Chapter Thirty-Seven Attacked
Bastian and Benji looked up and smiled as Robert and Victor joined them in the hotel bar, looking desperate for information. “Did you get her laptop?” Robert asked as he sat down at the table.
“Oh yeah, we got everything.” Bastian grinned as he and Benji clinked their glasses. Benji chuckled, nodding.
“We even found the keychain, and I corrupted the file on it and her laptop, so she can’t use it.” He said proudly while Bastian nodded. They had been halfway to the elevator when Benji suddenly swore and ran back to the room. Bastian followed, and Benji hastily explained what he was doing. He pulled out the laptop and plugged in the USB, prompting Bastian to tell him his drinks were on him for the rest of the night.
“So, what were the nudes?” Victor looked anxious, clearly worried his son had been taking pictures of Mirabelle naked without her knowledge.
“Mirabelle and Eleanor did some very tasteful boudoir shots a couple of years ago, and the photographer posted them on his website. Eddie must have stolen them from there, and Casey photoshopped them very nastily.” Bastian explained and watched as Victor almost went limp with relief.
“Oh!” Robert smiled broadly. “Those are my favourite gifts I've ever gotten from Eleanor. They're hung up in my home office.” He furrowed his brow. “I wouldn’t call them nudes, though, not unless Mirabelle’s were very different from Eleanor’s.”
“Different poses and set, that’s all.” Bastian shrugged. “But you’re right, they aren’t nudes; you can’t see anything.” He grinned. “But Mira was fucking gorgeous, I think I'm gonna pay for another session for her.”
“I’m still disappointed Eddie stole her pictures from a website,” Victor said, shaking his head slowly. “But I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear he wasn’t secretly taking pictures of her. I think it would have broken Francesca completely.” Bastian had to agree, from what he had seen, Francesca was taking her son’s behaviour very hard, much harder than his father and sister. “I think she caught a glimpse of who he was before he went to university when he was married to Mirabelle and allowed herself to believe he was finally growing up. Then all this happened…” Victor trailed off with a sigh. “Anyway, I’m pleased you two were able to get all the proof together and have it ready if Casey goes nuclear.”
Bastian smiled at him reassuringly. “Oh yeah, every time she sends an email with an attachment, it sends the file we put together.” He stretched and rolled his shoulders. “I guess Peter is gone to get them?”
“I hope so,” Benji pulled out his phone. “According to the video Lila sent me of her and Caroline singing The Boy is Mine, it's time for them to come home.” He shook his head and showed it to them.
Victor and Robert both laughed as they watched the video. “Well, at least we know they had a good time.” Robert grinned as he sat back. “And they weren’t arrested, so double bonus.”
“Yeah, Mira rocked Domino.” Bastian chuckled and pulled out his phone, showing them the video. “She has to have the perfect amount of alcohol in her to sing karaoke, and it’s a very delicate balance.”
“Eleanor and Francesca can't carry a tune in a bucket, so I'm not surprised they didn't attempt it.” Victor smiled in delight as he watched Mira.
“Right?” Robert laughed. “Eleanor only sings in the car where she can turn the music up loud enough that she can't hear herself.” They all fell quiet as Casey's father walked in and sat alone at the bar. “Eddie came by and talked to me and Peter and told us a few interesting tidbits.” He spoke just loud enough to be heard over the noise in the bar, and Bastian, Benji, and Victor looked at him in surprise.
“Like what?” Victor looked vaguely annoyed. “Are they practicing Satanists? Swingers?”
Robert chuckled and shook his head. “No, nothing like that, According to Eddie, Casey only wanted to get pregnant to show up her father's wife. She thinks he'll pay more attention to his grandkids than his child.”
“Shitty reason to have a kid.” Bastian frowned.
“But it does answer whether or not they were trying.” Victor nodded. “I'm still demanding a paternity test. I know they probably won't let us in the child's life after, but I doubt we'd see that much of them anyway.”
“That’s not all,” Robert said quietly. “Both Peter and I got the impression that Eddie has no idea about Casey’s plans to retaliate against you and Mira. It was Casey’s idea to go to the strip club, and Eddie said he wouldn’t blame Bastian if he didn’t go; he understood how dating the daughter of one made it weird.”
Bastian sat back and considered that. “Huh. He’s right; I wouldn’t set foot inside a strip club, not because I’m against it or anything, but because of Mira’s mother. It absolutely does make it weird.”
“Honestly, I think underneath his resentment, Eddie grudgingly respects you for going after him in Mira’s defence the way you did.” Bastian could see the sincerity in Robert’s face and hear it in his voice, but he couldn’t help the disbelieved scoff that left his throat.
