Chapter 19

Kendall frowned. “What?”

Sabrina’s brows rose. “Oh, I meant… you’re not! Of course, you’re not. Why would I think that?”

Silently studying her, Kendall sighed.

Sabrina smiled, putting aside her nail polish. “Come on, Ken! Don’t be silly, you know you’re totally my best friend and my only friend. Like, I wouldn’t survive without you.”

“Why?” Kendall asked. “Cause you wouldn’t have a scapegoat?”

“Don’t be silly! I told you how grateful I was every time you helped me, didn’t I? You’re my only friend, I’d probably do anything for you.”

Kendall didn’t say anything.

Sabrina sighed and then shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re being like this.”

“Like what?”

“You’re acting like we’re not really friends! I thought you understood me, Kendall. Like, even if everyone else doesn’t get me, I thought you did. The way I get you.”

Sighing, Kendall faced her. “Of course I do, I understand you more than you know. But I don’t think you actually understand me. Or you’d know how genuine I am about our friendship, I’m not trying to use you.”

“I’m not trying to use you either!” Sabrina cried, her eyes glimmering with tears. “I’m the only person in the school who doesn’t add to the gossip they spread about you, I actually make them stop!”

Kendall narrowed her eyes. “You told them I copied my homework from you. They gossiped about that for days.”

Pouting, Sabrina widened her eyes until she resembled a baby angel. The look had as little effect on Kendall as it did on her father, but she kept trying. “I’m sorry, Ken. I was scared, I just blurted out something stupid. I promise, when we get back to school after Spring break, I’ll tell them the truth!”

Kendall looked at her in silence and then turned away with a sigh.

Watching her, Sabrina felt herself grow agitated with subtle desperation. She didn’t know why, but she really didn’t want her friendship with Kendall to end. She’d do anything to maintain it.

“You know w-what, Ken, I really mean it when I say I’m not trying to use you! Like, I could have told the class so many things about you, but I didn’t, because you’re my best friend.”

Frowning, Kendall looked at her. “Told them stuff like what? That I have my own apartment at the Platon Villa? You already did.”

“I was just bragging,” Sabrina said cutely, pouting. “So, no, not that. I mean, remember when we went out during the term and had a bunch of fun?”

“Yeah?”

“I think like two or three times throughout the term, I heard you use a fake name whenever we had to get tickets for something or order something.”

Kendall paused. Slowly straightening, she stared at Sabrina. “I used a fake name?”

“Yup. The service person would ask your name, and I heard you say ‘Valencia’. You actually said it a few times, but I don’t think you realized cause we were so excited to be out.”

It was like ice had been injected into her veins. Kendall sat so still, staring at Sabrina’s face like a cat focused on a laser beam. “W-what…?”

“I wondered about that,” Sabrina went on, studying her nails. “Who’s Valencia?”

Kendall couldn’t move. “What do… what do you mean?”

“Is it someone else? Or is it actually your fake name for public use?” she asked, looking coyly at Kendall. With a gasp, she grabbed Kendall’s hand. “Wait. Don’t tell me. Maybe Valencia isn’t your fake name, but your real name?!”

Heat gathered inside her clothes, and Kendall’s skin prickled as it became slick with sweat.

Sabrina giggled, tossing her hair back. “Wouldn’t that be funny? If it was true.” She looked at Kendall and smiled. “You know, my dad has people who find out things about people for him. I could talk to them.”

The weight of the words did not go over Kendall’s head as she and Sabrina sat there, staring at each other.

Sabrina smiled. “But I won’t, duh! Cause you’re my best friend.”

The message was clear. I can find out things about you if I want to. And I could use it against you. If I wanted to.

That was the moment when the awful dynamic between them was solidified, and Kendall was forever stuck in a friendship she could not escape.

She should have listened to Mr Sinclair.

Years passed.

Sabrina never brought up the name Valencia again. They pretended the conversation had never happened, but they both had an unspoken understanding. To Kendall, their friendship wasn’t one that could end. Not only because Sabrina could potentially uncover her past if she wished, but also because Kendall was well aware that being alone in this new world of wealth wouldn’t be the best thing for her.

She didn’t like the idea of starting over with a new friend, getting to trust them and risk having them this close to her personal life. She and Sabrina were endgame, it seemed.

So, she accepted her fate and remained her best friend.

They finished high school together, always known as two of the most elite students at Hawthorne. Their vacations were lavish, and their entourage consisted of other rich boys and girls who joined them in their plans, but never succeeded in getting as close to Sabrina or Kendall as they were to each other.

Lucien Sinclair became more than just Sabrina’s dad to Kendall. He became a mentor. She became more amazed by him with every passing year. He seemed to have taken her words to heart the night they’d spoken in the kitchen because, over the years, he’d begun allowing Sabrina to go everywhere with him again. On the condition that Kendall came too, of course, she was the only one who could keep Sabrina from stepping too far out of line.

Kendall understood that every time Sabrina interfered with her father’s work, it was because she’d become uncomfortable with the presence of a woman around her father. Kendall was the voice of reason who pointed out to her that, no, the woman was simply doing her job by asking Lucien if he needed help, or that another woman hadn’t meant to brush his arm, or that another woman hadn’t approached Lucien, but rather he’d spoken to her first. Her small, calm comments were all that stood between Sabrina and a temper tantrum triggered by the ‘gold diggers’ surrounding her father.

Lucien heard a lot of these comments at times and always gave Kendall a curt nod of gratitude when he caught her eye.

She had become a part of the Sinclair family, in a way. Even the house staff enjoyed having her around. So, Kendall tried even harder.

She tried absolutely everything she could to continue hiding the relentless crush she had on Lucien.

That was why her heart absolutely stopped when, one day at a pretty café, a furious Sabrina had grabbed her hand and made a desperate request.

“Kendall, please, it has to be you. I’d rather die than have some secretary seduce my dad and become my damn step-mother. You’re the only person I can trust around him.”