Charisma
“THIS YOUR FIRST time at one of these?”
A soft voice was a southern lilt I couldn’t place came drifting from over my shoulder.
When I turned with the glass of champagne in my hand I was almost speechless at the woman that was in front of me.
She had beauty-queen good looks. The type of polish and poise that came from years of training and probably started before she could walk.
Her hair was perfectly coiffed in long body waves that fell damn near to her ribs.
It was blonde with dark roots and looked good against her complexion.
The outfit was something high-end and similar to what I’d seen in the boutique that I’d gotten my clothes from.
Her boots were custom made with letters on them that I could only assume were her initials.
Her brown skin was glowing and her smile was genuine so I smiled back.
“Is it that obvious?”
Her grin widened and she looked around before leaning in closer to me.
“You have a look of wonder on your face like you’re soaking in every bit of this and it’s actually beautiful to watch.
But word of warning, I might not be the best person for you to be seen with.
” She spoke the words with pride, which had my curiosity peaking.
“Is there something wrong with you?” I didn’t move because I knew how people could be. Folks had been fawning all over me since I’d been standing at the podium with the rest of the Chisholm-Love crew to open the rodeo.
“To the people around here, yeah. I’m not really in with the Dallas elites right now.”
“So…this sounds…like a story.” I wasn’t sure if she wanted to spill her guts inside this fancy reception room with all these rich people but I wouldn’t judge her if she did.
“It is one. One I hope to be able to laugh at one day.” Her smile dimmed and it was easy now to see the pain behind her words.
“Well, I’m not one to judge anybody by what someone else thinks so I think I’ll keep my spot right here.
” We were standing in the meet and greet area of the rodeo.
The older members of the family had gone to sit down and watch the junior competitors.
A bunch of people had already come up to me asking me questions that I refused to answer.
No part of my life was their business and I wasn’t going to share anything with people just so they could be the first to have information to gossip about.
“What is your name?”
I grinned bashfully knowing the reaction I would get when I revealed it. “Charisma.”
Her laughter was just as polished as she was but not in a fake way. It seemed naturally poised and floated around her. She didn’t bother to taper it off perfectly, she let it flow until she was done. Like this was the first time in a while she’d had joy.
“You’ve got that in spades, darlin’.”
“And yours?”
“Vashti.”
“That’s beautiful.”
She shrugged indifferently at the compliment, which I could understand since it wasn’t like she picked it. “It’s an old family name.”
“Sounds like old family money.”
She snickered in a way that let me know I wasn’t too far off. “Something like that.”
“Where are you from?”
“Ohh, I didn’t have enough Texas twang in my voice so you knew I wasn’t a local.”
“Maybe? I’m clearly not from here either.”
“Kentucky.”
“Rhinestone hat says Kentucky, I’m a buckle bunny.” My inability for my intrusive thoughts to take a backseat for the night shinned through but instead of looking at me strangely, she simply laughed with me instead of at me. “Sorry, bad habit of mine.”
“That’s quite alright, it’s charming. You really do fit your name, sugar. Besides, bottle bleach blonde but I’m no dummy.” She sang more of the lyrics back to me and I felt like I had a kindred spirit to hang out with.
“Well, since we’ve established that I’m charming, do you mind my asking why you’re here?
Are you a fan or a sponsor?” I knew part of the family’s job for hosting was to speak with sponsors.
Reece and Sampson, well really Yzzy, had taken up the job of telling everyone thank you since they would be the heads of organizing in a few years.
Reece had done the lion’s share of the gala while Nate and Sampson planned the rodeo.
They did a great job working together and I could tell people loved the family.
I’d hung back feeling awkward and let them work but now it looked like I had someone to hang out with.
“Neither. It’s habit, I guess. I’m so used to showing up at these things I forgot I didn’t have to anymore.” Vashti looked around like the realization had just come to her.
“Familial obligation?”
“Marital?” Her tone had changed from light-hearted to decidedly strained. I assumed it was a bad break up so I reached over and squeezed her hand.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I know divorce can be hard.”
“Oh! Oh no, he’s dead.” She giggled and took another sip from her drink before she motioned for me to sit down at the cluster of chairs in the area.
