Chapter 27 - Evania #2
Before he could respond, his mother appeared beside us. She looked back to her usual composed and elegant self, though her eyes betrayed how she was really feeling. I tried my best not to laugh when she slipped her arm through mine.
“Come, dear,” she said lightly. “We should take our seats.”
I kept my expression composed, even as I marveled at how perfectly everything was unfolding. Callahan could hardly hide how stunned he was by the whole exchange, which made it all the more entertaining.
Mrs. Sterling led me toward the dining area, where the long table had already been set. Guests were beginning to settle into their seats, conversations flowing easily around us. She guided me to a chair and sat down beside me.
I wanted to gloat at how flawlessly my plan was working, but I had to keep this quiet for now.
So I just smoothed my dress as I sat down and focused on not making a scene.
Across the table, I could feel Callahan’s eyes on us.
I turned my head slightly and offered him a small, perfectly innocent smile.
He still looked at a loss for words.
Beside him, I faintly heard Emily’s voice. “Well, she must have cast a spell that backfired spectacularly.”
I kept my face perfectly neutral even though the comment was highly amusing. I hadn’t cast a spell. But if she wanted to believe that was the reason Mrs. Sterling had just voluntarily linked arms with me and seated herself beside me, I wasn’t about to correct her.
By the time dessert was served, I had come to a terrible realization.
Mrs. Sterling had decided she liked me.
Or at least, she had decided she was going to pretend she liked me.
And unfortunately for me, that meant she had attached herself to my side like an expensive, judgmental barnacle.
She smiled at every person who walked by, but her hand kept lightly touching my elbow as if she was afraid I might wander off and embarrass her. I had never been escorted so closely in my life.
“I truly think it’s wonderful,” she said for what had to be the fifth time that evening, her voice warm and syrupy. “That we can put the past behind us and get along. For Callahan’s sake, of course.”
Of course.
I took a sip of my wine, studying her over the rim of the glass. If she expected me to suddenly become docile and grateful, she had clearly mistaken me for someone else.
“Oh, absolutely,” I said sweetly. “Nothing brings people together like mutual hostility.”
Her smile didn’t falter.
Impressive.
“Yes,” she said lightly, as though I had said something charming instead of insulting. “Families sometimes get off to a rocky start.”
Because accusing someone of being a gold digger in front of an entire dining table was apparently just a minor misunderstanding.
I leaned my elbow on the table and tilted my head at her.
“You know,” I said conversationally, “I still think it’s unfair.”
She blinked slightly. “Unfair?”
“Yes.” I sighed dramatically. “You called me a gold digger when I have so many other disturbing qualities you could have chosen from.”
For the first time that evening, her smile twitched. It was barely noticeable, but I saw it.
“Oh?” she asked carefully.
“Oh yes,” I continued thoughtfully. “Selfish. Manipulative. Questionable moral compass. A mild enjoyment of chaos.”
Across the table, Theo choked on his drink.
Mrs. Sterling glanced at him briefly before turning back to me.
“Well,” she said slowly, “I suppose it’s good for a woman to be selfish once in a while.”
I cringed. I couldn’t help it. The reaction slipped out before I could stop myself. It didn't help that she noticed immediately. We simply stared at each other.
She gave a small, nervous laugh. The sound was strained enough that I felt bad for her.
“Oh dear,” she murmured, pressing a hand lightly to her chest. “I think I need to freshen up.”
Without waiting for a response, she stood. “I’ll just go to the restroom.”
“Don't hurry back,” I said pleasantly.
She nodded quickly and hurried away, her heels clicking across the floor with surprising speed.
The second she disappeared around the corner—
Emily, Theo, and Callahan descended on me like vultures.
“What was that?” Emily whispered urgently.
Theo leaned forward across the table. “Are we witnessing psychological warfare?”
Callahan slid into the chair beside me, looking both amused and impressed. “I was wondering how long you were going to last.”
“First of all,” I set my glass down, “I lasted the entire dinner.”
Theo pointed at me. “Barely.”
“What did you say to her?” Emily demanded. “Most times, she looked like you threatened to eat her.”
“I didn’t threaten,” I said mildly. “I merely implied.”
Callahan laughed under his breath. “I knew it."
“Okay, but why is she suddenly acting like you’re her favorite person?”
“Yes,” Theo added. “This is a very dramatic personality shift.”
Callahan leaned casually against the table. “That would be my fault. I told her we didn’t sign a prenup and I wanted a divorce.”
Emily's gasp was so loud I had to look around to make sure no one heard her. “You did not.”
“Oh, I did. But let's not forget that it was Vani's idea.”
Theo started laughing immediately. “Oh, my God. You really are terrifying.”