Page 275 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
“Thank you,” I reply, my voice sugary sweet.
He grins. “You’re welcome. Now return the favor. Send me some pictures—”
Before his request can escape his lips, his phone is snatched out of his hand, and his deep, vivacious chuckle is the last thing I hear before our call is disconnected.
Harlow and Peta adhere to Hugo’s advice and pick the dresses that show the most leg. Peta’s dress is a gorgeous one-shoulder silk, candy apple red dress with a slit that goes high on the thigh, and the back drapes dangerously low. Harlow’s dress is emerald green and is a fitted wrap design. When she put on her stiletto heels, her legs went for miles and miles.
I gather our bags from the lingerie store and my Burberry trench coat from the dressing room before joining Harlow and Peta at the cashier’s desk to finalize our purchases. The air in my lungs is evicted when my eyes lock in on the person entering the boutique through the locked front doors.
Clara is wearing a cream sheath dress with a black wool coat and cropped boots. Her shiny hair is loose and cascading down her back like a satin waterfall, and her make up is perfectly in place. When she notices me standing at the side, gawking at her, her mouth curls into a bitchy snarl.
Since I’ve been living in an Isaac buzz cloud the past five days, any thoughts on the ‘Clara incident’ have been in the background of my mind. But seeing her standing in front of me, smiling like the vicious cow she is, makes all that hurt come streaming back in.
“I have to go,” I tell Harlow, my tone weak as the feeling of deceit places a stranglehold on my heart.
Harlow nods before grabbing the bags off the glass countertop to follow me out. When I spin to walk toward the door, I nearly crash into Clara, who’s now standing beside me. “Isabelle, what a pleasure to see you again.” Her tone doesn’t attempt to hide the snarl on her over-glossed lips.
“Pity we can’t say the same about you.”
Clara’s narrowed eyes snap to Harlow. The angry scowl she’s wearing intensifies when her eyes lock in on the boutique bags in Harlow’s hands. “I see you're once again spending money you didn’t earn, draining my brother’s bank balance one slutty dress at a time.”
When Harlow steps up to Clara, I place my hand on Harlow’s forearm. “She isn’t worth it. Class and dignity aren’t things that can be purchased. They’re ingrained in you. So even someone with an impressive bank balance like Clara’s will become a bitter, lonely old lady. Because not even the most expensive dress and a perfectly made-up face can conceal ugly insides.”
A grin that beams of victory stretches across my face when Clara can’t form a comeback to my taunt.You can’t deny the truth.
I loop my arm around Harlow’s and amble toward the door with my head held high, my brisk pace only halting when Clara sneers, “Save your self-righteousness for someone who hasn’t slept with yourboyfriend.”
This time, it’s Harlow holding me back from Clara. After giving me her I’ve-got-your-back, Harlow saunters toward Clara. “Can I ask you something, Clara?” Her tone is void of her earlier bitterness.
Clara rolls her eyes before gesturing for Harlow to go ahead like a queen permitting the pauper to kiss her feet.
Harlow grins an evil smile, looks her straight in the eyes, then boldly questions, “Is Isaac circumcised?”
Clara balks, her cheeks flaming with heat. She fumbles with her jacket, concealing the tremble of her hands as sweat mists her forehead.
“From what I’ve heard, you wouldn’t miss a minor detail like that,” Harlow comments, stepping even closer to Clara. “I really shouldn’t sayminor. From what I’ve heard, nothing about Isaac is small.”
A red, flaming rash spreads across Clara’s neck as her eyes shoot down to her feet. “I’m not going to answer such an absurd question. That’s personal and none of your business.”
“Bullshit!” Harlow retorts, gaining the attention of a handful of ladies in the boutique. “You can’t answer it as you don’t know.” Clara blinks excessively when she takes another step closer to her. “Only someone like Izzy could answer that question. Because she,unlike you, has seen Isaac naked.”
Clara’s eyes drift to me. While returning her stare, I take a step back, exasperated. I’m staring into the eyes of a child who just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar, undoubtedly proving the truth of Harlow’s comment.
“You lying bitch.” I trudge toward her, no longer able to rein in my fury. She flinches when I stop within an inch of her face. If she’s worried I’m going to hit her, she can stop. What I’m about to say will maim her more than fists ever could. “I reallyfeel sorry for you, Clara. Even inebriated, heartbroken, and belligerent, Isaac’s standards still weren’t low enough to sleep with a condescending bitch like you.”
The personal shoppers gasp in sync when Clara raises her hand in an attempt to slap me across the face. Even tipsy, I seize her wrist before it strikes my cheek.
I smirk at her. It’s a malicious and wicked smile. “As I said earlier, you aren’t worth it because the more time I stand here arguing with you, the less time I’ll have to make love to the man you’resupposedlyin love with.”
I release her rake-thin wrist from my clutch, then spin around to face Harlow. “Thank you for everything, but Ireally must run.” I throw my arms around her neck to hug her fiercely.
“You’re welcome.” She returns my embrace, squeezing me extra tight. “Now go unleash the Hulk.”
CHAPTER17
ISAAC
“Idon’t care what he told you, Parker. I paid to securethatasset. I wantthatasset,” I snarl angrily down the phone.
