Chapter 43

I was too angry to speak to Victor on the drive home. My mind was swirling with the words I wanted to say. But I needed to compose myself if I wanted to be able to say the words that would get Amy invited to my ball.

It was my ball. Why couldn’t I have my best friend there?

As soon as Victor pulled the Lamborghini in front of the mansion's front entrance, I jumped out and speed-walked straight to Alex’s den.

The door was open, and I could see Alex behind his desk. He was on the phone, but he looked up and saw me and smiled.

Victor caught up with me a few seconds later as I anxiously stood in the doorway, waiting for Alex to finish his call. I indicated Alex was on the phone and put a finger to my lips for him to be quiet.

He nodded and silently waited beside me. When Alex saw us, he ended his phone call and waved us inside the room.

“Good afternoon,” Alex said. “Why are you both wearing such serious expressions?”

“I need to talk to you and Victor,” I said. I was trying to remain calm, but I was angrier than ever. My stomach was churning, and my hands shook as I prepared to argue with them.

I always avoided confrontations in the past. But I refused to be too frightened to stand up for Amy.

“Well, then, please tell me what’s on your mind, dearest,” Alex said. “Why don’t you sit down first? Would you like a soda or a bottle of water?”

I sat in one of the chairs before his desk even though I wanted to stay standing.

Instead of yelling, I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax like I was taught in speech class. I wouldn't be able to express myself to Alex if I couldn’t speak.

“No, thank you,” I said. But Victor insisted on getting us both a bottle of water from the mini-fridge. I accepted a bottle and toyed with the cap while waiting for him to sit down.

“Now,” Alex began, “what’s on your mind?”

“Daisy is upset because I told her….” Victor said until Alex silenced him.

“I’d like to hear what my daughter has to say first, Victor.” Alex turned to me. “Go ahead, sweetheart.”

I took another deep breath and began my argument. “My best friend, one of the few people who has been there for me all my life, has not been invited to my ball.”

“I see,” Alex said. “Did Victor explain to you why?”

“He told me Amy can’t be invited because she’s a Beta,” I replied, surprised at the fierce tone in my voice. I took another deep breath and slowly exhaled.

“Yes. Victor and I discussed it, and we thought it would be best for your friend not to subject her to the stress of possible ridicule from the other guests.”

This was so unfair. “Are you telling me Amy can’t come because there are Alphas who I don’t know, who think they are better than her, and they will purposely hurt her feelings?”

Alex and Victor exchanged looks before I continued. But I couldn’t tell what they were thinking.

“If these Alphas cannot be polite to all of your guests in your home, I say they shouldn’t be invited,” I said. “What is it about Alphas that makes them think they are better than the other classes?”

“This argument is ridiculous,” Victor said. “Alphas are the rulers of our society. Our blood is passed down through many generations, and we are the chosen ones of the Moon Goddess.”

I felt like my eyes were flashing fire. “You didn’t see the hurt in my best friend's eyes when she told me she wasn’t invited to the most important event in my life.”

“Your father is hosting this ball to introduce you to Alpha Society,” Victor said. “We want to present you in the best light.”

“I’m not ashamed of having a Beta for my best friend,” I insisted. “I lived as a Beta for seventeen years. Are you ashamed of me?”

“Of course not,” Alex said. He had been listening to me, but he didn’t seem convinced that Amy should be invited.

“Who you associate with is a large part of your reputation,” Victor replied. “Alphas stick with Alphas. Why don’t you understand that?”

“What did you do to be an Alpha?” I asked. My temper was making my voice shaky.

“I was born Alpha,” Victor said proudly.

His smug tone and expression made my temper boil over. “Exactly, you didn’t do anything special to be an Alpha. You were just born into the ‘right’ family.”

“Victor, don’t you realize you were given great advantages in life just because of an accident of birth,” I said. “You’ve never known what it’s like to go without the things you need even though you work hard. You have no idea what it’s like to go hungry.”

I took another deep, cleansing breath. My temper was starting to get away from me. Part of me couldn’t believe I was saying these things to two prominent Alpha males.

And I was saying them without stuttering. “Victor, you’ve always had any luxuries you desire. And you take these things for granted, yet Betas have no chance of ever having them.”

“Can’t you allow a Beta who has been nothing but good to me to have a few hours to help celebrate my eighteenth birthday?”

Alex and Victor exchanged looks again. I could see on Victor’s face that the answer was still no.

“Alex, please, it would mean a great deal to me to have Amy at my ball,” I pleaded.

Before he could answer, Victor did. “You’re putting your father in a bad position. What kind of example would it set for him to have a Beta at the ball?”

Victor’s attitude was infuriating. Why couldn’t he understand how much Amy meant to me? But then I remembered him telling me he had never loved anyone.

“Amy, like other Betas, is treated as a second-class citizen. Alphas place themselves on a pedestal and use Betas to enrich themselves.”

Victor rolled his eyes, and my temper snapped. “Is telling yourself another class of people aren’t as good as you the only way you can feel superior?”

I couldn’t believe those words came out of my mouth.

Victor jumped to his feet. “You’re way out of line!”

I stood too, but I kept my voice low and calm. “I’m sorry. Let me put my argument another way. If Amy is not invited to my ball, I won’t be there either.”

Then I stormed from the room and headed for my bedroom.

Victor caught up with me in the hall before I could reach the staircase. He grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him.

“You stubborn girl,” he said. “You would miss your ball over loyalty to a friend, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes, I would. Sometimes people must stand up for what is right, no matter the cost. If more of us did it, the world would be a better place for everyone.”

“Come back with me to your father's den, please,” Victor requested in a much softer voice.

We re-entered my father's den and stood in front of the desk. “Alex, I now believe Daisy’s friend should be added to the guest list,” Victor said.

“Do you?” Alex said, a smile spreading across his face. “I agreed with her five minutes ago, but I enjoyed watching her persuade you.”

Victor chuckled. “Your daughter is stubborn. But she is also intelligent, loyal, and insightful. She made several valid points, although I have no wish to give up my status or lifestyle.”

Alex‘s laughter joined Victor’s for a moment. And then he turned to me and said, “You argued your case well, my darling. Amy is invited to your ball.”

“And I personally guarantee she won’t be mistreated while she’s in this house,” Victor said.

I wanted to pump a fist in the air and laugh. Instead, I asked Victor, “Does that mean you’ll dance with her?”

“If I must,” Victor replied with a dramatic sigh, but again, he was smiling.