“So, I broke up with him. Packed his stuff. Gave it back.”
“That should’ve been the end.”
Inez nodded slowly.
“But it wasn’t.”
The warmth in the room shifted.
“That’s when the clients started disappearing,” Becca said quietly. “Rumors started. That I was on drugs. That I was sleeping with clients. That I slept my way up in the industry.”
Inez’s jaw clenched.
“He told people I used to cam. That I sold nudes. Feet pics. Every personal thing I trusted him with — twisted.”
“Becca…” Inez’s voice cracked.
“He showed up at my shop,” she added. “With her.”
“The redhead?”
“Yeah. Her name’s Jenna.”
The fire popped sharply.
“And you let that slide?” Inez snapped suddenly, sitting forward. “Girl, you didn’t punch her in the mouth? Him too?!”
Becca burst out laughing — real, loud.
“No. The old me would’ve.”
Her smile softened.
“But I have an image to uphold now. I can’t just go all hood on people.”
They both laughed, but there was truth in it.
The old Rebecca would’ve burned it all down.
This Rebecca had too much to lose.
She had worked too hard to earn her title. Her name. Her reputation.
Even if a part of her wanted to fight.
Even if a part of her still could.
The laughter in the living room softened as wind began to howl against the windows.
Snow came down thick now — heavy, aggressive. A whiteout rolling into town faster than forecasted.
Becca glanced toward the glass doors. “Thank God, you made it before this crazy-ass storm hit.”
Inez laughed, following her into the kitchen. “Girl please. A little snow doesn’t scare me.”
Becca lit the charcoal for the hookah, the small flame glowing against her focused expression. That’s when Inez noticed them.
The lilies.
