11. Lily

Itook lots of care with my hair and makeup. Not that I don’t always, but today was a special day. I chose one of my new Selkie dresses that were still all the rage and was a perfect fit for a Saturday brunch with friends.

I was on my way when the call from the manager came, letting me know that the show had begun. The table Lacey usually hogs had been decorated for a pre-bridal shower brunch, mine, and she’d be directed elsewhere, but not too far away.

I want her to see and hear everything going on at my table. The first call was to let me know that she was there and had already made a fuss to no avail. The manager did offer some extras to make up for disappointing her this one time, which I’m sure had soothed the beast.

I also know that she was chomping at the bit to see who had more power than she did in her town. Who was able to snatch her favorite table from out under her so effortlessly.

The second call, when I was five minutes away, was to let me know that my guests had arrived and were all being seated. These were my friends from high school and college, some of whom would be in my bridal party, though they don’t know it yet.

I’d chosen my Rolls today because it matched my dress. It’s one of my graduation gifts from my maternal grandparents. The Rolex Datejust, with the green face and blinding diamonds, was from my paternal grands. They were both being represented today.

The diamond necklace and studs were from Mom and, of course, my ring. I looked and smelled rich, and I knew it. I knew heads would turn when I walked in, which was my aim anyway.

I heard the whispers as soon as I walked in and saw the look of anger and dread on Lacey’s face. I looked at her table of friends just long enough for them to recall where they’d seen me before, and though it had been a while, I was sure they’d catch on sooner or later.

At my table, my girls were smiling and waving me over; at her table, there were whispers, ‘Isn’t that your sister? Damn, she looks hot.’ Yes, please do compare and let dear little sissy know how lacking she is. You can’t buy class as she and her mother has been proving in these parts for almost a quarter of a century.

I ignored the stares from her friends and sat with mine. “Okay, you sounded very suss on the phone; what gives? What’s the big news?” I didn’t answer my friend Anise, just waved my hand under their noses.

The screams and screeches were appreciated, but the questions were what did it for me. “Who? Is this the guy you were in Europe with for the past four summers?”

“Why won’t you let us meet him? This ring is to die for.”

“When are we going to meet him? What was his name again?” That was all I needed her to hear, and I was sure her ears were peeled to what was going on at my table before I shushed my friends and leaned in close to whisper to them.

She could have no idea what I was saying to them, but I’m sure she’d heard the words Italy and summer, and even though she’s not too bright, I bet her mind was working overtime, fitting the pieces together.

Her friends were of no help since they kept staring at me and asking her questions. The staff, which I had been told has been disparaged by her on more than one occasion, were pleasant and cheerful as they served us, and I in return, treated them like humans. And since I don’t surround myself with degenerates, all the people at my table did the same.

Another round of whispers started among the staff, this time, about how different the two of us were, which led to the whispers that she was not, in fact, related to those Sinclairs since my grandparents had been here and claimed me as their only grandchild.

All of this had been planned and orchestrated by me in advance, along with a hefty tip for the staff’s troubles. It pays to be nice to the people who serve you in any capacity, something Lacey never learned because she learned her manners from her mother, who, in my estimation, is a cross between a barracuda and a hyena.

Her friends, who didn’t seem to leave high school behind, were the ones ragging on her, which only intensified her embarrassment. I finally looked over at her and looked her dead in the face. There were no words said, but for someone as dense as she is, I’m pretty sure she got the picture.

There’s a new ‘It’ girl in town, and it’s not you.

* * *

LACEY

* * *

“I’ve never been so humiliatedin my life.”

“Lacey, stop and talk to me. What happened?”

“Mom, it was horrible.”

“What? Didn’t you go to that little bistro you and your friends like? Was there a problem with the food?”

I told her everything. Starting with the disrespect I felt from the staff upon arrival. They know I like that table, I’m the only one who sits there on my day. How could they give it to her?

And why did they show her and her friends so much preferential treatment when I have to practically beg to be noticed? “And get this, my grandparents went there with her the other day and told everyone that she was their only granddaughter.”

“How do you know that? It could be a lie. I don’t think that’s the kind of place your grandmother would go to.”

“It’s the truth; I heard the staff talking and laughing about it. Now, I feel like a fool. How can I ever show my face there again?”

“Calm down, let me think.”

“What’s there to think about? You’ve got to do something. You have to make Dad get them to accept me. I want the things she has; why should she get spoiled by them while I get nothing? Not even a card for my birthday.”

