Page 27 of Stone Cold Fox

Jessica McCabe stewed in the corner, which brought some joy. In fact, most of the women in the office were stewing, being forced to celebratemeof all people. They didn’t want to be there any more than I did, but their foul moods were obviously due to my enduring retention of prime position in the agency, as far as Len and the other head honchos were concerned. If I was a treasure to them before, I was absolutely irreplaceable now. They wanted to keep the Case Company happy? They needed to keepmehappy.

Speaking of, Syl had sent a small floral arrangement to my office, peonies and ranunculus, about twelve blooms or so, with a thoughtful card. All it said was “You fucking deserve it! xo Syl”—a boldly familial move, but I didn’t mind that she was taking big swings, even if it was self-serving. If Syl was in my good graces, surely she’d be in Collin’s. It’s all politics at the end of the day. Syl was an ally, as far as I was concerned. And if she had anything to do with Collin’s ring selection, which I strongly suspected, I should have been the one sendingherflowers. Was it possible Collin had such pristine taste all on his own? I doubted it as much as I doubted that he’d asked the women in his family for their opinion on the diamond. I likely had some overzealous shopgirl to thank as well, but her sizable commission would have to be thanks enough.

•••

MORRIS HALEY IIItook the news of my departure from his digs swimmingly, even bidding me adieu with a sincere hug that didn’t feellecherous for once. I felt his hot breath on my neck, a bit wistful, but he didn’t cross any lines, thankfully. I figured he was just about ready for my exit, since I had stopped sleeping with him weeks ago. I’d miss his divine shower room, but little else. Our time together had run its course.

I packed everything up myself. A simple task. I didn’t possess many belongings, beyond designer clothes and bags and jewels that had all been gifted to me over the years by various men, things that could be sold at a moment’s notice if needed, nothing I purchased for myself. I kept my earned money in bank accounts, foreign and domestic, and in the stock market, right where I liked it. I preferred having a light footprint when it came to material goods. Easier to make moves if necessary.

Collin didn’t say anything when my things arrived at our now-shared town house in Chelsea. Men never said anything when I pulled the ultimate power move without any prior discussion. I was skilled at selecting the perfect moment to force cohabitation with my mate. An exercise in stealth. A time when I knew it would make perfect sense, a time when it seemed inevitable, a time so perfect that the man would look like a real jackass if there was any protest. Besides, I traveled so light, used to leaving everything behind. Stuffed animals in Atlanta, Barbies in California, any gifts for me from any of her men that couldn’t later be sold. So I kept up the habit as an adult. I wouldn’t attach meaning to anything at risk of not being permanent, which was just about everything. Cash in the bank, and under the mattress so to speak, that’s what it was really about. I didn’t prioritize stuff. So what could Collin say when I waltzed in with a couple of wheelie bags and a few bankers boxes? As far as he knew, I had been living with an eccentric roommate he never met. We never spent any time there because of said roommate, after I painted a picture of an obnoxioushomebody—which honestly Morris totally was. Now Collin and I were engaged. I was moving in. End of story.

I adored the Chelsea town house. All that space. True luxury. The whole place felt different when I moved in, compared to the numerous times I merely slept over as Collin’s girlfriend. While I appreciated Collin’s decorator’s taste prior to our being affianced, I was ready to do some strategic revamping so that when visitors arrived, they would remark on the much-needed woman’s touch. More than that, I was finally ready to let myself fall in love with a place I could make my own permanently. The intoxicating allure ofstuffbegan to call to me, the stuff that makes a home, that I staved off acquiring for so long. I wanted to flounce about in long silk robes while I sipped on artisanal teas and read fine literature on the chaise in the library. I was ready to stock a walk-in closet of my own with hordes of shoes and gowns and lingerie, all on Collin’s dime. I planned to run up and down the stairs to get some cardio in on the weekend while also relishing in the fact that I lived somewhere withmultipleprivate staircases in Manhattan.

