Page 14 of The Wrong Fiancée

"Can we not talk about her anymore?" Felicity glared at her friend. "You know what, let's finish this drink and get out of here. Next time, let's check and make sure Elika isn't there before we choose a place. It's like she's the topic of conversation all the time."

"Get over yourself, Fee. You were the one who trashed her first."

When we got ready to leave, I dropped dollars on the table for a tip since our tab was paid for. "You don't have to do that," Felicity said. "It's going to go toher."

"And?"

She folded her arms. "Nothing. Let's get out of here."

I was getting tired of her bitchy behavior whenever Elika was around. It was like she triggered Felicity. When we went back to the hotel, I asked Felicity what the hell was going on with her.

"I'm just sick and tired of having Elika around everywhere. It's just…unpleasant. She's an unpleasant reminder of…."

I turned to her, frowning. "Of what? She seems like a nice, hardworking person."

She rolled her eyes, annoyed. "You don't know her like I do.After her father sued the family, we were done with them. He tried to blame our side of the family for their financial problems and said he deserved a piece of the Thatcher estate. Can you imagine the nerve?"

I blinked, trying to make sense of her anger. "When was this?"

"Years ago," she said, waving it off like it was common knowledge.

"Did he win?"

"Of course not. He just spent his money on a lawsuit he had no chance of winningever."

"Then what the fuck is your problem with Elika?" I demanded, exasperated.

"Grant was a drunk, Dean. A bitter old man who tried to take what wasn't his. And Elika is just like him. As is Noe. Always playing the victim."

"Noe, I believe, is a victim, since she's getting treatment for being paralyzed."

I stared at her, my stomach twisting. I'd heard Felicity be cold before, seen her wield her sharp tongue in the art world like a weapon, but this was different. This wasn't about her academic expertise or her erudite opinions on a rare painting. This was personal. Bitter.

"Whatever!"

"And regardless, Fee, how is needing help Elika's fault?" I asked, my voice low, trying to keep my temper in check.

Felicity looked at me like I'd just slapped her. "Are you taking her side?"

"I'm not taking anyone's side," I said, feeling tired and not wanting to argue with my fiancée over someone who didn’t matter to us. That was the logical thing, but I couldn’t stop myself from adding, "I'm just saying it doesn’t seem fair to hold what her father did against her. She’s clearly just trying to get by."

"You don't know her like I do, Dean," Felicity snapped, her voice sharpening. "She's always played the martyr. Always tried to make people think she was above it all, but she's not. She's just…pathetic."

My chest tightened as I remembered Elika from the tiki lounge, moving between tables, laughing softly with some locals, working hard. She didn't deserve Felicity's harsh words.

"She doesn't seem pathetic to me," I said quietly.

Felicity shot me a look that could freeze an ocean, her eyes narrowing. "I can't believe you're defending her."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"You keep taking her side."

"Christ, Felicity, I barely know her."

Except, I do know that she comes when I pinch her clit. I can make her come with ass play, and when I bite her nipple, she comes hard and milks my cock in the best way.

"I know you're all about family and…," Felicity sniffled, "I am too, and that's why I thought we'd do well together. But I feel like you're turning your back on my family right now."

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