Page 50 of The B!tch List

“You know what, Mom,” I grinned. “I hope she doesn’t. I love the fact that I managed to piss her off for the next fifty years or more without even trying.”

Mom blinked. “Well, I certainly hope that you put some effort in while making that baby.”

“Mom.”

“Just saying. Reproduction is one thing but at least make the girl feel good while you do it.” She slapped at me with the muslin square. “She is going to push a head out of her tiny little nunnie for you.”

“Oh God, please help me.”

Right at that moment the doorbell rang saving me from having to listen to further rhetoric from my mother about women’s vaginas and pushing things out of them.

“I’ll go.”

“We will continue this conversation, Shaw,” Mom called after me as I left to answer the door.

“No, we won’t, Mother.” I called as I pulled open the door. “Nancy.”

“You piece of shit.” She poked her finger into my chest. “How could you. You knew how much I wanted that building, but you had to do it didn’t you? You had to tell her what my bid was.”

“What the hell.” I held the door open wider and invited her in with the sweep of my arm. “Want to come in and start again?”

She walked in but didn’t stop talking. “I saw you, Shaw. I saw you with Ruthie, making out where you thought that no one would see you. Well I saw you,Shaw.”

“Hang on a minute.” I held up my hands in surrender. “You think because you saw me with Ruthie that I told her what your bid was?”

“I know you did, Shaw because only a half hour ago I got a call from Belinda telling me that Ruthie got the bank. She outbid me, Shaw.”

“What? You’re joking, right?” I shoved my hands into my pockets and leaned my top half closer to her. “Seriously, she told you that?”

“Half an hour ago. She got a call from Don Jennings saying that he was selling to Ruthie. Apparently,” she said with a head wobble. “Her revised bid was higher, and apparently her business proposal was better.”

“Son of a bitch. That was a great bid, and that proposal was some of my best work. I even added fifty cents on the end in case she bid the same amount.”

“No Shaw,” she said, pacing away from me. “It’s clear that your best work was in the alleyway earlier today.”

“I didn’t tell her anything. I swear.”

“So how the hell did she know? And why the hell is she allowed to do a revised bid? That wasn’t part of his deal. He gave me a deadline and he can’t just change that for one person.”

“Yeah, well, Nance,” I said with a heavy sigh. “He has.”

Nancy’s lashes were brimming with tears, and she had her arms wrapped tight around her waist. I knew she wanted the bank, but I wasn’t sure I realized how much. I moved closer to her and held my hand out.

“Nance, I swear to you, I didn’t tell Ruthie anything. She tried to get me to tell her, but I didn’t, and she practically left her scent on me. In fact, I felt defiled.”

“How the hell did she find out then?”

“Hey, Nancy.” My mom appeared from the kitchen. “Are you two okay out here? It sounds like you might have a problem.”

“Oh hey, Darcy.” Nancy ran a hand through her hair. “I’m so sorry for disturbing you. I’ll leave you to it, you must be having dinner soon.”

“We’re having lasagna honey and it’s cooking away. How about you stay, I’ve made plenty

“No, thank you, but,” she said. “I couldn’t possibly. I—”

“I won’t take no for an answer.” Mom approached Nancy with her arms open wide. Just as she did everyone. “Now, let’s got get a glass of wine and see if we can’t sort out whatever it is that has you two raising hell in my hallway and threatening to wake my granddaughter.”

Nancy gasped. “You got the results?” Her mouth dropped open. “Why didn’t you say.”

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