In the Club Read Free Page B

exclusivity, but because it had been erected from scratch on a trendy Lower East Side street, an architectural masterpiece straight out of the ancient Egyptian era. Cleopatra was the latest entrepreneurial brainchild of Trevor Hamilton, mogul and media king, and proud father of the most famous triplets on the planet.
    Madison, Park, and Lexington were the club’s official guests of honor. In just a few hours, they would be emceeing yet another socially significant party.
    Mary Grace emerged from the kitchen holding a tray. She set it down on the coffee table with a nod.
    Madison and Lex reached for their complimentary cups of espresso. Madison was already wired, so she took only a few quick sips. Lex, on the other hand, dumped two spoonfuls of sugar into her cup, stirred it quickly, and downed the shot in a single gulp.
    Just as the door to the principal’s office swung open.
    Reverend Mother Margaret John came strolling into the reception area, her long black habit nearly sweeping the floor, her black veil with its ring of white set perfectly over her head. She was a small woman, but she exuded an air of authority. Her blue eyes were deep-set, her thin lips sealed in a perpetual frown. As prioress of the Order of Our Lady of the Avenue, it was Mother Margaret’s responsibility to both run the school and manage the student body. The latter was the most challenging aspect of her job.
    Madison shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She wanted to say something polite, but the words just didn’t come. She focused her gaze on the ivory rosary beads cinched around Mother Margaret’s waist and uttered a prayer for mercy.
    The nun dropped a manila file and a sheaf of papers onto Mary Grace’s desk, then turned around slowly. “Madison, Lexington. You may proceed into my office.”
    Madison led the way into the spacious room. The three large windows afforded a generous view of Central Park. She and Lex sat in the hardbacked leather chairs and watched as Mother Margaret shut the door and walked around to her side of the desk.
    Before sitting down, she shot Madison a long, hard stare.
    Madison blanched.
    “Miss Hamilton, are you suffering from cataracts?” Mother Margaret asked sarcastically.
    “Excuse me? I…uh…no…” As her voice trailed off, Madison realized she was still wearing her sunglasses. She removed them promptly. “I’m sorry,” she muttered, mortified that she hadn’t taken them off upon entering the office.
    “That’s quite all right.” Mother Margaret sat down. “I’m sure you’re both wondering why you’ve been summoned. I would have called Park as well, but she’s apparently…not feeling well.”
    “That’s right,” Lex responded, quick on cue. “She’s been under the weather all week.”
    “Well, I’m glad to see that
you’re
feeling well, Lexington.” Mother Margaret folded her hands and leaned forward in the chair. “From the looks of it, you have
a lot
of energy.”
    “Totally,” Lex said. “I’ve been trying this new macrobiotic diet—but not very strictly. I mean, I still eat chocolate. And I can’t resist the burgers at J.G. Mellon. But still—I’m trying.”
    “That’s
not
what I meant.” Mother Margaret’s voice was sharp. “I’m talking about this new uniform you’ve invented. Today it’s diamond studs, yesterday you were prancing around with bright pink ribbons on your blazer, and the day before you replaced your loafers with stilettos.”
    “Those weren’t actually ribbons,” Lex replied, her tone utterly devoid of fear. “They were handmade silk boughs, given to me by Betsey Johnson.”
    “And they’re entirely inappropriate!” Mother Margaret shook her head. “Because of
you,
Lexington, every young woman in the school is demanding uniform updates, and I want it to stop
immediately.
”
    Madison was shrinking in her chair, unnerved by Mother Margaret’s rising voice. She gave Lex a pleading glance, but the glance did no good.
    “Excuse me,