I had really done it. It wasmyhouse, too.

And unlike her, I’d never plan on leaving it.

•••

AFTER I WASall settled in, Collin invited his family over for dinner, in the spirit of uniting us all, and to break the news they must have known was coming. Channeling Haven and her harpist on tap, I arranged for a pianist to join us so they could all find some ease when awkward silence would inevitably prevail over polite conversation. I still had to be nice to the Cases, despite my true feelings.

“Will Gale be joining us?” I asked Collin, fully expecting a response in the affirmative, but he shook his head.

“Nope,” he said, giving me a quick kiss.Thatput a spring in my step. I was actually looking forward to the visit from the Case family. When they arrived and we told them the news, the wedding planning would officially begin, whether they liked it or not. It sounded relaxing to plan a wedding, comparatively speaking. Most of my plans thus far had required so much foresight and forgery. It could get exhausting. Sorting out seating charts, a live band and a color scheme? Bring it. I was happy to finally take up residence on Easy Street, also known as West Twentieth.

Hayes, Haven, Chloe and Calliope filed into the town house knowing exactly what the night would be all about. They all wore shades of black to prove it to me, except for Calliope, in her signature baby pink. “I wanted this one,” Calliope said to me out of the corner of her mouth as she looked around the foyer. “It’s the best one. Collin always gets the best.”

“Thank you.” I smiled, and she almost laughed. I suspected Calliope enjoyed having me around because I made things interesting, but she couldn’t let her family know that. Predictably, their overall reaction to our engagement news was ho-hum and borderline offensive. “Congratulations,” they all said, practically in unison, unable to force even small smiles.

“Hayes, I suppose we should phone Marcy?” Haven said, her voice dripping with defeat. Poor ol’ gal. Haven didn’t want the ball, but now that it was in her hands, she had to run with it. People would be watching, and she cared what people thought. “She should have the engagement party planned for this month or everyone will start asking questions. Bea, I assumewe’llbe taking care of everything considering...” Haven trailed off intentionally, so I finished for her.

“Considering my parents are deceased?” Collin wrapped his arm around me with a small smile, squeezing my shoulder affectionately.He beamed when I took his parents to task, something he almost never did himself. That is, until he met me. “I’d be happy to contribute myself, of course,” I added, knowing the response in advance.

“Nonsense!” Hayes barked. “It’s our pleasure, Bea.” Haven nodded in agreement, tight-lipped, emanating no pleasure whatsoever, but if word got out that the bride was contributing to the wedding with her own salary, marrying into one of the richest families in the country, it would be embarrassing for all involved. The engagement news was already running rampant through their social circle, all eyes were on us and the forthcoming event, so there would be no going back now.

There’s nothing more superfluous than an engagement party. Between multiple showers, a bachelor and bachelorette party, a rehearsal dinner, a welcome cocktail, the ceremony, the reception, the after-party and the post-wedding brunch for good measure, it’s likeenoughalready. I’ve always found the pomp and circumstance of wedding celebrations to be outrageous and hardly romantic, but I wouldn’t be so lucky as to get to elope with my betrothed like I would have preferred. All of the events would be part of the so-called privilege of becoming Mrs.Case. I was sure most women would be thrilled, but I wasn’tthatexcited about all of the parties.

I’m sure it comes as no surprise, but I didn’t have a lot of friends. A dynamic mostly by my own design, since I preferred to keep people at arm’s length unless they would be of real use to me. More men than women fell into that bucket. I’d argue that men are relatively easy to read, but women have real depth, and darkness, to the point that you never really know what we’re thinking. Women have actuallayersunder our societally mandated glossy veneers. So many unknowns, which is why female friendship had mystified me my entire life. No, thank you. It’s not like Mother attended book clubs or wine nights orPampered Chef parties and led by example. She knew better than to get involved with women and so did I. So in my case, it was actually helpful being very fit and sinewy and beautiful because very few women wanted to be, or tried to be, my friend. I’d wager that was to avoid any comparison or competition that they couldn’t win, but I also knew that looking like I do made me seem intense and no fun, like someone who worships at the altar of Goop. I didn’t, but I fastidiously maintained the appearance intentionally. Perhaps if my circumstances in life were different, I could have been a fun person, but no, I was not about to risk losing face so I could tie one on during girls’ night out at some club over bottle service and then get cheese fries afterward. I wouldliterallynever.

