Read Chapter 1 of Highest Ranking

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Chapter 1

“You’re so lucky, Fiona. I want your life.” Lucy turned up the music in the Wilde guesthouse. “I love this song. Wouldn’t it be great to hear it in your brother’s club?”

“I’ve already told you I’d ask, Lucy. You don’t have to keep reminding me.” Fiona and Lucy often stayed in the guesthouse when she slept over. Fiona preferred it there, away from the big house, away from her brother, and away from her father’s close eye.

“But you haven’t asked yet, and it’s just hours away. Are you going to torture me and wait until the last minute?” Lucy had been bugging her about it for weeks since Jack had proven he was going to make this latest idea a reality.

“Relax. It’s all about timing.” Fiona put down her book and gave her friend a sly smile. “I’m waiting until breakfast. Why do you think I wanted to get up so early?”

“Because you’re weirdly programmed that way?” Lucy liked to sleep until noon through the summer.

“My father is always in a much better place just after a nice meal, and I even had Helen prepare his favorite.”

“You’re good, Fiona Wilde. I wish I had a maid to help with my dirty work.” Lucy wasn’t from a wealthy family, but Fiona had taken her under her wing after meeting at the local library back when they were fourteen. They had been inseparable since. She couldn’t imagine life without her best friend, who was like a sister to her.

“I have many tools in my arsenal,” said Fiona as she steepled her fingers. She smiled as Lucy’s eyes lit up. “Just wait. You want to see my brother’s club, and you’ll get to. When have I ever let you down?”

“You? Never.” 

Her own family had let her down plenty, though, and Fiona knew it was why she spent so much time wishing she had the Wilde life. She had a heart so big, Fiona felt it her duty never to break it or let anyone else.

Lucy walked to the mirror and pulled up her long, auburn hair. She glanced back over her shoulder at Fiona and gave a pouty look. “What do you think? Should I wear my hair up or down tonight?”

“Up,” said Fiona as she looked out the front window across the pool to the main house, which was her family’s sprawling Hollywood mansion. The white-on-white, traditional-style home was nothing simple, with lush greenery and climbing vines that added a regal sophistication and privacy.

She had been waiting on her father to make an appearance, but he hadn’t come out for breakfast yet.

“I hope we meet some hot guys,” said Lucy, running her hand down her hips. “I need someone who stimulates my mind and my body.”

“I’m good,” said Fiona, thinking of her last sexual encounter. It brought a smile to her face and tingles everywhere else.

“Oh? Still drooling over Silas? I thought that didn’t work out?” Lucy might have been Fiona’s best friend, but that didn’t mean she told her everything. Growing up in the Wilde family, there were just some things you learned to keep to yourself.

“Silas is sweet, but just because our fathers have been trying to put us together since puberty, it doesn’t make us each other’s type.” She was pretty sure Silas’s type was the same as hers. Tall, strong, and male. But that had never been confirmed, and she wasn’t going to suggest it to Lucy and blow his cover. And then again, she could be wrong. Silas was very hard to read. “Despite our complicated fathers, we’re not getting together.”

“But Silas Cohen is so rich and handsome,” she said. “And he’s sweet. Besides that, you know your wedding ring would be the biggest, most expensive rare diamond, with that being their family business.”

“I don’t need a big ring. And Silas might be a bit too sweet. Besides, I’ve been talking to someone else.” Fiona smiled, knowing Lucy would be surprised to hear it.

Lucy spun around and pranced over to where Fiona sat by the window. “Oh my god, just when I think I know everything about you, Fiona Wilde, you hit me with a secret boyfriend. Who is he?”

Fiona glanced at the window to take another look. “If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a secret, would it?”

“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. Tell me!” She urged Fiona on with a pleading look.

“His name is Alex, and we’re not into anything serious. Yet. But I’ll tell you the minute it’s official.” Discretion was everything.

“Do you think he’ll be there tonight?”

Fiona smiled, hoping that everything would go according to plan. “There’s a good chance of it,” she said with a sly grin.

“Well, now we have to go. You have to convince your dad to let us. Tell him we’ll be on our best behavior.”

Lucy walked back to the mirror, and Fiona glanced out the window. Her father had come out, and he sat at the table on the veranda as Helen placed food all around.

“I’m going out. You get dressed and join us.” She wanted to have her father alone. Getting his permission to do anything was never easy, and he had always been super protective of Fiona, his only daughter. She was also his only biological child and the apple of his eye.

She strolled along the flagstone path to the main house where her father now sat alone.

“You’re early,” he said. “Helen hasn’t even finished setting the table, and this dish is still hot.” Fiona hadn’t had a hot meal for breakfast in ages. Helen knew to set the meals around the man of the house, and if his children didn’t have sense enough to drag in and get it while it was hot, then she couldn’t help it.

“It’s a beautiful morning,” she said, walking up to give her father a kiss on the cheek. He was handsome for his age, even with the graying brown hair and glasses, which gave him a sophisticated look. “You smell good, Daddy. Is that the new aftershave I bought you?” 

She loved to spoil and pamper him with things now and then. He meant the world to her, and she only ever wanted to make him happy.

“Yes, it is. I’ve already received compliments. Maybe I’ll find wife number three after all.” He gave his winning smile, a smile that had helped make his fortune in real estate. 

“Don’t you dare,” said Fiona, taking the chair beside him. She hadn’t minded her father’s second wife. It was the baggage she brought with her that Fiona could do without. 

