“Sorry.Must be in my blood to piss off my prey.”She laughs lightly.“Especially when they try so hard to steal my spotlight.”
She keeps her gaze locked on me, full of contempt.Aha—there it is.She’s still the same insecure diva.It kills her that someone else might look better.Especially me, on Alan’s arm, catching everyone’s attention the way she used to.
Alan insisted I come.He said it’d be good for publicity, but I know better.Nothing about this is good.
“No one’s stealing your spotlight, Amy.We just came to wish you a happy birthday as old friends,” I say, smiling tightly.
“Right.This is your present.”Alan takes out a little box from his pocket and hands it to Amy.
Amy glances at the box, sighs, then looks away for a moment before taking it.“Oh, you didn’t have to.I wasn’t expecting anything from you anyway.Just behave for me, that’s all I ask.”
“Who’s that?”a man’s voice interrupts.“I don’t think we’ve met.”
A man joins her, older but still sharply built, suit tailored to perfection.His dark hair’s flecked with gray, giving him that polished senator charm.I recognize him instantly from the billboards on the way here.Politics and dirty money, Amy’s new playground.
“Let me introduce you,” Alan says smoothly.“Peter, this is my fiancée, Fenella.Fenella, this is Peter.”
“Ah, what a gorgeous lady.”Peter reaches out his hand.
I return the handshake with a polite smile that could fool any man.“Thank you, sir.It’s an honor to meet my favorite senator.”
He chuckles, still holding my hand.“You’ve got fine taste, Alan.She’ll raise the family gene pool.”
Alan smirks.“She’s the whole reason I built my business.”
Peter’s eyes widen when Alan says it.“What?”He points at me, mouth slightly agape.“So, she’s the one you kept talking about?”
“Precisely.”Alan nods, proud smile in place.
“Ah, now I see why you built your empire all these years.She’s worth it.”Peter chuckles, and heat rises in my cheeks from the praise.
His charm is dangerous, a baritone, a gleam, a firm handshake.He could make any woman melt.Too bad his morals are rotten.
“Darling, you promised me a business empire last year.So far I’ve had pocket money.Am I worth less than her?”Amy’s hand fidgets at Peter’s chest as she presses close.Her voice goes high and whiny; I want to scrape it off my skin.
Amy never changes.She pouts when anyone else gets a spotlight.I clamp down on a scoff and stay polite.
I’m not sure whether to be proud, but she clearly feels challenged by me.Seven years of grinding have paid off.I can almost taste her jealousy, and damn, it feels good for once.
“Amy, I told you I’d give you everything if you gave me a son,” Peter says, trying to sound patient.
“Why do you keep asking for that like we’re living in the dark ages?”Amy pouts and claws at his suit collar.
“And you always make me feel old.”Peter’s voice hardens.His gaze cuts, and Amy withdraws her hand.
“Congratulations on your engagement, Alan.I’ll wait for the invite to your wedding.”Peter pats Alan’s shoulder and winks at me before drifting away.He melts back into the crowd like a polished actor, warm and practiced.
His retreating back triggers a prickling mix of disgust and relief.Laughter blooms around other tables while our trio stands in a small, sour bubble.
“I’ll gouge your eyes out if you keep looking at him,” Amy hisses.She grinds her teeth.Charming.
“Easy, Amy.She hasn’t done anything,” Alan says with a warning glare.
“Fuck off, Alan.Can’t you see how she looks at him?Are you blind?”Amy’s face contorts in hatred.
“She’s with me now.Stop crushing my dream.Nothing’s happened.”Alan sounds patient, firm.
“For now.”Amy rolls her eyes.“Don’t let a harlot fool you.”