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Robert opened his mouth to say something else, but Mirabelle and the others came in, and whatever he was going to say was forgotten when he saw Eleanor. Bastian noticed the way he looked her over anxiously before smiling in relief as she approached, and it was clear she was okay.
“It looks like the girls made it through in one piece.” Benji stood up and went to grab a couple of chairs for them, and Robert got up to pull over another table.
“Did you have fun?” Bastian grinned as Mirabelle came over and dropped in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“We had a blast.” She smiled at him and kissed him hello. She then looked at Benji and held out her hand. “We haven't been properly introduced.” She grinned. “Mirabelle, but you can call me Mira.”
“Benji.” He shook her hand with a huge smile. “It’s great to meet you.”
“So you found a karaoke bar, huh?” Bastian asked, tightening his grip on her waist as she started to slip off his lap and holding her firmly in place.
“We found five bars.” The woman with the blonde curls chuckled as she sat down next to Peter. “And drank one or two Manhattans in each one. Caroline.” She held out her hand, and Bastian shook it and said hello.”
“And I’m Lila.” The tiny brunette spoke up, waving at him as she sat beside Benji. “How was the football game?” Lila leaned on her husband's arm and snagged his beer.
“Unfortunately, Bastian and I got a touch of food poisoning just before halftime and had to come back to the hotel.” Benji frowned and took the beer back from her before she could drink. “You're gonna be sick if you mix your alcohol.” He warned gently when she pouted at him. “Tell us about the scavenger hunt.”
Bastian played with Mirabelle’s hair as she, Lila, Caroline and Eleanor filled them all in on everything. He wasn’t all that surprised to hear Eddie’s friend’s wives weren’t fans of Casey; from the brief look he had at the screenshots and based on what Greg had said, he was pretty sure Eddie wasn’t the only one she slept with after he was married. When Mirabelle finished explaining how she had handled Danica’s questions, Eleanor nudged her father with her elbow. “You should take Mother up to bed.” She nodded at Francesca. “She's barely keeping her eyes open.” Bastian saw Francesca was indeed nodding off in the chair.
“How much did she drink?” Victor asked as he got the waitress's attention and asked for his bill.
“More than any of us.” Eleanor reached out and tucked her mother's hair back behind her ear. “She had two or three at each bar. She was quiet but seemed to enjoy herself.” Francesca opened her eyes and batted at Eleanor's hand.
“Stop fussing, Eleanor.” She mumbled. “I'm perfectly fine.”
“I'm rather tired, Love; come to bed with me?” Victor took her hand and kissed the back gently.
“Okay, if you insist.” Francesca nodded and let Victor help her to her feet, saying good night to everyone. Francesca hugged them all tightly, and when she got to Bastian, she leaned in and whispered something in his ear that simultaneously broke his heart and made him feel incredible. He smiled at her and took her hand, kissing the back gently.
“Me too.” He said simply, bringing tears to her eyes. She squeezed his hand and then let him go, letting her husband lead her out of the bar. When they were gone, they all looked at Bastian. “What did she say?” Eleanor asked curiously.
“She's happy Mirabelle has me.” Bastian shrugged.
“All right. Tell us what happened.” Lila demanded, and Bastian breathed a silent sigh of relief that she interrupted because it looked like Eleanor and Mirabelle didn’t believe him and were going to push for him to spill. “We're all dying to know.”
Benji chuckled, and between him and Bastian, they told them what they did. When they finished, Lila looked at Benji like she wanted to eat him. “Come on.” She stood up abruptly, “We're going to bed.” Benji jumped up and winked at the others.
“You'll never hear me say no to that one.” He looked around frantically for the waitress.
“I got it.” Bastian reminded him. “I’d go catch up to her. For such a tiny thing, she moves fast.”
“Thanks, Bast. I got the next ones.” He practically ran after his wife, who was already outside the bar. Peter and Caroline followed not long after, and Eleanor soon tugged at Robert's hand. Bastian said he would take care of the bill and waved the waitress over, charging everything to their room. “Come on, Bunny; I think it's time for bed.” He let her stand up and took her hand, leading her out of the bar.
They were almost to the hall to their room when Mirabelle’s hand was pulled from Bastian’s, and she let out a sharp cry of pain. He immediately whipped around and saw Casey standing with her hands on Mirabelle’s arm and Mirabelle trying to pull away. He could see Casey’s long nails digging into her to the point that they were drawing blood, and he felt a rush of white-hot anger come over him. “HEY!” He barked at her, “Let her go!” Bastian took two steps toward her, his hand clenched into a fist, fully ready to punch her in the nose, but Eddie came running up in a panic and reached them before Bastian did.
“Let her go, Casey! Do you want to be arrested?” He pried her hands off Mirabelle and pulled her back by her waist. Bastian's yell had gotten the desk clerk's attention, and he could see she was watching carefully and had the phone already in her hand.
