi shoved the card into Mrs. Heusen's hand and pushed the startled woman onstage.

"And now for our final debutante," Mr. Addison said over the sound system."May I present Miss Cameron Warner and her escort, Albright N. Smiley the third, son of Albright N. Smiley junior, of the Denver Smileys, and his wife, Anabelle, the former Lady Browne-Fowlkes of London."

"There is a God," Debi murmured, listening to the applause.

Brian squeezed Adrienne's hand. "It was great of you to stick up for me," he said."You were totally right. I never should have been with Cameron.You're the only girl for me." He leaned toward her and kissed her.

As Adrienne felt his lips on hers she realized some- thing strange. No familiar tingle. No weak knees. No wish- ing to pull him closer, to melt into him.

She didn't want him anymore.

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"Adrienne," Brain said, pulling away to look at her. "What's wrong? I thought you wanted us to get back together."

Adrienne studied his face. If Brian had chosen her over Cameron, she might have felt differently. Instead, Cam had dumped him, and only now was he turning to her.And, she had seen him cave to Cameron twice. She shook her head.

"You know what, Brian?"Adrienne said."I care about you, and I couldn't stand there and watch Cameron treat you like dirt. But I didn't deserve to be treated the way you treated me, either. I think you were right: We do need a break from each other."

Adrienne went out to the ornate ballroom, feeling better than she had for a long time.

Liz stared around the ballroom, barely able to take it all in.The high, gilded ceilings had huge glimmering chan- deliers, and were filled with pale silver balloons dangling long golden ribbons that stretched almost to the large pol- ished dance floor.The room was full of men with white tie and tails, and women wearing long ball gowns dripping with expensive jewels. The linen-draped tables were cov- ered with tall bouquets of white roses, giving one the impression of being lost in an forest of flowers. It was like stepping into a fantasy.

She suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Parker.

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"I didn't know you were coming," he said with a daz- zling smile.

"Neither did I," she admitted. She took a deep breath. This is what she had come for, after all."Okay, just tell it to me straight: Are you going out with Isabelle?"

Parker looked surprised. "No way! Liz, look at Isabelle!" He pointed to a corner, where Liz saw Isabelle making out with Mimi's archduke! Mouth open in shock, Liz turned back to Parker.

"Is Isabelle the reason you've been so weird?" Parker asked.

"Me?" Liz said.

"Yeah. I've barely heard from you since I got back."

"But--but," Liz sputtered.

"Liz, I really like you," Parker said, touching her cheek.

"You do?" Liz responded, feeling her heart flutter.

"Of course, I do," Parker said.

"Oh," Liz said, her voice soft. This was going way better than she had hoped! Before she completely fell under the Parker spell, she shook her head to clear it."But all those calls," she said."You're always on that cell. It makes me wonder if--"

Parker cut her off. "It's rude. I know." He shrugged. "What can I say? I'm too popular for my own good. It's a burden I try to live with."

Liz giggled and smacked his arm. "Shut up."

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Parker laughed too, and pretended to protect himself from further attack."Okay, so sometimes I can be a jerk-- but at least I know it!"

"Can you try to know it in advance?" Liz said. "And then do a preemptive strike to avoid the jerkiness?"

"I'll do the best I can," Parker said, and grinned. "But no guarantees. I mean, you're asking me to change lifelong habits!"

He put on such a pathetic look, Liz burst out laughing.

He took her hand in his. "Come on, let's get out of here and get a slice of pizza."

"Dressed like this?"

"Of course!" Parker said. "After all the gourmet food shoved down my throat during the holidays, pizza is a real special occasion!"

He put his arm around Liz, and she leaned against him. It was definitely worth coming here, she thought. The rumors are just rumors, and Parker really does like me. I can feel it.

Adrienne looked around the ballroom, searching for Liz.The first person she saw, though, was Mrs.Warner.

"Oh, Adriana!" the woman gushed. She placed her hands on Adrienne's shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks. "You are genius! Absolute genius!"

"I--what?" Adrienne asked.

"I don't know how you did it, but I never should have

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doubted you! You kept Cameron from making a complete and utter fool of herself with that Byron boy.And Albright Smiley the third! What a perfect escort!"

"Oh, right,"Adrienne said."Well, glad to have been of help."

"You are an angel. And don't you worry, that bonus is yours! It will be waiting for you back at the apartment.We Warners don't forget those who help us.

"Oh, they need me onstage," Mrs.Warner said, prac- tically giddy."Ta-ta, dear!" She disappeared into the elegant crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Addison announced from the stage. "As you all know, every year we pick the debutante who exhibits the most perfect combination of birth, breeding, and beauty as Debutante of the Year. The competition was very close, but we are pleased to announce that the Debutante of the Year is . . . Princess Mimi von Fallschirm!"

This party just gets better,Adrienne thought with a grin.

As the crowd burst into applause, Cameron appeared beside her.

"That dress looks great on you, Adrienne," Cameron commented.

"What do you want, Cameron?" Adrienne said.

"Hey, no hard feelings," Cameron said. "You have Brian back."

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"Don't want him anymore," Adrienne said. "And I have nothing to say to you."

"Don't be silly, Adrienne," Cameron said, moving closer. "I have a little proposal for you. And I know you won't be able to say no."

Adrienne faced Cameron. A slow, confident smile spread across Adrienne's face. "Trust me, Cameron. I can say no to you."

"No, you can't," Cameron said, her eyes glittering. "I was supposed to be Deb of the Year, Adrienne, and I'm going to get even with Mimi for this."

"That's between you and Mimi, Cam," Adrienne said, turning to walk away.

"Not if you want things to work out for Liz," Cameron called.

Adrienne stopped and slowly turned around. Now it was Cam who had the knowing smile.

"I know something about Parker that your friend will want to know before she gets any more involved with him," Cameron said.

"What's that, Cameron?" Adrienne demanded, hating that Cameron had her hooked this way. But she had to find out--for Liz's sake.

"I'll tell you, Adrienne. But only after I get even with Mimi--and you are going to help me do it!"

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Confessions of a Teen Nanny

Confessions of a Teen Nanny 2:

Rich Girls

Confessions of a Teen Nanny 3:

Juicy Secrets

Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader March 2009 ISBN 978-0-06-190289-5

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