Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“I can’t sleep in there,” I say softly. “I don’t want to.”
“Maggie, I’m not givin’ you a choice. You’re goin’ to sleep in the spare room downstairs, and I’m sleepin’ on the couch to make sure no mother fucker comes in while you’re asleep.”
I swallow.
Delilah walks outside, robe wrapped around her. “What’s going on now?”
“Someone was tryin’ to break into Maggie’s room.”
“What?” she cries, glancing around the yard. “Why?”
“Not sure,” Hugh lies. “Either way, she’s sleepin’ inside tonight. I’ll take the sofa.”
“Why do you need to sleep on the sofa?” Delilah questions.
“Because I need to make sure she’s safe.”
“What about me?”
“You’re up the stairs, Delilah.”
“They could come in through the window.”
Good lord, only she could make this about herself.
“Look, it’s fine, I’ll stay in here,” I say, putting a hand up.
“Fuckin’ no, you’re comin’ inside and we’re not goin’ to hear another damned thing about it, are we, Delilah?”
She turns and storms off inside.
Hugh helps me get a few things and then I make my way to the spare room. I make up the bed and then sit on the end of it, exhaling as Hugh checks the windows.
“They’re not going to let this go,” I say to him.
He looks over at me. “Neither will we. You’re goin’ to be safe, Maggie. I promise you that.”
I wish I could believe him, I really do.
But these men are not only dangerous, they’re rich.
And people with that much money ... they do whatever the hell they want.
Then they get away with it.
Every. Single. Time.
11
“I hope you’re going to do something about what those girls did to you, dear,” Doris says, her wrinkled old face scrunched as she looks at me in horror.
Eavesdropping yet again—Doris is good for that.
She loves to stick her nose in everybody’s business, and as much as it drives us crazy, we all kind of love her opinion because, well, she has been around the block a few times, and she sure as shit knows what she’s talking about.
“I don’t know that I’m going to go back to that country club, Doris,” I say. “I’m not sure it’s safe at the moment and, also, I don’t want to face those horrible women.”
“Why not? You should go and face them. You should face them so hard they fear your very presence.”
I laugh. “And how do you suppose I do that?”
“It’s simple, dear, you confront them, and you make them look as small as they made you feel.”
“Women like that don’t care if I confront them; all they care about is status and they’ve got it. Me, however, I don’t.”
“I have to agree with Doris,” Eve says, placing my coffee down. “I think you need to do something, what they did to you was awful.”
“What am I going to do? I already tried that and look where it got me.”
“Isn’t there some big beach day coming up?” Eve asks. “I overheard Hugh telling Riggs about it this morning, something about not wanting to go but being forced to.”
“I don’t know what he sees in that stuck-up rich princess,” Doris shakes her head with a sigh. “When he has beautiful Maggie here, ready to wait on him hand and foot.”
I snort. “I’m not waiting on any man, Doris. And he’s with her because they have this beautiful little baby and they’re trying to make it work, which I think should be admired.”
I smile down at Star, who looks up at me with her toothy grin.
“You can’t force love, dear.” She wiggles her finger as she continues, “It either comes naturally or it doesn’t. And with them, it’s not going to because he looks at you like you’re a snack that he needs to eat immediately.”
“Doris,” I scoff.
Eve laughs. “Anyway, back to the beach day. Have you heard about it?”
I exhale. “Yes, it’s some day with her family and friends. An annual event or some trash. They go to their expensive beach house and sit around the fire with their rich wine and talk about how hard it must be to have everything.”
Doris chuckles.
Eve grins. “Well, I think that’s your chance to get your revenge. If her friends are there, that means those nannies are, too.”
I scrunch my face. “I don’t even want to go. How realistic would it be for you to give me food poisoning?”
Eve gasps, pressing a hand to her chest. “I would never even say that word in this café, let alone pretend to give it to someone.”
“You’re not a good friend, Eve,” I mutter.
“I am a great friend because I’m going to give you a list as long as my arm of the things you can do to those girls to keep them from making your life miserable again.”
“I have no doubt,” I say, shaking my head with a grin.
“I agree with Eve, dear. I think it’s time you remind them who’s boss.”