The Switch Read Online Free Page A

her
tracks, almost causing her to trip.
    Olivia.
    What in god’s name was she doing here?
Olivia hated this crowd, had always deemed it below her standards.
And her opinion of Marion was about half that. Marion considered
pretending she hadn’t heard her, but the crisp, business-like click
of Olivia’s footfalls told her she was too late. She’d have to run
to escape Grayson’s twin sister, and that would only draw
attention. Especially since she’d probably break her neck trying to
run in her fuck-me shoes.
    Swallowing back the sour dread that tinged
her mouth, Marion took a deep breath and turned, mentally preparing
for battle.
    “Do you even know how to use that thing?”
Olivia drawled. “Oh, yes, I remember now - your time with Daddy’s
stable-boy undoubtedly gave you some familiarity.”
    “Hello, Olivia,” she said with more calm
than she felt. “What an unexpected pleasure. How are you?”
    Olivia made a disgusted sound and crossed
her arms. “Spare me. You’re no more pleased to see me than anyone
here is to see you. Why you keep returning to places where you’re
clearly not welcome is beyond me.”
    “I was invited. Were you?”
    “Right. Invited. We both know the
only person who wants you here is Gray. And we both know why.”
    “Grayson’s is the only invitation I need,
and I’m fairly certain you know a lot less than you think,” Marion
said with surprising steadiness. Her blood was pounding. Despite
her controversial standing in their society, she was terrible at
actual confrontation. Especially when it came to Olivia. Everything
that made her a Domme seemed to struggle like a drowning man left
in the middle of an ocean as her adolescent mistakes came back to
haunt her.
    Olivia gave her a pitying look. “You’re not
honestly that naive.” The diamond on her left hand sparkled as she
deliberately smoothed her glossy, chestnut hair. “Privileged as we
are, we all must eventually grow up and move on. That
includes Grayson. He is coming back, to take his proper place in
our family . He’ll have to marry, soon, and he’ll be expected
to marry someone in his own class.”
    Marion snorted. “What century are you living
in?” At the same time, the thought of Grayson marrying someone -
someone else, made her stomach turn.
    “Go ahead and laugh. But you know it’s true.
Eventually, he will outgrow his rebellious streak and leave
behind this twisted fascination he has with… well.” Her eyes swept
pointedly over Marion’s form.
    Good lord. She was used to the
disdain and thinly veiled barbs from people in this crowd, but
Olivia’s outright bitchiness made Marion’s head swim. The jab at
what was ultimately her lifestyle sparked her anger, however. She
opened her mouth to let loose on this deluded country-club
princess, but something gave her pause.
    The barely-perceptible tremble in Olivia’s
voice wouldn’t have caught her attention alone. But there was a
slight flush to her cheeks, and her eyes - her whole demeanor,
seemed far more charged than appropriate. Something had really
upset her, and it wasn’t Marion. What was Olivia doing at
this party?
    Before she could stop herself, Marion
reached out for Olivia. “Hey, are you all right?” she asked.
    “I’m fine!” Olivia snapped, jerking out of
reach. She pulled her purse strap higher up on her shoulder and
smoothed her blouse down, lifting her chin a fraction. “I suppose
it’s just been a while since I’ve gone slumming. The things one
does for family, though… Not that you’d know anything about that,”
she added icily.
    It all clicked, and Marion’s anger suddenly
dissolved into real remorse. “Olivia, I’m sorry,” she found herself
blurting out. “About Jasper, I mean.”
    The flush drained from Olivia’s face,
leaving her pale and stark. “What?” she demanded in a low
voice.
    Dumb move, undoubtedly. Marion never
apologized, for anything. That wasn’t who she was. And Jasper’s
name was like bile in the