Winter Smith (Book 1): London's Burning by J.S. Strange Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t want to give Missy the satisfaction.
                  “He’s so cute, as well. Well, he’d have to be, wouldn’t he? Being a model and all that. He’s so edgy, too! He’s done some pretty crazy things. I think in the next year you’ll be hearing about us a lot.”
                  Winter shrugged.
                  “And what about you, Winter?” Missy asked. “Have you got anyone coming? Any friends?”
                  Missy laughed. She was always making fun of the fact Winter didn’t truly have any friends. The only friends she had were ones forced upon her by her parents, Missy for example, and none of them liked each other. Missy didn’t even have friends, though she would never admit it.
                  “Actually, someone I’ve been seeing is coming,” Winter told Missy, and she was pleased to see the smile fade from her face.
                  “You’re seeing someone?” Missy said incredulously. “Are you serious?”
                  Winter nodded.
                  “He’s coming here tonight. We haven’t been seeing each other long, but he’s a really nice guy.”
                  She didn’t really know that. He was still a virtual stranger. But Missy didn’t need to know that.
                  “Well.” Missy rolled her eyes, regaining her personality. “It won’t last.”
                  Winter didn’t say anything. Instead, she asked something else.
                  “Have you heard anything about an attack on London?”
                  Missy stared at her. “You’re so weird.”
                  Winter took that as a no.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
                  It was time for the party to take place. Guests and press began arriving in groups, some of them carrying expensive party gifts, until finally the house was swarming. Security stood guard outside, while the gates at the bottom of the lane kept opening and closing as more guests arrived. Some people were even forced to queue to get inside.
                  Winter had made sure she put distance between everyone. It was almost ten thirty, and she would be leaving soon to meet Connor at the bottom of the lane. Winter hoped he had the decency to dress smart, because her parents would not agree with someone turning up in casual clothing.
                  Winter had been told to put on high heels, but now her parents were engrossed in networking, she had swapped those high heels for comfortable, red Converse shoes. The designer of her dress had yet to arrive, and she apprehensively sipped her alcoholic drink as she awaited the press conference to begin. The press were all too busy photographing the numerous celebrities showing up unannounced and even uninvited. Her parents didn’t mind, though. They loved a scene.
                  TV screens had been pulled into the house and left in every room and left to display her parent’s logo, so it was one huge product placement. If a photograph didn’t have her parents’ logo in it, it would be rare, and therefore worth a lot in Winter’s books.
                  Already a very famous model had spewed up the drink she had drunk all night over the new floor, while Nathan Smith insisted it was fine. It was made fine by the fact that there had been photographers all around and some very strategically placed fliers, bearing the family logo.
                  Missy had soon deserted Winter to join her so-called friends, boasting about her model boyfriend who had shown up and melted Winter’s heart. He was dashingly handsome and she did feel a little envious.
                  Winter climbed the steps, the music from the room just as loud upstairs from the many fitted