"Bipolar," Claudia said with feeling, sipping her tea.
Addison laughed from her perch at her make-up table. She'd just finished telling Claudia about her abysmal last meeting with Daniel. Time and distance from the subject of their conversation had made the incident less painful.
"Dude plants bugs all over your condo in a creepy attempt to keep tabs on your every move, even though he kicked you to the curb the moment you got attached to his assholiness. I mean, one minute he tells you to get out of his life and the next he has his hands all up in your business," Claudia said indelicately, causing Addison to snort with laughter. "I'm telling you, bi-freaking-polar."
"I think you've been spending too much time with Anya Sitnikov," Addison accused. "You're starting to sound like her."
“Actually, I totally forgot to tell you, it's Anya Bowles now. But don't tell her big brother if you want the groom to survive the honeymoon, Vladimir Sitnikov is one intense guy.”
"Wow!" Addison said.
"I know," Claudia agreed with a grin. "I cannot even believe she managed to sneak off and get married without consulting me. Me! I was planning on being a very devastatingly beautiful bridesmaid and she ruined my carefully designed dress, decoration and venue plans."
"No, I mean I can't believe someone was brave enough to marry that woman," Addison said with a laugh.
Claudia gasped, "I'm so telling her you said that and then I'm locking you in a room with her. Don't think she won't kick your ass just because you're visually impaired. Speaking of which, why do you have a mirror attached to your make-up table? Isn't that a little pointless?"
Laughter bubbled up in Addison. This was why she enjoyed spending time with Claudia. The other woman often came across as flighty, but Addison suspected Claudia was more calculating than people gave her credit for. She was a cheerful person that seemed to know the right things to say at the right time. Addison was truly enjoying their somewhat odd friendship.
Once she got her laughter under control, Addison said smugly, "I have a mirror for those vain friends that come over to my place and need a looking glass."
Claudia came to stand next to Addison and tugged on her friend’s earlobe. She reached into Addison's jewelry box and rifled around before placing a pair of seed pearl earrings into Addison's hand. "Here, wear these. They'll suit this old-school fifties-style dress beautifully. I wouldn’t’ve thought a dress that covered this much skin could look so… provocative, but you’ve proved me wrong, Ms. Sterling. You look stunning.”
“Thank you," Addison said, smiling. "And thanks for not being bitter about the whole make-up thing. I know how much you enjoy having real life dress-up dolls."
She felt Claudia shrug from behind her and run her fingers through Addison's long waves, which were left loose to tumble down her back. "I'll survive, better than your face did after Daniel fucked it up last time I did your make-up."
"No kidding," Addison breathed, remembering that awful night. "I'm blind and even I'm aware of how bad that must've looked."
They chatted for another twenty minutes while Addison finished getting ready. Addison followed Claudia to the door and thanked her for the visit.
“You're welcome! You look wonderful," the other woman said cheerfully, giving Addison a quick hug before leaving. "Irresistible, in fact!"
"I hope so," Addison said with a laugh. "I could use a little action after the stress of the last few weeks."
"I don't think you'll have a problem," Claudia reassured. “Just be the beautiful, brave woman you are and everything will be fine.”
She left Addison to finish getting ready for her date and headed for the elevator. She pressed the button for the penthouse floor, entering the code that would allow access. She wasn't even remotely surprised when, instead of going to the penthouse, the elevator stopped on the security floor. A smirk twitched the edge of her lips when the elevator door opened to reveal an irate Daniel on the other side.
"I knew you put more bugs in her place," Claudia announced, as he stepped onto the elevator and jabbed the button and the code, sending the elevator on its way up to its destination. "You're such a creep, Daniel."
"Don't give a shit what you think. Where’s she going?" he asked, his tone suggesting she really only had one option when responding.
Claudia rolled her eyes. The elevator arrived and the doors opened onto the spacious entrance leading to the penthouse. Claudia breezed out of the elevator, her Louboutin heels clicking against the marble tiles. Daniel grabbed her arm and swung her around before she reached the door.
"Tell me," he growled down at her.
Claudia's green eyes snapped up at him in annoyance. “You don’t deserve anything after what you did to her!" she hissed furiously, knowing if Tyson heard them in the hallway he would demand to know why Daniel was manhandling Claudia. He would be pissed at Daniel, but also just as likely irritated with her for causing trouble. "Addison is an amazing person with more heart in her whole body than you have in one tiny little cell. So you can just fuck off an let her have a good time on her date!"
Daniel let go of her arm and stepped away from her, just as the condo door swung open.
"Claudia," Tyson's deep voice drawled warningly from the doorway, "what have I told you about baiting Mercer?"
She turned and looked at her fiancé, widening her eyes innocently. "But darling, he started it."
"Inside," he growled, opening the door wide.
Claudia sauntered into the penthouse, squeezing Tyson's bicep on her way by. Daniel turned to leave, but Tyson stopped him.