“I DON'T CARE!” Casey screamed, desperately trying to get to Mirabelle despite Eddie’s wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her against him. “You just couldn't keep your damn mouth shut, could you?”
A slow smile crossed Mirabelle's face as her shock wore off, and Bastian paused, knowing Mirabelle was about to add fuel to the fire. “Did you really think I wasn't going to tell the truth? You two made me out to be some kind of vindictive bitch to save face, then turned around and sent me that incredibly insulting letter, all so Victor and Francesca would pay for your wedding.” She stepped closer to them, and Eddie pulled Casey further back, panic crossing his face. “I came with the attitude that if no one asked, I wouldn't tell, but I wasn't going to cover for you.”
“Mira, stop,” Eddie said desperately. “I get it, just don't fuck this up for me, please.”
“Fuck this up for you?” Mirabelle laughed harshly at him. “Seriously, Eddie? I don't have to do anything to fuck this up; you did it all on your own. It would have been best if you were honest from the start, like way before you stuck your dick into the psychopath you’re about to marry. You wouldn't have any of these issues.” She smirked as Casey let out an enraged screech when Mirabelle called her a psychopath and tried to get out of Eddie’s arms again. “Now I'm willing to; what did they say in that letter, Bast?” She looked at him and raised her eyebrow.
“Be happy for them and come to the wedding to show your support of the relationship. Mend things and move past them.” Bastian grinned and folded his arms over his chest. Fuck, he loved her. She had absolutely no fear.
“Right,” She nodded and turned back to Eddie. “I'm here. I'm happy for you. I wholeheartedly support this shitshow, and I am willing to mend things. So willing, in fact, that I won't even press charges for assault on your fiancée. From what I understand, it doesn't look like anyone would be able to afford to pay her bail, and it would suck to spend the last few days before your nuptials in jail, wouldn't it, Casey?”
Casey's face was red, and she looked like she wanted to strangle Mirabelle. She pulled at Eddie's grip, mute with rage, and Bastian saw Eddie tighten his hold on her.
“Fuck, Mira. When did you become so goddamn vindictive?” Eddie glared at her with equal parts of anger and hurt on his face.
“Let’s see,” Mirabelle tapped her bottom lip and pretended to think for a moment. “I think it was when I walked into our home and saw you railing her from behind on our couch.” Mirabelle raised her eyebrow at him. “And your response to looking into my eyes as you came inside another woman was to ask me what I was doing home like it was my fault I walked in and caught you fucking your best friend while still married to me.”
Bastian had noticed their argument was attracting a bit of a crowd, and Eddie and Casey finally noticed as well. They both looked around quickly, turning red when they saw some people had their phones out and were filming everything. Eddie’s face drained of blood in record time when he saw Casey's father standing on the edge, watching everything with silent disgust. Casey also saw him and finally pulled out of Eddie's grasp. She gave Mirabelle one last look of deep loathing but seemed to decide to hold on to her final shred of dignity because she turned and walked away, the crowd silently parting to let her through.
“Oh, don't give me that look.” She snarled as she walked past her father. “You're no better. You knocked up a girl thirty-nine years younger than you.”
“At least I didn't cheat on your mother to do it.” He snapped back as he followed her. They could hear them arguing the whole way to the elevator. Eddie didn’t move, just let out a defeated sigh as the crown started to disperse, his shoulders slumping and his head dropping to stare at the floor.
“When did my life become a fucking Spanish telenovela?” He muttered.
“See my previous answer.” Mirabelle snorted, clearly not feeling the least bit sorry for him. “Casey is a drama queen, and you feed off her, like a - a drama vampire.”
Bastian chuckled and moved to her side, picking up her arm and looking over the scratches. “These are going to bruise.” He ran his hand over them gently. “Come on, Bunny, let's go get these cleaned up so they don’t get infected; who knows where her hands were.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and turned her toward the hall to her room.
“Do my parents know?” Eddie asked, his voice small and sad. Mirabelle stopped and turned around.
“Yes.”
“And they're still paying for everything?” He looked up at her, surprise and confusion on his face.
“Obviously.” Mirabelle rolled her eyes, and Bastian chuckled at her blatant inference that he was an idiot. Eddie nodded, looking relieved.
“For what it's worth, Mira, it went on so long because I kept trying to end it. I wanted to be with you; I really did.” He swallowed and ran his hand through his hair. “But she’s kept throwing herself at me and…” He sighed. “I’ve loved her since University, and she never gave me the time of day before.”
“Eddie, that's really worth nothing to me.” Mirabelle turned away, gesturing for Bastian to take her back to the room, which he was only too happy to do.
“No, I didn't think it would be.”