Page 93 of Avenging Azalea

“So, I was hoping to find out a little more about you, Fawn. You live here, and since I’ll be moving in soon, I thought I should get to know the other woman in Titus’s life.”

“I wouldn’t call myself the other woman,” I said.

Vera smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Let’s not be coy. The way that Titus says your name and speaks about you tells me that you’re special to him.” She flicked her gaze up and down my green scrubs. Through sheer will alone, I managed not to wiggle under her scrutiny. “I’m not threatened or anything, but it seemed strange not to get to know you better.”

There it was—the undertone that put me down without actually coming out and saying it. I’d seen this dance more than once in school when Titus first brought me here. The private school students seemed to sniff out that I wasn’t one of them like a pack of bloodhounds.

“What would you like to know,” I asked, ignoring the dig.

“I understand that you’re in college, and that you’re living here until you decide to move out. When do you think that might be?”

The kettle whistled, saving me from making a snide remark. Vera was Titus’s fiancée. I had no right to get my nose bent out of shape. It didn’t matter that he kissed me like he was desperate last night. It didn’t matter that he came running whenever I needed him and didn’t leave all night. It didn’t matter that he said he loved me. All that mattered was that it was Vera’s name on the paperwork, not mine.

“I’m not sure, but I’ve started looking for apartments.”

Avoiding eye contact, I poured the hot water into the infuser filled with loose-leaf tea. Then, I set her cup, along with sugar cubes and milk, down on the table before going back to make my coffee.

“I see. Does that mean you’ll be moved out before the wedding?”

“Like I said, I’m not sure. I just started looking.”

“How many years do you have left at school?”

After adding some creamer to my cup, I sat down and took a sip while dreaming of dumping it over her head.

“At least four if not seven.”

“Seven? Wow, maybe we should just hire you as our nanny,” Vera said, and I choked on my coffee. “Oh my, are you okay?”

“Yup…just ducky. But no. As much fun as that sounds, I’ll have to turn down the offer.”

She giggled and took a sip of her tea. Even though Titus only ever purchased the best, she smacked her lips and huffed as if the tea had offended her.

“So, where are you from? You have a slight accent, but I can’t place it.”

“Louisiana, originally.”

“And your mother and father, what do they do?”

I shifted uncomfortably on my stool. “My father died when I was young, and my mother is a waitress,” I said, omitting Neil and his gambling ways.

“So, how did you end up in Titus’s care? He mentioned that he took you in, kind of like a stray dog, I guess,” she said, laughing at her own joke like a psycho. “He didn’t say that part.”

As if I didn’t know that. Titus wouldn’t be that rude to anyone. I glanced down at my phone and then back at Vera.

“I really should get ready to head out for the night.”

“Ah, so you don’t want to talk about it. I was just wondering if you found some way to con him. Do I need to be wary of him dragging anyone else home, or are you a one-off?”

I stood up from the island.

“Wow…okay. Look, Vera, I was fine with getting to know you. I hope your marriage is long and happy. But I won’t sit here and take your insults.”

She pursed her lips.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. I won’t beat around the bush. I’m not blind, Fawn. Titus cares about you, and that means you’re going to interfere in our marriage whether you intend to or not. So, I’m kindly asking you to be moved out before our wedding night.”