***

Grey's mansion was straight off a movie set, or from the pages of a book. It was as if someone had asked me what I pictured a millionaires mansion to be like then slapped the image in my mind into reality.

Huge towering grey walls surrounded the building, the black metal gates opened automatically when Grey drove up to them revealing the magnificent house that lay behind them. It was two storeys of what looked like two houses slammed into each other. Half of the house was made from old crumbling grey stone like Kings Bridge but the rest was huge floor to ceiling panels of glass allowing you to look directly into the house. The glass and stone juxtaposed each other so harshly it was hard to imagine they were intended to be put together in one building rather than just merged together from two. The house reached out wide, especially on the ground floor that was ginormous, and I'm sure extended far back too.

"You should close you're mouth it's rude," Nico told me matter of factly.

"You live here?" I knew these boys came from lives of privilege and wealth but surely people didn't actually live like this.

"Not by choice," Grey stated glumly, his whole face had become overcast with shadows just at the sight of the house.

"That's insane," I shook my head, still in awe, but then I was hardly one to talk about odd living arrangements considering I'd never lived in an actual house, only hotels.

"Insanely horrific," Grey shook his head his voice thick with disgust, "Jordan designed it, that's why it looks so awful. Cost him $600 million and it still looks like a child thought it up, just goes to show money can't buy everything."

"The glass and stone is a bit weird," I considered pressing finger to my lip in thought, "but it's so huge, like it never wants to end."

"Only my mom, the twins and Jordan live there now, they don't need all that space, there's 8 bedrooms, who even needs that many?"

"People who can afford to," Sawyer shrugged simply.

The whole area out the front that was nearly as big as a Target car park was stuffed with various flashy sports cars, glistening Rolls Royce's and brand new looking Mercedes. The whole car park put together could've probably brought you the whole of California.

"We're so late," Mitchell informed us but hardly seemed upset about it.

"Great, that means less time we have to spend around my family," Grey ran his hand through his hair. I could tell this whole situation was stressing him out.

"Well you may not be but I'm excited," I sat up in my seat determined to make light of the situation, "I've never been to a charity event before and I've never been in a house this huge or expensive so I am going to go in there and enjoy myself and eat fancy snacks and admire lovely dresses."

"You won't be saying that after half an hour in there," Grey looked at me, I hated how muted and lifeless his eyes were. I wanted to blow the flame back into them, I wanted to make them spit with fire again.

"Try me," I kicked the car door open and stepped out onto the tarmac, I was going to make them all have a good time if it was the last thing I did.

I marched towards the building with a set determination, I wouldn't allow myself to be intimidated by the godly grandeur of the place that I was clearly so incongruous with. But before I even had the chance to open the door it was flung open by a plump middle aged woman in an apron.

"Master Grey you're late," she reprimanded her articulated English accent ringing across the car park, "your mother was just about to send me to fetch you."

"I'm here now Miss Elspeth," Grey sighed strolling towards the woman who was standing on the edge of the porch steps her legs squared and hands firmly planted on her hips.

"But you're late and your mother is going to have words with you," her words would usually have made all the boys snigger but something about the severity of the voice and authoritative way she stood told me she was someone you laughed at at your own risk.

"Aren't you pleased to see me?" Grey stood at the bottom of the steps staring up at her like a disgruntled school boy at his favourite teacher.

"Come here," she reached down and he stepped forward to be level with her as she wrapped her arms tightly around him in an almost painful looking embrace. Despite her stern features and stiff body there was a great affection shared between the two of them as she held him like a mother would, as if she never wanted to let go.

"Now Miss Elspeth you better be carful or they'll think you have a real heart in there," Grey whispered but only loud enough for me to hear.

"Who's next?" Miss Elspeth released Grey sharply and turned to the three other boys shifting uncomfortably at the bottom of the steps, "Nicolas Aguilar or Mitchell Donovan or you Sawyer Clement?" Silence, more awkward shifting, "well you best come inside then and stop loitering out here like a bunch of hooligans."

With that she turned and marched back towards the door her whole body moving rigidly and tall like she was being pulled up by the tight bun on top of her head. That's when she finally noticed me.

"Nice to meet you I'm Cara Collins," I introduced myself in the politest voice I could muster. I stuck out an awkward hand and barely stopped myself from curtsying.

For a moment she just regarded me with her eagle-like blue eyes then without warning she disregarded my hand and clamped me in a hug so sudden it knocked the air out of me.

"I can't believe it, Grey has actually brought a girl home, you don't look like the usual girls he brings to parties, yes let me get a better look," she pulled away sharply allowing me to breath as her eyes wondered critically up and down me and for a second she seemed like a whole other person than a stern maid in a starched apron, "yes you look nothing like the others thank god. Pampered little princesses they were but no you're quite lovely. Not sure what the Misses will think about you though. Was she okay with this?" Grey didn't reply, realisation dawned on her face as she turned back to him, "unless she doesn't know."

