The early morning events didn't screw up Faith's plans. She just had to alter them a smidge. Instead of working out at McNamara Club & Spa, with its state-of-the-art machines and six-packed enhanced trainers; she ran on the beach with Delilah, her two-year-old Doberman, breathing in the salty breeze.

The sand was still under her feet feeling like ants crawling up her newly shaved legs. She picked at the dry dirt rammed under her pink striped nails as her biceps, triceps and back muscles still stung from wheeling the shovel. She quickly remembered how deep six feet were. Waist deep in the earth she already regretted the act. It was work getting rid of the body. Alex didn't even help. Oh, yeah he held the light. It took her a whole two hours. Her performance time was surely down. She was out of practice. She had been out of the game. What was it? A year now? She lost count. Actually, she never counted. That was Isa and Alex's job. They were the ones concerned about her habit. She was just fine until that one time.

The blender clamored; pulverizing a sweet strawberry, mango, and banana mixture.

Faith unscrewed the cold glass carafe and poured the thick roseate smoothie into the highball crystal cup.

"Ahem." Giselle cleared her throat standing in the doorway of the kitchen folding her arms avoiding her skin to come in contact with anything or surface. Her smug eyes scolded at Delilah lying in her plush black-monogrammed bed by her gold and black Versace bowls already licked clean.

"Giselle, what the hell!" Faith jumped hitting the glass against the countertop.

"Don't swear when I'm in your presence," Giselle demanded, inching closer. "Keep your trashiness for your friends. I'm your mother."

Faith walked over to the sink, turning on the faucet. "Can you not walk in my house without knocking." She stuck the carafe under the water. The warm water ran over her hand soothing her rising tension.

"I own this house." Giselle quipped.

"My dad owns this house and if he didn't have a condition you wouldn't be here." Faith pulled her hand from under the water. She dried her hands on a plaid cloth that was folded on the countertop.

"But he did and I'm in charge of all his affairs. One of which is his reputation."

"You mean yours." Faith turned, picked up her glass.

Giselle picked at the diamonds on her tennis bracelet. "This family's reputation has been stained since you were expelled from Columbia."

Faith spat the straw out her mouth. "What the fuck! I'm pretty sure Chance is cheating on his wife with the church receptionist, Kelly flies in and out of whatever country that has snow to ski competitively." Faith air-quoted the last word. She still didn't believe he was good enough to be competitive. He'd been at it for three years and had yet to win a title. It's just a reason for him to forgo college. Faith walked past Giselle, Delilah followed.

Faith stood in front of the window looking at her mother's driver sitting in the silver Rolls Royse reading the newspaper the old-fashioned way.

"What about Augustus?" Giselle asked. "Do you have a flaw with him?"

"I don't have any flaws with my brothers. I just don't overlook it when they do something wrong. And Auggie's good. He's away from you."

"You were away from me and look how you turned out."

Faith glared at Giselle with her fit and flared white dress and red sky-high heels. Gold hoops strung through her ear lobes, her mother had a classic style. She'd never admit it but Giselle was her style muse along with Lauren Bacall and Lena Horne.

"You know good and got damn well why I am the way I am." Faith barked waving her hand toward Giselle standing superiorly as she rubbed her hand along her super straight strands.

Faith closed her eyes; she felt her blood pressure shooting through the roof. She slowly inhaled then let it out with all her anger and resentment trying not to care.

"Like I said before, what do you want?" Faith asked.

"Since you disgraced the family with your hedonistic behavior." Giselle unbuckled her Cole Haan shoulder bag and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "You have the full social calendar of events to prove that you can be a lady." Giselle held the paper out to Faith.

Faith's eyes fell to the paper then back on Giselle. "I'm not!" Faith waved the paper away from her as she walked over to the couch and fell down onto the soft cool fabric like a sack of potatoes.

Giselle giggled. Her daughter's bluntness amused her. She knew out of all her children who would challenge her most. It would be her only girl. Faith reminded her too greatly of herself using her beauty to get what she wanted. Sophisticated-sexy style, baby blues with a silver tongue that not only cut deep but also left scars once healed.

"Daughter. Faith. It wasn't a question. You have no authority. I pay for the Lexus in the driveway, the roof over your pampered little head, and the tuition for the school that enlightened your already clever mind. And don't get me started on the clothes that line the bedroom you converted into a closet. Yes, I know it's your father's money but since he is ill, I wheel the pen." Giselle placed the folded paper on the end table next to the couch. "The first event is in a month and if you don't show up in a couture gown, you better find one of your trust fund-strapped friends or you'll be laying your pretty little head on concrete instead of goose down feathers."

Faith closed her eyes, her legs hung off the couch.

"You will also..."

"Also!" Faith popped up with furrowed eyebrows. "Hell, isn't that enough!"

Giselle continued playing with her dainty pearl necklace. "Poppy's friend's body didn't bounce back after the baby. So you will accept her request to be her Matron of honor."

Faith plopped her head back down on the red pillow. "She's in a sorority. I'm sure she can scrape up a poor unburden soul to aid her beck and call."

"She did. She asked me for you. And now it's set in stone." Giselle looked over the couch at her troublesome child. Faith's eyes were closed checking out of their discussion. Her frustration hit a limit too high for her to reign in by counting to ten.

Faith kept still until she heard the sedan crush the sand that the wind blew in the driveway. Faith's eyes popped open. She sat up. She looked around at the house, the petite house she made hers when she moved back from Columbia University. Alex painted the ceiling. They argued about him painting the crown molding which was to remain white. Isa and her searched every boutique for the right vase in which her fresh flowers would float. It was home, the place she settled after Alex and Isa help her out of her storm. She grabbed a letter off the table to found out which event she was invited to for the summer.

" A Hawaiian Luau..." Faith fell back on the couch resting her sore body, troubled soul, and a broken heart. Her eyes traveled to discover who was throwing this festivity. "Harper...of course." Faith flung the card on the table. "Well, at least there'll be alcohol." She told Delilah, whose brown eyes looked at her from across the room.

Do you think Faith will abide by her mother's wishes?

What do you think Faith did to get kicked out of Columbia University?