Page 15 of What She Wants

I smirk.

“You know me,Mamá,there’s always action behind my words.No más.”

This might be an issue but she knows I’ll do something about it. I chuckle as I walk out of her office because she’ll know that something will come from this.

Chapter10

Esme

I sleptin later than anticipated but It’s a beautiful morning. The birds are chirping, I’m not hung over, and I managed to not have a sex dream about Delgado. I take a leisurely stretch among my heap of pillows in my ultra soft bed but the smile playing on my lips drops when my phone starts pinging like crazy. With a groan, I remove my eye mask to take a peek.

I was having such a good morning but now I feel like I’m about to be bombarded with bullshit. I’m sure that that pale heifer Mireya León has allowed some more bullshit to grace the cover or her internet tabloid. More messages with links and tags on all of my social media make me queasy before I even look.

What the fuck could I have done. After a few deep breaths, I pull up the article and scream internally. I’m in a thruple with Bowie and Berke? I jump off the bed and walk in a circle. I legit want to fight her. Like it wasn’t bad enough to imply that I’m a whore, she’s given me TWO men while I’m supposed to be REBOUNDING from Markos!

Our relationship was never that deep and the insinuation kills me especially now that I know he’s married and planning to do it again. Now I’m the crazy stalker mistress who can’t let go. I read the article like it’s true, shaking my head at every word. What the fuck is her problem. I know Berke and I are the family screwups according to the media but it’s not true.

I send some S.O.S texts to my sisters and head to the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth. I really want to lace up my boots and tell that old hag to square up. I know that we have press laws but this is straight up nonsense, there must be something The Founders can do about this.

I’m groomed but still in pajamas when my sisters arrive. Esme, bless her, has breakfast snacks but I’m too annoyed to eat. Between Marín and Asshole León, I don’t know which way is up. I need to get away where no one knows me. I’m so fucking tired of being a punchline.

Karessa and Imala watch as I stomp around my den like a crazy person. I’m still torn between calling her out in a street fight or simply crying. I release an irked shriek, too upset to talk, I show them my phone since it’s obvious that these losers are in the dark. Prizm Online has a picture of me sandwiched between Bowie and Berke with the headline that reads:Rock Bottom?

It’s etched in my brain and pisses me off again. The article goes on to call me the “Wild LeClaire” and says that I’m out of control since being dumped by Markos and is now in a poly-relationship with Berke and Bowie.

It further suggests thatI,Esme Fucking LeClaire is withthemto remain relevant! I don’t give a damn that both men are notorious for being in the media, I would be the one used for relevancy. It’s the audacity for me. Not did she lie, but she dare suggest that I’m not a big fucking deal?

“After the song, we group hugged and it lasted not even a few seconds! Where the fuck were the paps when Bowie AND Markos were taking turns with Bambi? That’s the real threesome! The fuck? They didn’t even get the two guys right.”

Karessa shakes her head. “That bitch likes to fuck with you because she knows the press laws keeps Dad from intervening.”

“Don’t let her lies bother you,” Imala offers.

Oh, I’m beyond bothered, I’m livid. She makes my sisters sound like angels just to make me look worse. Those heifers just got married within the last year or two.

“Imala, the worst she’s ever said about you is that you were late for your wedding.”

My baby sister has the nerve to look surprised. “Did she? I didn’t look.”

I shake my head, making my unruly curls go everywhere. “I try not to look either but people blow up my phone with this shit.”

“She only goes after you because your big personality makes you an easy target. Fuck her and be you,” Karessa adds.

It’s sound advice but I low key have an attitude that she didn’t bring my nephew. Baby squeezes go a long way.

I stomp my foot again. “I swear I’m going to find a way to get her back for this. Her old ass has nothing better to do than make me look bad.” My tirade is interrupted when my phone vibrates again. I’m going to blow up Prizm if there is a new article already.

Berke: If we’re fucking, why didn’t I get some pussy last night? Doesn’t that bitch know you’d be tied to my bed with no chance of her getting a pic if we were fucking? I’m not the other Hales, love. You’d go missing for weeks. Fuck her.

He makes me crack a smile and roll my eyes. He’s so ridiculous but I believe every word he says. The Hales are an intense set.

“He gets on my nerves,” I tell my sisters and show them the phone.

“I take it, that's his vote of solidarity?” Karessa’s question is one of those leading information searching types of questions. We’re not all gonna be with Hales. While I understand the appeal to all of them including Dallas. No thanks. The island witch will swear I was trying to be like my sisters.

I drop my hands on my hips and stare at nosey one and two. “Y’all know if Berke and I planned to fuck, it would’ve happened by now.”

“True,” they agree in unison.

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