Page 49 of Twisted Games of Revenge

Together we enter the space through double French doors to a room filled with chatter and the sweet scent of garden roses and lilies. Every woman in the gathering is elegantly decked out in floral dresses or skirts with blazers in every sorbet color you can imagine, and I silently thank Sloane for the heads-up with the dress. As much as I don’t feel like it, I fit in perfectly today.

We stop walking when we come to a group of women all sitting around a coffee table, in white high-back upholstered chairs. They glance up at us, sipping tea from delicate china. “This is Vivian, my soon to be daughter-in-law,” Valentina presents me to them, and I feel my cheeks heat instantly under their judgmental gaze. “Vivian, this is Connie, Mayor Chambly’s wife,” she says, motioning to the blonde with a little too much make-up for her age. “Susanne Northgate, her husband is the chief medical officer of Ravens Hollow District Memorial.” Shepoints out the thin lady with the short chocolate bob. “And Julia Palmer, her husband is the police commissioner.” She shares a cunning smile with the lady who has hair very similar to mine and the greenest eyes I have ever seen. She’s also a good ten years younger than the other two and very pretty. But by the way her eyes rake over me, I can already tell she’s not a fan. “These women are all my very best friends in the world, and they will take care of you just like you’re a part of our family.”

They all grin their greetings, if you could call what their lips do smiling. I try my best to be polite, but they are as intimidating as hell, like a pack of hyenas just waiting for my back to be turned so they can tear me apart. Here I was thinking today would be easy, but I already know I need to keep my wits about me.

Valentina snaps her fingers at a server. “Vivian will be joining us, we need another chair for her,” she informs him rudely.

He goes about getting me a chair from the next table over, positioning it next to her. “Thank you,” I say with a kind smile, taking a seat. The women watch me, and I wonder what they’re waiting for. I feel like I should have prepared a song or some poetry, something to entertain them.

Connie pours me a tea, and I take it from her with a smile. “Vivian, tell me, how did you meet Alessandro? I want all the juicy details.” She gleams at me, and I’m sure she does.

I glance at his mother, and she beams at me, way too excited. Oh, here we go. I internally roll my eyes. “Valentina introduced us,” I tell her, and Valentina takes that as her opening to take over.

“I spotted Vivian at the casino one night and just had to meet her. Turns out she’s an artist, and you know how I have a passion for the local arts. I invited her to one of our parties, and it was love at first sight. Enzo and I could tell instantly that she and Alessandro were made for each other. It really is very romantic.”She speaks animatedly, captivating all of their attention. This is her at her best, entertaining.

“It is.” Connie places a hand over her chest as if it’s the most romantic story she’s ever heard.

Susanne grins at us both, a twinkle in her eyes I don’t like the look of. What the fuck does she know? “We’re so happy for you, Valentina,” she coos, giving Valentina all the attention she craves.

It becomes more obvious by the second I’m here to look pretty and give the women in her inner circle something to admire Valentina for. I could be a new handbag for how interested they actually are in me. Their conversation continues on around me, and I mentally take notes of anything that could be important. I’m not here to make friends.

When I hear from Connie that the mayor is anaphylactic to nuts, my ears prick up; I’m sure that information could come in handy in the future.

From what Susanne says about her husband, it sounds as though Dr. Northgate might have a gambling addiction; she has had a dig quite a number of times about him not caring where she is anyway because he spends all his spare time at the casino with Enzo. Another small detail that I believe could benefit us. “Lucky he always wins big,” she adds through clenched teeth. And I wonder what would happen if he didn’t? The look in her eyes says it all, the shame that tells the true story.

And finally, the police commissioner’s wife, Julia. She’s a real piece of work, every bit as fake as Valentina is. She spends most of her time sucking up to her ass, but doesn’t even bother to act as if she likes me, though. It’s damn obvious she hates me with a passion; I could see it from the moment she laid eyes on me. Then there was this comment she made when I mentioned meeting her husband at the garden party, something about me being just his type. I shudder at the thought of the creepy olddude even thinking about me like that. She has nothing to be jealous over, I can assure her of that.

