I said yes, but I made a choice. I would go as myself. Simple Emma, not Harrison Aerys Emma.
This would be the ultimate test. If his family could accept me without the money, without the status, then maybe this was real.
Maybe Brandon was different from everyone else. My father’s secretary, Howard, tried to talk me out of it. Howard has known me since I was 5 years old.
He’s seen me through everything. When I told him my plan, he looked worried. Miss Emma, he said carefully. Are you certain about this?
Some people reveal their true nature when they think they have power over others. I smiled at him.
That’s exactly why I need to do this, Howard. If they can’t accept me at my simplest, they don’t deserve me at my best.
He sighed. Your father doesn’t know about Brandon yet, does he? No. And let’s keep it that way for now.
The night of the party, I stood in front of my closet for an hour. I chose a pale yellow dress.
Simple, modest, pretty, but definitely not designer. No jewelry except small earrings.