I did as she requested but I was now looking at her warily. “You’re laughing.”
“While I don’t wish ill on anybody, there’s probably no one else in this world that deserved to have their life taken away more than my ex.
Well, that’s not true. I can think of a few more but that’s probably treason.
” She grinned again and took another sip of her champagne. “I’ve shocked you, huh?”
“Yeah…some.” Because nothing about this woman who was walking around looking like a Black Barbie screamed serial killer. But being rich and in Texas, it wouldn’t be unheard of for murder for hire to be on the table.
“That’s why people in this town think that I had something to do with ending him. Him and his shitty brother.”
“Oh. Two dead siblings.” My face had never been one that could hide what I was thinking and the way she nodded as she fought a grin I knew I had to look horrified.
“Honey, if only you knew my story. You’d probably wonder how I’m still standing. Hell, I wonder that myself some days.”
I wasn’t sure if I needed to ask her or simply let her vent but I took a chance and spoke up.
“And the answer is? God?” I liked her but I wasn’t about to get cozy with a super religious type of person. I’d been there and lost that friendship in college. A repeat was not needed because I’d already learned that lesson.
“Oh no. My son. I have all the grit and determination in this world when it comes to ensuring that he is much better than his father ever was. And to make sure that it happens I have to ensure that my husband’s mama and daddy don’t get their hands on him the way they want to.
So, here I am. Doing the things to ensure that despite what the gossips say I am still showing my face around Dallas.
I go to the right events, I’m seen with the right people and donate the right money and sponsor the right charities so that when it is his turn to lead our company no one can deny the social cache of our family.
” I liked her. She cloaked her ruthlessness in a beautiful facade but when she spoke she was no nonsense about her goals and ensuring her son didn’t miss out.
“This sounds like some real uppity Bridgerton fighting amongst the ton type of thing.”
She titled her glass to me in a girl if you only fucking knew motion. “The Ton ain’t got shit on Dallas let me tell you.”
“I’m sorry.” That was all I could say because despite her lighthearted attitude this shit had to hurt. And badly.
“Don’t be honey. We were all young and dumb once.
But one thing you should ever do is marry a man that thinks of you as his property.
Oh, shit. I should’ve asked you beforehand who you were here for.
Wait let me clean that up by saying not all white men are colonizers, that was just my experience.
Is the man you’re here for white?” She leaned forward and crossed her legs like she was hoping she hadn’t offended me.
“No. The furthest thing from it.” I was glad she had apparently arrived after the family introductions and wasn’t being nice to be just because of who I was here with.
She pointed her finger excited at the way I smiled thinking about Nate.
“Oh! Good! You’re all set and I haven’t offended you.
My husband was alright until he decided that love, honoring and obeying me interfered too much with what mommy and daddy wanted.
He forgot about being my husband and only focused on pleasing them.
I won’t even bore you with the more sordid details.
” She waved her hand shooing away the bad vibes of these people she obviously hated.
“I wouldn’t want you to while you’re out here supposedly relaxing. Seems counterproductive.”
Her head tilted and her personality dimmed slightly like she was reflecting. “You’re a genuine person, you know that?”
“Well, yes, but what makes you say that?” She laughed right along with me because I was sure she didn’t expect me to readily agree.
“Most people would’ve leaned in to hear whatever it was I had to say so that they could go and carry tales. But you’re more worried about me the person.”
“If you want to vent then by all means proceed. It didn’t seem like you wanted to talk about him.”
“No. I don’t. I’m child free for the evening.
I’m going to drink like an adult. I’m going to laugh and maybe burst out into a song or two of my own depending on who they have working this thing tonight and I’m apparently going to make a new friend.
” She bumped my shoulder with hers and I raised my glass in agreement.
“Cheers to that.”
“Cheers to that, indeed. Now, since you’re not here with one of the competitors of the paler persuasion, that narrows down the list of riders that you could be here rooting on. So, who you here fo’?”
I hesitated because I knew Nate’s reputation. I wasn’t going to constantly throw his ho-fax in his face but I also didn’t want people looking at me like I was crazy. But I’d have to get used to it because coming up off him wasn’t an option.
“Nate.”