When I’ve had enough of their constant chatter and one-upmanship about their wonderfully successful children, I excuse myself and head out onto the balcony for some fresh air. I wonder if I should text Alessandro to get me out of here because I’m about ready to escape. From the events room balcony, I can see the breathtaking view of the rolling green hills and perfectly manicured fairways of the golf course, a picturesque scene enhanced by the sounds of birds chirping and a light breeze. A much nicer environment to the toxicity inside. I breathe in a sigh of relief.

“Lucky girl, you snagged a Moretti,” comes a woman’s voice from my side.

I glance over my shoulder to find Connie Chambly. She’s immaculately dressed in a Chanel skirt suit, her long blonde hair up in a French twist.

She comes to stand by my side. Her eyes, sparkling with amusement, sweep over me before she grins again like a Cheshire cat. “You tricked him into sleeping with you and he knocked you up, right? That’s why you’re getting married so quickly?”

I blink back at her, momentarily lost for words. That was the last thing I expected her to say. “Excuse me? I’m not pregnant.” I take a step back from her, my eyes narrowing angrily.

“Oh, sorry, honey, I just assumed it was a shotgun engagement. It’s rare to find anything real amongst the women at one of these events. And he was mourning the loss of his last fiancée not three weeks ago, so one would have to assume there is something more twisted going on here.” She quirks a brow. “Unless the whispers are correct, and daddy bought you for him?” She tilts her head to the side, waiting for my response.

I stare at her for a beat, not quite sure what her angle is. Then I glance over my shoulder, wondering who’s going around telling people Enzo bought me for him. I guess in a way he did. Fuck, that thought is disturbing, especially if that’s what the other stuck-up women in this room are saying. But why would Valentina tell anyone that? It would blow our cover with Alessandro, defeating the purpose of this little arrangement in the first place. “Why would anyone say something so nasty?” I ask, throwing her bitchy comment right back at her.

She looks me over, shocked by my response, but what the hell did she expect? “Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just Enzo…” She gives me a strange look. “Sorry, never mind.”

“No, please go on, what does Enzo do? Buy women for his sons?”

“Well, yes. I guess he would if that’s what they wanted.” She glances over her shoulder toward Valentina then moves in a little closer to me. “I’m sorry, Vivian, she implied you were at the garden party last weekend because you were one of the girls up for auction at the end of the month. I just assumed they put in an early bid for their son. You’re quite unique-looking, Vivian, a real treasure. I’m sure you would have been paid a very high price. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, most of the women here met their husbands because of Enzo. At a party or event.”

I stare at her, not sure what to say. Has she been adding liquor to her tea, the way she’s verbally vomiting? I can’t work her out, is she trying to be a bitch to me to make me feel uncomfortable, implying I’m an escort or something, or is she trying to make friends? I honestly can’t tell. But I’m getting more out of her than anyone, so why not keep up the conversation and see where it goes. “None of the other women here have married for love?” I ask back, surprised.

She laughs bitterly, her hand lightly tapping my arm. “It’s all for show, honey. I haven’t slept with the asshole I’m married toin years, not since the last STI he gave me. He doesn’t need me for anything more than arm candy at the big events. You know, make him look like a family man for his beloved city. Sad, but it’s true for most of the women in this room. Our husbands might be high profile, but that just means they come with a whole new set of rules. And a bigger budget to get whatever they want handed to them on a silver platter. The mayor has an insatiable appetite, one I could never keep up with. He gets his fix down at Enzo’s private club. Valentina said I can trust you. I can, right? Don’t tell anyone I just said that, it would destroy his good reputation if it got out. But I feel like we’re making friends today. I can trust you?” Her eyes lock with mine, and she looks almost desperate for a second, like she really is looking for a new friend she can confide in.

“Sure.” I smile. I feel sorry for her. How awful knowing your husband is out sleeping with escorts while you’re at home raising the family.

She laughs uncomfortably. “I’m lucky, he gets his fix and I go on living the life of luxury. It’s a small price to pay, really.” She actually looks happy with her lot in life. Content. It’s so sad.

I can’t hide the horror from my face. The picture she has painted is devastating to me. “Is it, though? What about love? Don’t you get lonely?”

She laughs again then looks at me like,oh, you’re serious?“No, honey, I have my friends. All my husband is good for is keeping up my cushy lifestyle. You’ll see it’s all men are useful for. Trust me, with a husband like Alessandro you will see sooner than most of us.”

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