Kingsley Academy

Chapter 1

The hum of the jet's engines is almost as irritating as the reason I'm on this thing in the first place. I shift in the plush leather seat, crossing my legs and flicking my wrist to check the time on my watch. Ten hours. That's how long I have to sit here, on this over-glorified prison bus, heading to some godforsaken boarding school in Switzerland because Daddy couldn't handle the fallout of my little "incident."

I inhale sharply, refusing to let my thoughts linger on that too long. It doesn't matter. None of it does. I glance at the pink Birkin sitting beside me, the one thing that feels like mine in this moment. Everyone knows that color is practically impossible to get—unless your name is Allison Van Arden, and you have the right connections. My fingers trace the smooth edges of the bag absentmindedly. It's something to do while I wait for this endless flight to Switzerland to be over.

Switzerland. Of all places.

I roll my eyes at the thought. He's sending me halfway around the world, to some elite boarding school for rejects, like that's going to fix anything. I don't even know what he's hoping to accomplish. Out of sight, out of mind? Probably.

The stewardess approaches with that fake smile plastered on her face, holding out a tray of something that's probably organic and handpicked by Swiss virgins or whatever. "Miss Van Arden, can I get you anything? A drink? Some champagne, perhaps?"

I don't even look up, just wave her away with a flick of my fingers. "I'm good."

She hesitates for a second before retreating, her heels clicking softly on the carpeted floor of the cabin. I can feel her lingering gaze, though, like she's waiting for me to explode, like I'm some ticking time bomb everyone's scared to set off. It's pathetic.

The plane shudders slightly as we hit turbulence, and I take a deep breath, forcing my fingers to unclench from the armrest. Not that I'm afraid of flying—I've been on more planes than I can count—but there's something about being in the air for so long, trapped in a tiny, controlled space with nothing to do but think.

Think about how everything spiraled so quickly. Think about how the world can turn on you just like that.

I push those thoughts down, burying them deep where they belong. My phone buzzes in my hand, and I glance down at the screen. It's a message from my father's assistant, not even from him directly.

Your dad wants you to know he's already spoken to the headmaster. You'll be expected to follow the rules at Kingsley Academy.

A scoff escapes me. Rules. Like I haven't broken every rule in the book already. Kingsley Academy, huh? I've heard the name before, whispered in the corners of parties by people too scared to admit they know someone who's been sent there. I can't even imagine what kind of mess this place must be—full of rich kids like me who've screwed up so badly their parents can't even look at them anymore.

But then there's Kade Kingsley. The only reason I know about him is through a few business circles and one or two casual mentions at galas. His name is enough to make most people sit up straight. Rumor has it, his family built the school from the ground up, and he's not just some rich kid in charge—he owns the place. Literally. And apparently, he's just as mean and untouchable as he is rich.

Great. Another person to deal with.

I try to focus on anything other than what's waiting for me on the other side. I flip through my phone, checking messages from friends who haven't even bothered to ask where I've disappeared to.

By the time we start descending into Switzerland, the gray clouds that shroud the sky feel like a perfect reflection of my mood. I've heard the country is beautiful, but right now, it just looks cold and uninviting, exactly the way I imagine Kingsley Academy will be.