Betrayal by Velvet Read Free Book Online

teeth.
    “Girl, you have always been bold with your outfits. Remember those tight T-shirts you used to wear back in the day? You had every boy, and even some of the professors drooling. But …” she trailed off her sentence, trying to find the right words. “Now, don’t take this the wrong way, but you should probably tone down your look now that you’re in Washington with these tight-ass politicians.”
    Michele’s expression changed. Her smile instantly faded. “What do you mean? Tone down my look?”
    “Don’t get offended.” Fiona rubbed her arm. “It’s just that nobody will take you seriously walking around with your boobs on display.”
    “Look,” she raised her voice slightly, “I can’t help it if my nipples stay hard,” she said, rolling her eyes.
    “Calm down, Michele. You know I love you, and I’m only saying this out of concern. You told me that you want to be included on the A-list. Well, first you have to dress the part. How do you think I snagged Thompson? I dress like his little trophy wife in public, but in the bedroom, I let it all hang out. Look, you can do what you want. It’s just a word to the wise, that’s all.”
    Michele didn’t like being reprimanded about her style of dress. It reminded her of the professor who had tried to seduce her, and when she refused the teacher, the woman told her to stop wearing those provocative shirts. Hell, she couldn’t help it if she was blessed with natural assets. Michele weighed Fiona’s words, and had to admit that she made a good point. She desperately wanted to be included in the in crowd, and if changing her wardrobe was a criterion, then she would consider it. But, if she chose to wear more conservative clothes, it would be her decision. Nobody was going to force her to conform.

5
    “SO, WHAT did you think of Michele’s friends?” Ariel asked. She and Preston were home from the party, getting ready for bed. She was still baffled about the connection between Fiona—someone so poised and refined—and Michele, the total opposite.
    “I’ve seen Thompson on the Hill, but I’ve never had the opportunity to talk to him until tonight. He appears to be a stand-up type of guy,” Preston said, removing his tie.
    Ariel didn’t give two cents about Thompson. She was more interested in his wife. “What about Fiona? She doesn’t really seem like someone who would be friends with Michele. Does she?”
    “Well, I really hadn’t given it much thought.”
    Ariel was sitting at the vanity table taking off her makeup. She twisted her mouth in a frustrated gesture. Her back was to him, so he didn’t see her face. At times men could be so clueless when it came to women. On the other hand, if they were sizing up another man for a networking opportunity, they were completely in tune. “What I mean is that Michele is so … how should I say? Rough around the edges. And Fiona seems as though she spent her formative years in charm school,” Ariel said, wiping mascara from her lashes with a cotton ball.
    Preston hunched his shoulders. “I guess,” he said, sounding as if he couldn’t care less.
    Ariel realized that she wasn’t going to get much feedback from Preston, so she decided to drop the subject. Besides, she had more pressing matters on her mind. She needed to put her pregnancy plan into motion sooner rather than later. She finished removing her makeup, and then went into the bathroom to take a quick shower. Ten minutes later, she reemerged wearing only a terry cloth towel. She sauntered over to the bed where Preston was laying on his back with his hands underneath his head and his eyes closed. He wasn’t snoring, so she didn’t know if he was asleep or just resting his eyes. She sat on the edge of the bed, and ran her hand over his chest. He wore a pair of cotton pajamas, so she couldn’t feel his bare chest. She leaned in and whispered in his ear, “The champagne from the party tonight has me feeling a little frisky. What about