Jade’s best friend growing up, who’s every bit as awful as her, wastes no time jumping in. “Yeah, that’s what I heard,” Cecilia says with a mean-spirited laugh. “She’s just setting herself up to be humiliated.”
The people around her-her husband, John, Jade, and of course freaking Carl-snort in agreement. My stomach clenches, but I shove my feelings of inadequacy down.
Not tonight. They don’t get to ruin this for me.
John and Carl grouse about how long they’ve been in line, the latter lifting his wrist as if to show the bouncer the time-and that he bought an expensive watch he probably can’t afford. “This is ridiculous! How much longer do we have to wait?”
He steps closer to the bouncer, already fishing into his pocket. “How about I slip you some cash, and you let us in?”
At the reminder of money, Jade recovers enough to switch her focus to getting in. “Sure, name your price. My boyfriend’s got it. He’s loaded.”
The Mr. Clean lookalike doesn’t reach for the extended bills. Rather he looms over the two of them, stretching his intimidating height to the fullest. “Are you kidding me? Step back.”
I dare a peek at the cluster of assholes ahead, basking in the fast fall of Jade’s entitled smile. “But?-“
“Step.
Back.” His voice is firm, leaving no room for argument.
The group finally gets the message and backpedals a yard or so.
Carl’s head pivots around like he’s the meerkat in charge of a warning, and my stomach bottoms out as his gaze lands on me.
“No way,” he mutters, his mouth gaping wide. It’s actually kind of satisfying, watching his dumbstruck expression. “Is that Victoria?”
At my name, Jade’s head snaps to attention.
Holy shit, now I’ve got too many people staring at me.
“I didn’t recognize her at first,” Carl says, although I’m not sure who he’s aiming the words at. “I don’t understand, how does she look so beautiful? Must be all that makeup.”
Jade shrieks loud enough the people around her wince. “Don’t look at her! Eyes on me, your fiancée.”
“I am looking at you,” he says, before turning his head and looking at me.
Again. “Don’t get any ideas, Victoria. Just because you dressed up fancy for one night doesn’t mean I’m coming back to you.”
He’s obviously had a drink or two already. Knowing him, he’s sneaking in a flask like he never grew up, and the guy goes from sloppy to belligerent rather quickly.
“Seriously?” I shouldn’t engage, but I can’t help it. “Take a good look at yourself, Carl. Why would I ever leave Simon for a spineless cheater like you?”
John glances at Carl. “What? A cheater?”
“Why, Carl. Looks like someone’s too ashamed to tell his old friends the truth. Maybe I should fill them in.”
Carl’s face twitches in that way it does when he’s conjuring a lie, but then Jade’s charging toward me, eyes flashing.
I watch, frozen in horror, my heart hammering out of control as she lifts her hand to strike.
Automatically, I flinch, bracing for the sting.
But before she can make contact, a large hand intercepts, snatching hold of her wrist.
It’s the bouncer, doing his job, bless him.
Jade recoils, firing off daggers with her shrewd eyes. “Let go of me. This is none of your business.”
The impressively huge dude’s grip remains unyielding. “Not trying to interfere, but there’s no fighting outside the bar. If you do, you’re not getting in.”
Carl starts yapping like it’s the only thing he knows how to do, and honestly, I’m beginning to wonder. “What the hell are you doing? Let go of my fiancée. Don’t forget, we’re regulars here. You don’t want to mess with us.”
Afraid this was a bad idea, my anxiety takes a giant bite of the confidence I built. What was I thinking, showing up here in the first place?
I’m about to turn and rush back in the direction I came from, when a strong arm wraps around my waist. In a steely, steady voice that matches the anger in his eyes, Simon studies my face and asks, “You all right?”
With him at my side, my apprehensions dissipate. It appears as though his are just getting going, although he’s chosen seething rage, not to flee.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say.
But I’m afraid I won’t be much longer, as Jade leers in our direction, a worrying sense of self-satisfaction in her hateful features.
“Well, well, look who’s finally here. If it isn’t Victoria’s dumpster-diving fiancé.”
Simon
The laughter from Jade and her crew grates against my nerves, but I let it roll off my back. I’ve dealt with people like them before-people who think status and wealth define a person’s worth.
I spent too much time undercover living among those who had nothing, and I learned the truth firsthand: they’re better humans, worth way more than these entitled, cruel jerks.
The woman standing beside Jade lobs a dubious glance in Victoria’s and my direction. “Wait, is that true? Are you engaged?”
I savor the stomp of Jade’s foot. She was upset that her name calling didn’t have the effect she was planning on-perhaps not everyone here is as awful as her and Carl.
Victoria’s stiff muscles loosen beneath my arm, a hesitant optimism filtering in. “Yes, this is my fiancé, Simon.”
I flash my most winning, triumphant grin, with an edge of what else you got when I turn it on Jade and Carl. Next up, they’ll get my threatening one. I don’t want to embarrass Victoria, but I won’t just stand by and watch, not anymore.
As I have a trick up my sleeve, what I’d rather do is leave them behind. Without anyone to insult or try to impress, they’ll be forced to spend time with themselves, a most fitting punishment.
“Congratulations,” Cecilia says, as if she’s confused whether to snub or suck up to us.
“Yeah, congratulations,” Jade says, heavy on the sarcasm. “He’s just a homeless nobody.”
I shrug a shoulder, doing my best to suppress my urge to level them and anyone else who messes with Victoria. No, instead I’m going to make them eat their words while I serve up their dignity on a silver platter.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.