I ran upstairs and tore off the clothes I was wearing. Clothes that were fashionable and in, but not as fashionable as the dress that bitch was wearing. Everyone was going on and on about how beautiful she looked, even my friends, and then there was the ring. She has one that can be seen from across the parking lot while my finger is bare because Grayson claims he wants to have one made.

I had to sit through the laughter of my friends who dared to ask where my ring was and would it compare to hers. I don’t think Grayson could afford something like that right now, but there’s no way he’s getting me anything smaller. Good thing he told me to choose something I like, and he’d have it made.

But hers has sentiment as well from our family. I’d asked Mom about it that day Lily came over here to show off, and she’d told me all about the history. What’s worse, my own mother had wanted that ring and my grandparents had said no.

I fought back the tears that had been falling since I left the bistro. I never wanted a day like today to happen. I felt humiliated in front of my friends. For the first time, someone else was the center of attention when that has always been my spot.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the fact that her friends and mine kept fawning over her, there seemed to be other people discretely asking the staff who she was. Everyone’s attention was on that bitch, and she knew it too.

My friends kept comparing us and acting as if she was the queen or something while I was little more than a lowly maid. I know she was only acting like little miss perfect to impress the people there, so that even the stupid staff started comparing us.

What was she doing there anyway? I’ve been going there for months now and never once saw her or even heard her name mentioned. How did the staff seem to know her so well? And what’s more, why had my grandparents gone there and made a fuss about only having one granddaughter?

Its not fair. I’ve had to put up with this for too long. I hadn’t done anything wrong; I wasn’t the one who had the affair. How could they only choose her and her mother while leaving Mom and me out in the cold?

Its not every day I think about these things, but on a day like today, how can I not? I was close to having a panic attack sitting there listening to her friends gush about her secret fiancé.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, she left the bistro at about the same time I did, and everyone was going on and on about her car. She gets a Rolls Royce while I have a stupid Mercedes Benz, and last year’s at that. It was too much, and I won’t put up with it anymore. Once I get married, they’ll have to accept me since, according to Dad, they really like Grayson.

That thought helped calm me down a little, and I picked up the phone to call him all the while, my heart beating out of my chest with real fear. What was it her friends had said? The boy she’d spent the last four summers with in Europe? Grayson spent the last four summers in Europe. It can’t be him, right?

“Why isn’t he answering the phone?” I threw mine across the room, and it landed on the carpeted floor, thankfully because, too late, I remembered Dad’s warning after I broke the last one.

* * *

GRAYSON

* * *

The devil went downto Georgia played on my phone, so I didn’t answer it. That would be Lacey. I took a sip from my cocktail as I sat out by the pool at the little boutique hotel Lily had asked me to meet her at.

This is what our lives had come to, sneaking around to have weekend getaways in order to spend some real time together. It won’t be for much longer, though, so I can deal with it for another few months.

I almost swallowed my tongue when she came around the corner. The dress, at first glance, looked innocent enough, but that was before I noticed how well the bodice hugged her breasts or how the flared bottom that barely reached the top of her knees showcased her stupendous legs and thighs in those fuck me heels.

“You look… extremely fuckable.” I grinned at her as I enjoyed the show. My eyes widened when she walked over and straddled my lap. “PDA? Ah, alcohol is involved.” I nipped her bottom lip before pulling back with a frown. “You didn’t drive after drinking, did you?”

“I had one glass of champagne; I’m not that irresponsible.”

“Okay, so what’s all this? What did you do now, Annalise Keating?” She laughed at the comparison and smacked my chest playfully. Then she leaned in and whispered in my ear.

“Let’s go to our room. I want to do very bad things to you.”

Oh boy, she’s in one of those moods. “I’ll get more champagne.” I’m no idiot. This mood for her and booze is, for me, a very good day. She tends to get very enterprising in the bedroom when she’s had a couple of drinks in her, and I was not about to miss out.

“Don’t take off the dress.” There was something about that dress that made my dick achingly hard. As soon as we reached the room and locked the door behind us, I tore her panties off under her dress, dropped my swim trunks, sat on the side of the bed, and pulled her down on my cock.

I fucked her six ways from Sunday and damn near destroyed her dress. “I’m sorry, I think your dress is pretty much done for.”

“That’s okay, I’ve got more.”

“Hell yeah.” I’d find her attractive in a gunnysack but this dress, fuck.