Page 61 of Fragile Love (Fragile 3)
“I know you,” said the woman.
“You do?”
She nodded. “I know you.”
“Not to be rude, but I doubt it. I’m not from here.”
“You don’t have to be,” the woman said in a velvety voice. “Word gets around fast. You’re the decorator.”
Is someone really recognizing me in public right now? It couldn’t be happening. Lillian tried to conceal her excitement. “I prefer personal organizer, but yes, that’s what I do.”
“You recently decorated Katharina’s house.”
“Wow.” Lillian raised her eyebrows as she took a sip of wine. “Word does get around fast.”
“Katharina posts everything she loves to the public. That’s how I know you.” A strange glimmer entered the woman’s dark eyes. “I know her trainer, too. Cayden.”
A red flag started to rise in Lillian. “You know Cayden?”
“Yes, I do. I’m one of his clients.”
Stay cool, she told herself. “Oh! Well, it’s good to meet you.”
“Has he told you about me?”
The flag rose a little higher. That’s a weird question to ask. “Um, no, I don’t think he has, but I can’t say for sure. I don’t know most of his clients. He only works here part time. He comes back home on the weekends,” she added, searching the woman’s face. She should get the point now. He’s not up for grabs.
“Ah.” The woman puckered her lips and swirled her glass; the ice cubes tinkled against the sides. “It figures that he hasn’t mentioned me.”
Red flag! Red flag! yelled a voice inside Lillian. She set her glass down on the counter. “What do you mean?”
“Well, he speaks very highly of you. Whenever I see him, it’s like he always makes an effort to drop your name.” She glanced down to Lillian’s shoes and back up to her face. “I can tell he really loves you. I mean, you are pretty.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what you’re saying.” All traces of Lillian’s smile were gone.
“Neither do I,” she laughed lightly. “Why he would choose to be so faithful to someone like you is remarkable. Especially when he could have—” she shifted her weight to one side, creating a curve in her hip that was as voluptuous as her chest, “—so much more.”
This is not real
, she told herself, but the pulse of the music matching her rising heart rate made sure she knew it was all real. Her mind blanked.
“I know it’s a lot for you to take in. No one has probably said it to your face before, have they?” The woman smiled sweetly. “It is charming, how such a big, strong man would devote himself to a small, fragile girl. I’m sure you know all about how big he is.”
“You need to stop,” Lillian warned, not liking where this conversation was now going.
“I’m doing you a favor, sweetheart,” the woman said, inching closer to her face. “Cayden’s career is here in Los Angeles, not in that shitty place where you live and where you no doubt think he’ll come back to be with you. He’s wanted here, and he’s in high demand by a lot of powerful people. People who are way out of your league. People who would pay to be with him.” She pulled back and raised a hand. “Not to say you’re bad at what you do. Katharina’s house looks fantastic, and I’m sure you’ll go far.”
“You don’t even know us,” Lillian barked, sure steam was coming out of her ears. “Who are you to dare say these things?” Why was she even having this conversation? She should be walking away.
“I know Cayden a lot more than you think I do, honey, and let me tell you this: his obsession with you—devotion, commitment, love, whatever you want to call it—is a passing phase.” Her eyes grew darker in the dim light of the bar. “Do you honestly believe that he could possibly end up with someone like you?”
“Someone like me?” Lillian hissed. “I—”
“Don’t fool yourself. Of course, he wants someone who can physically match him. Who makes him look as successful as he is.”
“Who in the hell do you think you are?” Lillian tried to keep her voice low, but the anger was close to boiling over. How dare this woman think she knew anything about Cayden. Her Cayden.
“All I’m saying is—”
