She wanders off, and I’m still grinning when I feel the air shift in the bar. A woman steps in that I don’t recognize, but she seems somehow familiar. Then it dawns on me that that has to be Silvie’s sister. I don’t know how I know, but something in me just knows. They look a lot alike, only Silvie has blonde hair, and this woman has dark, almost black hair.
She steps inside and scans the bar like she’s entering a space she plans to conquer. She looks out of place. Perfect hair, high spiked expensive looking heels on the beach, her expression unpleasant and tight.
My jaw goes tight, and my body goes rigid. Because I was just thinking about how happy my wife looked sitting there with her friends. And then this terrible person comes and is about to fuck it all up.
She finds Silvie, and her gaze narrows and fixates on Silvie like a missile. My attention snaps to Silvie, my body going straight, shoulders squaring up.
Belladonna strides toward the table and Silvie’s mid-sip when her sister stops in front of her, making Silvie practically choke on her drink when she sees her.
I want to throw Belladonna out of here. But I also kind of want to watch Silvie dress her down and put her in her place.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Silvie asks, coughing and wiping her mouth.
Belladonna smiles as if she’s happy she caught Silvie off guard. “Hello, sister. Did you miss me?”
“Actually, no,” Silvie mutters.
Belladonna smiles as if she’s ready to attack in some way. “I figured out where you were. I knew you’d go where Birdie was. You two were always so freakishly close.”
She says this like it’s meant to sting like an insult, but there’s something bitter underneath her words.
Silvie squints at her. “You came all this way to insult me? You could have just sent a text like you usually do.”
“Well, that would mean you’d have to unblock me,” she says with a pointed look.
Silvie stares at her and says nothing.
“I came to talk some sense into you,” Belladonna says in a condescending tone, one I know isn’t going to go well for her. I’ve watched Silvie take on board members. She won’t put up with this.
“About what?” Silvie asks, already buzzed, already fearless.Silvie looks at Mia, Wendy, and Summer, who are all glaring at Belladonna. “Oh, this is going to be good, ladies.”
Belladonna lifts her chin. “My husband. Tyler. I know you’re mad that we’re married now, but we’re in love.”
Wendy glances at the others as if she can’t believe what she is hearing. “Is she for real?”
Silvie throws her head back and laughs. “Belladonna, I don’t want your husband. Hell, I’m not even sure whyyoueven want your husband.”
Summer and Mia giggle. Wendy does not.
Wendy leans forward, eyes sharp. “Why are you really here? What’s your problem with Silvie? She’s not the one in the wrong here. You are. And she’s finally happy now, and what, you’re just going to ruin it for her?”
Belladonna glares at her. “This isn’t your business. Back off.”
“Silvie is our business. Why don’t you go away?” Summer sits up straighter. “What’s her name again?”
“Belladonna,” Mia whispers. “I think. Can’t remember. She’s not very memorable.”
“Isn’t that poison?” Summer whispers.
Silvie sets her glass down carefully and straightens. Oh shit. She’s turned into CEO Silvie. This is where it goes down.
“You know what?” Silvie says calmly with a smile. “I am happy. I have a hot six-foot-four tattooed husband who loves me. So, yeah, I’m happy. You can have...whatever Tyler is. And if that’s what you want, I’m happy for you guys. But you need to leave and let me live my life.”
Belladonna’s composure cracks. “You don’t understand what you’ve done. You’ve gotten Tyler fired and me cut off. How are we supposed to live?”
That’s when Silvie finally notices me standing here, a few feet behind them, arms crossed, expression flat. Her eyes flick to mine and widen just a touch, and then she smiles.
Belladonna follows her gaze and turns. Belladonna’s eyes widen in recognition when she sees me and waves. “Is that your husband? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