Thankfully, he was content to live alone and kept his affairs private these days. No longer was he bringing home a new girlfriend every other month, and Fiona didn’t have to worry about another woman coming in between them as the last one had.

Her father chuckled as Jack walked in, his suit pressed and fitted, his shirt unbuttoned to show more chest than necessary. But when you pay for waxing, you have to show it off sometime. Or at least, that was what he’d tell her. Instead, she had learned not to remark about her stepbrother, and that was the only way the two of them got along.

“Tonight’s the night, family,” said Jack, opening his arms big as if ready to hug the world or maybe grab it by the balls. “It’s going to be epic.”

Fiona hated him calling her family, but at least he had a club now. So that had earned him at least the right to breathe in her book. 

He walked over and pulled up a chair as Helen came out with the rest of the food and a pitcher of orange juice, freshly squeezed. 

“This looks amazing, Helen, thank you.” He smiled at the woman, who seemed surprised to see we had all gathered early.

The housekeeper, Helen, who was fifty-two with mousy brown hair and a scrawny figure, lived in the main house in the maid’s quarters. She had been hired recently after Margie, who Fiona grew up with, retired with her family in Paris.

Helen was trying hard to be accepted, even sucking up to Jack, who had been determined to win her over first. She smiled at him. “You’re most welcome, Jack. And congratulations on your opening night. I’m sure you’ll do great.”

“Thanks. You know, you should come down there sometime, Helen. You might find you a rich man to come and sweep you off your feet.” He wagged his dark brows, and Helen blushed as she placed the last dish.

As the maid hurried away with a little extra bounce in her step, Scott Wilde—Scottie to his closest—cleared his throat. “Both of my kids here with me? This is a special day indeed.” 

Her father’s comment lacked luster, and Fiona knew it was because Jack had been driving him crazy with the opening of the club.

“You’re still coming tonight, right?” Jack gave him a hopeful look as if his only mission in life was to make the old man proud of him.

“I’ll be there,” said her father. “I am a man of my word.” You didn’t get to be a successful man any other way, or at least, that was what he’d always told her. He was successful, too, living and working in the area his whole life, and he had built his empire making the right connections.

Before Fiona could make a suggestion about going, Lucy came out no longer wearing her sleep clothes, having changed into one of Fiona’s sundresses instead.

“Good morning, Lucy,” said Fiona’s father.

“Good morning,” she responded, pulling up her usual chair.

Jack looked Lucy up and down with a grin. “You’re eighteen now, aren’t you? You should come to the club tonight.”

Fiona turned to her father. “Actually, I was going to see if we could both go?” She had a hopeful look in her eyes as she made the suggestion, but her father didn’t seem convinced.

“I’m not sure. You’re only eighteen. It’s not like you can drink. What do you want to do down there?”

Fiona could think of plenty of reasons. “Dancing. Meeting people. And besides, Dad, I’m nineteen, not eighteen, remember?”

“I forget.” He still didn’t look like he was going to budge.

“You’ll be there too,” said Jack. “Come on. I want my family all together there. It’s the biggest night of my life.”

Fiona was shocked that Jack had spoken up for her. “Please, Daddy?” The talk hadn’t gone how she thought it would, but maybe this was better. With Jack on her side for once, maybe things would turn out okay. 

And she knew Alex would be there.

“Fine, but no drinking, and just to be sure you don’t get in any trouble, I’m going to have my bodyguard watching over the two of you.” He aimed his finger in their direction.

“You could give the man the night off,” said Jack. “I’ve got bouncers who can look after them.”

“I hired him for a reason,” said her father. “Besides, I don’t want your dirty bouncers keeping an eye on them. No telling what would happen. If I go, my bodyguard goes. Plain and simple, or I’ll stay at home.”

Fiona sank in her chair. Her father had been shot at when coming out of one of his meetings several months back, and he had hired his own personal detail. Fiona didn’t like to think about why he had taken the precaution. It worried her that her father might get himself into a dangerous situation or even killed.

She knew he dabbled with a few shady people, but she knew her father was a good man and that he’d always make the best decisions when it came to his family.

“No problem,” said Jack. “The more, the merrier. You girls will love it. And besides, I need a guarantee on some pretty faces. Oh, and the Cohens are coming, so there will be plenty of people you know.”

“Connor or Silas?” asked Fiona. She only liked Silas. Connor was an asshole at times, always picking on his younger brother.

“Both. And my buddy Tres will be there too. It’s going to be fun.”

Tres Ellington was one of Jack’s friends who had made it big in golf. All Fiona knew about him was that he was a trust-fund kid, always getting exactly what he wanted from his mommy and daddy, including a shiny red corvette.

“I’m so excited,” said Lucy. “We have to go shopping for something to wear.”

“Here,” said her father, reaching into his back pocket. “Take this and find something special. I’m sure you’ll want to look pretty for Silas.” Her father handed her six-hundred dollars. “Get something for Lucy too. Like your brother said, it’s a special night.”

Fiona noticed how Jack’s expression faded as her father handed her the cash, but he plastered on a smile and didn’t say a word. 

“Thanks, Daddy.” She got up and hugged his neck. “I love you.”

“Yeah, thank you, Mr. Wilde.”

“You’re welcome, girls. Go have a good day. But eat you a good breakfast first. You’re both too skinny.” 

Fiona shook her head, and Lucy giggled. Neither was too skinny, but her father was always telling them that.

As they fixed their plates, her father got on his phone to make arrangements with the bodyguard.

Fiona listened and exchanged a sly smile with her friend. If things went as planned, she’d have the night of her life.