Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 178200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 713(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 713(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
“My therapist told me I should be okay with how things are.” The moment Alina spoke, the entire area fell silent. It was clear everyone wanted to listen in.
Mairi forced herself to keep walking.
Hatred filled Alina’s heart at the way Mairi looked so damn dignified. It wasn’t fair the other woman had everything she wanted, everything that was supposed to be hers because Damen had been hers first, too.
“She told me there was nothing for me to be jealous about because the whole time, Damen had always treated me with respect while you were and will always be a slut to him.” She lifted her chin. “And even if you have a baby, it doesn’t change a thing. You’re still a gold-digging slut, and sooner or later he’ll realize his mistake and come back to me.”
Mairi slowed down.
“Mrs. L?” Jane didn’t like the look on her employer’s face. It wasn’t sad, wasn’t angry, but it was still...terrifying.
“Could you take Nala from me for a moment?” Mairi asked calmly.
Jane reluctantly took the baby and the carrier from her employer. “Are you sure about this, Mrs. L.?”
“It’s a long time coming,” was the cryptic reply.
Oh man, Jane thought. This was going to be really bad.
Alina kept her back straight and chin up as she watched Mairi head her way. She hated the frisson of apprehension that ran down her spine, but even so she couldn’t stop it.
“Hello, Alina,” Mairi said politely as she stood in front of her former rival. Although, looking at the other girl, the qualification was something Alina would still likely have trouble accepting.
Alina slowly looked at Mairi from head to toe, her lips compressing as she took note of the expensive but understated jewelry gracing the other woman’s ears and throat and the equally tasteful frock Mairi had on.
“You know what my therapist also told me?” Her lip curled. “Fine feathers don’t make fine birds.” She was hoping to rattle the other woman into making a scene, but instead she received a smile that left her nonplussed.
“I’m just glad, you know.”
“About what?” Alina asked sharply.
“That your therapist hasn’t told you to jump off the nearest bridge yet,” Mairi said with pseudo sincerity. “Because then you’d be dead in a heartbeat.”
Behind her, Mairi heard one of her bodyguards snickering. It was Chucky, for sure. It was always Chucky who was quick to laugh. The sound was abruptly cut off, but by then it was too late, their audience coughing as they did their best to muffle their own laughter.
Alina’s face flushed with anger. “You’re so crass! No wonder Damen treats you like—-”
“Like what?” Mairi demanded, losing her temper. She just had it. She just really about had it with this girl. “Like a woman he’s obsessed with? Because yes,” she said feelingly. “That’s exactly how he is with me. If a slut is what you call someone who can’t help wanting her husband, anytime anyway he wants then yeah, I’m a slut, and happily so because you know what? I love how he can’t get enough of me, and he will never get enough of me. No matter what you do, no matter if you walk in front of him with your cup negative-AAA breasts bared naked—-”
The slur had Alina screaming, but this time, Chucky had also lost it. Together with the rest of her bodyguards, everyone had burst out laughing.
But Mairi wasn’t finished. “—-and shake your hips like Taylor Swift, my husband WON’T ever want you the way he wants me!”
“SLUT!”
“TOOTHPICK!”
Alina screamed again. “Do you think I don’t know about you? You think the whole world doesn’t know about you? I’ve read the news, bitch, and I know your sluttish gold-digging ways haven’t ended. You’ve got your claws in the students of Christopoulos University.”
Mairi lifted her chin. Remembering Velvet’s words, she said coolly, “So I’m a cougar. Sue me.”
“Oh my God, you are so crass.”
“Yup,” she agreed with relish. “I’m a crass cougar. RAWR.” Mairi suddenly made a clawing motion at Alina’s face, taking the other woman by surprise. She would have fallen completely on her ass if her own bodyguards hadn’t caught her.
But it was enough for Mairi. As far as she was concerned, the other woman’s humiliation was complete and she had said everything she needed to say. This time, she had made it clear to Alina that no matter what the other girl did, Mairi would always believe in her husband.
Jane and Nala met her halfway. “You were so awesome, Mrs. L.,” Jane muttered under her breath as she strapped Nala back to her employer.
“Was I?” she asked faintly.
“Absolutely. Like...this awesome.” Jane mock-clawed at Mairi.
Behind them, the bodyguards laughed once more, and Mairi turned red. Oh my God, had she really done that? And had she really called herself a cougar? In fact, had she really cheerfully accepted being called a crass cougar?