They laughed, crumbs flying everywhere.
“I’m so happy for you, Bey,” Lillian added. “And Northgate needs the rebalance. Naomi’s booked solid, and Georgie’s going international.”
“It’s three interviews and a photoshoot,” Georgie retorted. “Relax. I’m not abandoning Westhaven. Also you forgot to mention Isabel’s exploring Veldil for a month doing location research for Lumen’s new military series.”
“Would the UR really let them film on the actual island the men do their service on?” Lils asked.
Bea shrugged. “When your family owns the second-biggest streaming platform, doors tend to open.”
“Plenty of six-packs to carry the trailer,” Georgie said, smiling her thanks as the server arrived with their orders. “It’d totally top the charts. Right before it’s labeled adjacent to toxic masculinity.”
Huh. Binge the abs in private. Share the outrage in public. Repeat. Bea had grown up inside that loop without making the connection.
She bit into her croissant, hearing that first promising crackle, truffle butter exploding into her mouth. Her eyes closed in near ecstasy. Twenty-three dollars yet somehow worth it.
But…Fig’s Fable would have charged eight.
“Lils, what are the specials this week at Fig’s?” she asked.
“Dark chocolate tahini brioche swirl, and a cardamom pear crumble tart,” Lillian said, as if she’d memorized the chalkboard. Which she had.
Bea groaned. “The one downside to living in that beach house is not being across the road from a bakery.”
“The tragedy,” Georgie said dryly. “A billionaire’s wife, forced to drive her AMG just to get bread.”
Bea shot her a look. “It’s different when you can walk there.”
Yep, she heard herself.
Someone get me a tiny violin. My mansion lacks pedestrian access to croissants.
Lillian giggled. “How’s the house, Bey?”
“Coming together. Four more rooms are finished. Rafael’s gym is done.”
“Does he really need a home gym though?” Georgie asked, cutting her pastry with a knife and fork as if she were at a gala. “He has Havoc, and the one in his office.”
“I’m not about to discourage him when I’m the main beneficiary of the results.”
“Mrs. Griffin,” Georgina purred. “Listen to smug little you. Do tell us more about thebenefitsyou experienced on your honeymoon.”
Bea pressed her lips together, which only made it worse. Her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. “No way, TMI.Anyway,” she said, clearing her throat. “Tita Tess worked a miracle with the suppliers.”
Lillian swirled her straw. “How? Bribery? Intimidation?”
“Let’s just say she once made a GV supplier fly in from Singapore to explain, in person, why their linen sample resembled ‘a divorcee’s bedsheet.’”
Georgina tipped her head back and laughed. “Iconic. Can I borrow her? My place is giving old-me vibes.”
“Old you?” Lillian asked, cradling her hot chocolate. “The ‘you’ that stayed with Hunter too long?”
Georgina’s smile curved, wry and sharp. “You’re gettingsassy, Lils.”
“But is she wrong?” Bea nudged, brushing crumbs from the table.
Georgina inhaled. Her fingers tapped her glass once, twice. “I guess not.”
“So why did you stay with him that long?” Bea kept her tone gentle.