"She would just say no anyway so what was the point and Cara's not my girlfriend, she's just a friend."

Miss Elspeth let out a humph of disbelief before twisting back to me, "best of luck then dear and don't let any of those pretentious fools make you think you have any less right to be here than they do, okay?"

"Okay," I nodded just trying to keep up with her instructions. She seemed to flick so suddenly from being stern and critical to warm and praising it was hard to know which one would come next.

"Now I mustn't hold you up a minute longer so give me your costs then go on in, make sure you see your mother Grey so she knows you're here," she instructed decidedly. The boys and I all hand her our coats almost robotically like we had no other option but to obey her every word.

Then we were inside.

The inside of the house was just as disjointed as the outside, the walls were a clinical bright white but on them hung hundreds of various pieces of art. Some modern abstract pieces but others detailed watercolour landscapes, I guessed that all the paintings were there as a display of wealth rather than an show of artistic talent.

The hum of a crowd and clink of glasses and hiss of champagne could be heard in the distance.

"You ready?" Grey arrived at my side jaw locked and face set as is he was about to enter battle.

"You make it sound like I'm going to face the firing squad," I rolled my eyes, Grey just gave me a look that made my insides shake, but I set my chin up high just like my mom had taught me, "I'm ready."

I strutted into the main room with Grey and Nico on one side and Mitch and Sawyer on the other guarding me protectively. It was a huge grand room again painted white with one floor to ceiling glass wall that revealed the manicured gardens and flower patches beyond. There was a beautiful grand piano in one corner, bar on one side, trestle tables with white tablecloths around the outside of the room that were loaded with delicious looking but tiny dishes. The huge room was almost completely packed with people and they were spilling out into the garden too. All the men were in starched white shirts and designer suits worth as much as the cars outside, all the women in sleek dresses, if this is what they deemed casual I hated to think what their fancy would be.

"Impressive huh?" Nico nudged my shoulder with a smirk.

"Do all your houses look like this?" I asked incredulously.

"No just Grey's," Nico teased but when Grey shot him a sharp look he amended, "I mean similar but not exactly the same or as big and ugly."

"Christopher Grey Jarvis," a sharp woman's voice sliced through the air furiously as the slim figure of Grey's mom hurtled towards us. But all I could think was that I didn't know Grey had his step dads surname.

"Sorry I'm late we got stuck in traffic," the lie came so easily out his mouth it shocked me.

"No excuse," she chastised her beautiful face frowning which instantly made her look decades older, "you should always leave extra time," her eyes flicked over the boys distractedly and she straightened up, swept her hair back behind one ear and gave the most tortured smile I'd ever seen, "nice you see you again, Nicolas, Mitchell, Sawyer," she acknowledged them one by one with a nod of her head and her eyes glassed over me as if I didn't exist, "do you mind if I borrow my son for second, you enjoy the party and be sure to try the spring rolls they're delicious."

Her squeaky soprano voice was clearly so forced and practised just like her smile that never reached her grey eyes. Still with that harsh smile she grabbed Grey's arm with her claw-like false nails and dragged him into a corner.

"Let's find some food," Mitch suggested quietly and started leading the way over to the nearest trestle table but not quick enough. Grey's mom started to hiss at Grey in a cutting tone I knew we could all hear.

"So many people have been asking to see you and I didn't know where you were. Do you know what a bad message that sends about me? I almost sent Miss Elspeth out to get you. We've spoken about this before Grey, you must always arrive on time. I don't want to have this conversation again, it's a disgrace to this family that you would show up like this," her voice was so venomous it made me want to curl up in a ball the corner to protect myself from it, "you waltz in here over an hour late to a charity event I've spent months organising without even the decency to call and tell me you'll be late. And you bring that girl with you, trash like that doesn't belong here Grey. You know it."

"Who are you?" Grey's voice was so low and desperate I barely caught it, it was thick with emotion and almost begging, "because you're sure as hell not my mom. I'll go and say hi to a couple of people but then I'm leaving with my trashy friends because I'd far prefer to be with them anyway. Have a nice afternoon."

I had my back as Grey approached me but when he reached my side and looked down at me I knew my face would reveal that I'd heard every word.

"I'm so sorry Grey," I muttered at a loss for words, nothing felt like the right thing to say, "I can go if it makes things easier for you, I honestly don't mind."

"Don't be ridiculous," Grey shut me down, "you're staying. And no I don't want to talk about it."

"Grey you alright man?" Mitch appeared by his side and clamped a reassuring hand on his shoulder. I could tell by Mitch's face that this wasn't the first time he'd heard something like this.

