Page 53 of Magnetic God

Isa’s cheeks flush, and I’m about to stand up for her when she smiles sweetly.

“Jacqueline, there’s no need for you to worry about me or my size. You, on the other hand, should definitely be worried that you haven’t found your dress yet.”

Jacqueline sputters, and turns to the other woman, Buffy.

“Can you believe this? If Aimée and Vivian were here, this wouldn’t be happening.”

I’m not sure if she means Isa talking back or the lack of having her wedding dress selected. Buffy nods, looking sympathetic. Buffy reminds me of a Stepford Wife—a cookie cutter blonde who looks like every other older woman with too much money and too much plastic surgery. I can tell she doesn’t like me, which is fine. As long as she’s not difficult, I can deal with her. But I get the feeling she’s going to be difficult.

The thought is confirmed when she says, “Aimée definitely wouldn’t stand for this. I mean, why is Isa even in the wedding? Isn’t she about to pop?”

What a bitch!

Jacqueline turns, looking Isa up and down.

“Buffy makes a good point. I mean, what if you go into labor and ruin my wedding?”

Isa rubs her stomach and says, “It’s unlikely that I’ll go into labor. I’m not due until the second week of July.”

Jacqueline doesn’t look convinced, but says, “God knows Brooks won’t side with me on this one. All the Elite wives are expected to be in the wedding, so my hands are tied.”

I ask, “Elite wives?”

Jacqueline giggles. “Silly me. Of course you have no idea what that means, do you?”

But she offers no explanation as she turns back to Buffy, speaking in a low tone that has Buffy snickering as they move away from us.

Isa turns to me, grimacing. “I’d like to tell you they get better once you get to know them, but they don’t. That’s why Brooks calls them the Elite bitches.”

Yeah, that’s something I can see Brooks saying.

“Does Elite mean something?”

Isa works her bottom lip between her teeth. “Kind of. It’s a group of sorts. Our husbands are all members, which is the only reason I spend time with them. Jacqueline is right in the sense that we’re required to be seen together, which is why I’m in this wedding party when I’d much rather be sitting on the groom’s side so I can watch my husband.”

“Is your husband one of the groom’s men?”

“Yes. His name is Alessandro, but Brooks calls him Ace.”

“I’ve heard Brooks speak of him before. They met in college, right?”

I don’t mention that Brooks mentioned his friend years ago. I was even supposed to meet him once, but it never worked out.

She nods. “That’s right. So, how has it been working with Jacqueline?”

I snort, glancing at my client. “I’ve had better, and I’ve had worse.”

“Worse?” Her nose crinkles. “God, I’m so sorry.”

We share a smile.

“This might be odd, but would you like to have dinner? It seems I’m in town until the wedding because my husband is afraid that traveling is going to send me into premature labor.”

“If you’re in town for a while, then I insist that you and your husband come to my gala this Friday.”

“Gala?”

I smile. “I’m celebrating being in business for five years. It’s going to be quite the event, if I do say so myself.”

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