•••

THE CASES HOSTEDour engagement party at the Musket Room, which took me by surprise considering it was contemporary and chic while Haven Case’s style leaned severe and stuffy. That said, it was theirfirstwedding as parents so any event less than astonishing would not stand. I’m certain they relied heavily on Marcy, the heralded wedding planner, and her team for the latest youthful hot spots for premarital gallivanting. After all, personal feelings about me aside, the next few months would check a lot of their boxes when it came to their favorite hobby: showing everyone how much money they had in a completely acceptable fashion. What would the neighbors say if the Family Case didn’t parade around the newly betrothed like a couple of Shetland show ponies?

Haven lent me a family heirloom for the occasion, a beautiful, but thinly veiled insult. A diamond necklace that had been passed down, generation by generation, to the wives of the firstborn Case sons. Inoticed that she didn’t just give it to me outright, lending it to me instead like some first-time starlet at the Golden Globes with only her first hundred grand in the bank. The dazzler was dreadfully heavy, but worth the trouble. Call me crass, but dripping in diamonds did feel like sin in the most satisfying way. I was only human. Mother would have been jealous.

The occasion practically demanded I wear white, but I wouldn’t be caught dead in some dowdy lace shift that covered up all the goods. I opted for a sexy ivory jumpsuit with tasteful draping and silver accents, an Edie Sedgwick–inspired ensemble but with considerably less dilated pupils. In a small personal victory, I did catch Hayes Case taking a cheeky peek down my top when I leaned over for a veggie canapé. Men are all the same. He’d be on my side soon enough.

In a thrilling turn of events, the party was instantly more invigorating when Gale Wallace-Leicester managed to show her face. A true delight and a bit of a shock, since she’d been maintaining a low profile since our couples retreat in Rhode Island. Luke was not present, so I assumed she took him off the payroll. She must have been a glutton for punishment to accept the invitation, having to watch Collin and me glide about the room, hand in hand, while everyone ogled our happiness and hotness. It had to sting, and I was pleased to have a front-row seat. What daggers would she throw at me that I’d have to maneuver around? Give me something good, Gale. I was begging her. Make this last hurrah really worth my while before I hung up my hustling hat for good.

The lighting scheme was doing all sorts of favors for me. My engagement ring was repeatedly struck at the exact right angle, to the point where it seemed like I was shining it intentionally into her beady little eyes at every opportunity. Okay, fine, Iwasdoing that onpurpose, and not being very subtle about it, goading her to engage with me. Let’s play!

“Iknowwhat you’re doing, Bea.” Gale smirked, the creases of her lips caked in matte red lippy. She didn’t properly prep them prior to application. But still, what a long-awaited turn from my nemesis, who’d had her tail between her legs for the past several weeks. The bitch was back and we were both in heat.

Gale was dressed like an old oak tree in a pine green column gown. Cap sleeves. Not remotely flattering. A wintry color scheme in the middle of summer? A cry for help! She clinked the ice around in her tumbler of whiskey. Brown liquor? I also noticed her attempt at a winged eyeliner was atrociously uneven. A social media tutorial gone awry? It irritated me that she didn’t just spring for a professional to do it for her.

“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I replied, taking a small sip of my champagne, flinging the shine of my ring into her eyes once more because I felt like it. “Thank you so much for coming, Gale. It really is great to see you. Been a while since Newport. How’s Luke doing? Is he here?”

“We broke up,” Gale managed to say with a straight face, looking me right in the eye.

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