"Of course," I didn't need to be a good people reader to tell Grey was lying, he wore a disconcerting false smile on his face and had an unnaturally high pitch to his voice as he asked, "where are the spring rolls, I've heard they're really good?"

As he strolled off acting as if nothing had happened I shot Mitch a panicked look, his face had the exact same expression as mine, troubled. This wasn't our Grey.

"I'll go after him," Mitch touched my arm gently, the concern for his friend was present on every feature of his face. He headed after Grey quickly and had soon vanished in the mass of black suits and shiny dresses. Nico watched him distractedly,

"You go too Nico," Sawyer nodded, "I'll stay with Cara," Nico didn't need telling twice, he rushed straight after Mitch and Grey, "want to get some fresh air Cara?"

I nodded eagerly, I hadn't realised how stuffy and claustrophobic I felt until Sawyer pointed it out so I allowed him to lead me outside.

Just as the inside was full of sharp corners and too-white walls the outside was similarly structured in harsh dramatic lines. Perfectly rectangular flowerbeds holding rows of perfectly bloomed flowers and trees trimmed so not a single leaf was out of place, the lawn mowed so all of it spread out perfectly flat as far as the eye could see.

We were stood on a wide veranda made of black slabs that was dotted with delicate white garden chairs which ladies sat on daintily sipping their champagne. Sawyer made his way over to the edge of the veranda where a set of steps lead down to the lawn. Here he sat down and patted the space beside him indicating I should join.

"Are you okay?" He asked tilting his head my way as I sat down tucking my skirt underneath me.

"It's Grey that I'm worried about," I sighed.

"But what Grey's mom said about you," Sawyer pushed, I'd completely forgotten about her scathing comment towards me, "you shouldn't dwell on it, she didn't mean it, she just thinks she should mean it."

"What do you mean?" I looked at him confused. Sawyer sighed heavily as his mind ticked trying to find the right words to say.

"She wasn't born into a fancy, wealthy life just like we weren't, she had to make her way to the top so she was never raised knowing how to act in high society. So she just mimics others, that's why she said what she did to you, because she thought it was what she should say rather than what she actually wanted to say."

"That's so ... twisted," I rung my hands together as I thought this over.

"It's just how people are," Sawyer shrugged, "obviously not everyone but some people can be very cruel."

"You sound like you're speaking from experience," I observed. Sawyer gave a pained grimace that told me I'd hit the jackpot, "what happened?"

"Life," Sawyer shrugged, "you see Mitch and Nico don't entirely understand, they were born into wealthy family's that had been successful and admired for hundreds of years, but Grey and I we were born into more 'common' families. That doesn't mean they had any less of a hard time than us we just have differences. I was adopted, I came into this life by chance and although my parents have never been anything but loving there are people who aren't quite so understanding. People who see me as the black charity case a white couple took pity on. It's twisted and small minded but that's just the way some people think. They would never say it to your face but it's the whispers behind your back and sideways stares that are almost worse."

"I'm ..," I faltered, "I'm so sorry Sawyer, that's awful."

I reached out and took his hand in mine clinging onto the warmth of his skin and strength that radiated from him.

"Don't be sorry," Sawyer shook his head determinedly, "I'm not sorry, I have a great life, I have wonderful parents and great friends and a huge loving family. You should never feel sport for me, people will think what they want to think, you just have to know that it doesn't matter what they say as long as you know what's true."

Silence, I could feel tears building in the back of my eyes at how heartfelt his speech was. I wasn't going to cry though because I knew if I started I wouldn't be able to stop myself.

"Has anyone told you that you should be an inspirational speaker?" I asked ensuring that I kept my tone lighthearted.

"Actually, yes," Sawyer chuckled giving my hand a slight squeeze as if he knew what I really wanted to say and was telling me he understood.

"You must need something to drink after that," I grinned, "let me grab you some water," I pushed myself up.

"Okay, thanks," Sawyer said hesitantly as his eyes examined me probingly.

Swiftly I headed back inside towards the drinks table with my head held high and chin tilted up like I belonged here. But just when I was a few meters from the table a hand grabbed at my arm.

Five thick fingers tightened around my skin painfully and held me firmly in place. I glanced to see my captor but all I could see was the back of a black suit and white cuff of a suit and the wrist of a pale hand that gripped my arm. They'd held me in such a way that I couldn't twist around to see their face. My whole body stiffened with fear.

Then a cruel menacing hiss filled my ear;

"Watch your back, he doesn't like you hanging around with these types of people and if you don't start listening to his warnings soon action will be taken. This is your final warning."

The hand gave my arm one final squeeze I knew would leave bruises before releasing me and the body next to me disappeared. I spun around but all I could see was a mass of black suits, he could've been anyone.

My heart wouldn't stop pounding, now I knew for sure that I shouldn't have come.