Page 39 of Embracing the Change

“So why did you answer my call?” she inquired.

“I have a task for you to perform, and considering you owe me, you’re going to see to it before we return.”

“That task would be?”

“I want you to find out where Paloma Friedrichsen is the minute we make land after our excruciatingly slow tour of the Atlantic seaboard.”

Her tone was guarded when she asked, “Why would you want to know where Paloma is?”

“Because Roland called yesterday to impart his desire to discuss reconciliation.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered in a mixture of horror and wrath.

Obviously, she knew all about Roland, and she hated him slightly less than I did, and definitely less than Jamie did.

I went on like she didn’t speak, “And he shared with me, Paloma had told him that Jamie and I were through.”

“What is that woman up to?” Mika groused.

I went back to blending. “Why, fucking with me, of course.”

“Why?”

“Because she can’t get to you, and you stole her last chance at the delicious lifetime meal ticket that was Tom Pierce.”

“I knew she was bad, but I cannot wrap my head around any woman who did what she did to you having the sheer audacity to cloud your life again.”

“Your taste is far too good when it comes to the people you spend time with, case in point, me being your best friend,” I drawled.

“What a cow,” she muttered.

I had a different c-word I would use to refer to that woman, but I sadly had too much class to utter it.

“I’ll get Teddy on it,” Mika declared.

Perfect.

Indeed, with this reminder of her assistant, who I adored, I also realized I could enlist Teddy in devising and executing a flawless plan of vengeance against that silly…cow.

Once Teddy knew, he would live for that.

“I’ll let you go,” Mika finished.

“Farewell.”

“Wait. Nora?”

I picked up my tube of concealer. “I’m still here.”

“I didn’t know about the kiss.”

I sighed. “Allow me at least forty-eight hours after your traumatic betrayal before I’m forced to begin to entertain thoughts of forgiving you.”

I heard the humor in her, “Okay, I’ll allow that.”

And she would find it humorous, considering we both knew I’d forgive her.

Eventually.

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