Chapter 42 #2
“I’m sorry… uncork my ass?” I stared at her in confusion. “What the hell does that mean in your generation’s language?”
She chuckled. “It’s the same thing as pulling the stick out of your ass.”
“That is not the same thing.”
“Anyway,” she started, ignoring me as she always did, “Jessica wants to come tonight. Is that okay?”
“She’s back?” I questioned.
“Yeah, she and I are actually looking for places to live together,” Amelia said excitedly.
“Well, isn’t that fun and exciting for the two of you?” I smiled. “Where?”
“Around Long Beach,” she answered. “We’ll see what’s available and what we can afford.”
“Well, Natalia will be at dinner with us tonight. Let’s have her look around for you two. She typically deals exclusively in high-end real estate, but she also makes exceptions. She has a lot of contacts in real estate across the state.”
“That would be great.”
“I just need to change quickly, and then we’ll head out to dinner.”
The evening was perfect. The salty breezes drifted through the cool Southern California night as the sun slid just below the horizon. The girls and I arrived when Avery, Ash, Natalia, and Darcy did.
Sienna, as usual, arrived promptly, securing the table and ordering hors d’oeuvres for all of us. As always, there were shrimp cocktail shooters, artisan cheese, and an overly elaborate charcuterie board, paired with champagne and lobster bites.
“Jesus, I could eat everything on this table,” Avery said as we all sat, joining Sienna.
“That’s why I ordered the board,” Sienna winked at her, sipping her champagne. “Hey, Jessica,” she acknowledged Amelia’s longtime friend. “It’s nice to see you again. How are your parents?”
“They’re great, thanks,” Jessica answered, taking the seat to Sienna’s right, while Nat sat to her left, across from me. “I definitely think the woman who leaked those deep-fake photos would’ve totally gotten away with that crime if you weren’t representing Charles.”
“Crime?” I looked at Jessica, shocked that I hadn’t heard about the latest conspiracy at her father’s headquarters in Santa Barbara.
She inhaled, taking a lobster bite and popping it into her mouth. “Yeah,” she said, swallowing. “My dad’s VP, Charles, had some woman come forward with harassment claims, and she filed a fat-ass lawsuit against my dad’s company for damages.”
“Why didn’t I know about this?” I looked at Amelia, then Sienna.
“It was when you were buried last fall,” Sienna answered. “And you never watch the news.”
“I swear, your dad being in the oil industry may give your family all the perks and joys of being upper class,” I said to Jessica. “But shit, sometimes you have to wonder if it’s all worth it.”
“We’re used to it by now, and Sienna is on top of bullshit these days, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Until the next one comes along,” Nat chimed in.
“I don’t even think Jim deals with that kind of blackmail for money,” Avery said, her tiny plate already full.
“He has a group of lawyers who are dozens of steps ahead,” Sienna said. “The day I see Jim Mitchell in court over a lie is the day I learn he went cheap on his legal team.”
“Speaking of legal teams and scandals,” Nat grinned. “We seem to have a scandalous traitor among us who’s doing some very illegal things with Titus Hawk.”
“How did I know this conversation would move in this direction?” I said as the waiter approached. “I’ll have a glass of red—”
“Bullshit, honey,” Nat interrupted my drink order. “Ladies, we’re too old for tequila and too pretty for regrets tonight.” She looked at the waiter. “Bring us the espresso shots, followed by a round of French 75.”
“Really, we’re having gin tonight?”
“Champagne, gin, and fresh lemon,” Nat smiled. “I know your tight ass isn’t going to talk unless we loosen you up first.”
“What are we talking about?” Ash said, ending the phone call she was on when we arrived.
“We’re getting Cat half-drunk so we can get all the facts about her nights on that yacht with Titus Hawk,” Avery said with a laugh.
“God,” Sienna said, “I still can’t believe you, of all people, went down this road with that man.”
“Have you guys heard what they’re saying on social media?” Amelia chuckled.
“From what I’m aware, it’s not very nice,” I arched an eyebrow at my sister.
“Well, now that Titus Hawk is blowing up the internet by bringing that yacht here,” Sienna rolled her eyes, “I’m not surprised everyone is in love with the guy, and my best friend is their current target.”
“Well, I’m not their target if I’m not online reading it,” I answered. “I don’t do the news, and I sure as hell don’t do social media. They all have a violent way of destroying a person’s nervous system.”
“I love it,” Ash said. “In fact, I’m getting so many new recipes from watching the baking reels.”
I smiled at her. “Well, don’t be surprised if you run into a reel of me getting baked on there these days. Or roasted. Or fried.”
“What are they saying?” Nat asked. “I’m not into that stuff either. I don’t even know how it works.”
“You honestly don’t want to know,” Jessica said.
“That’s exactly the sort of thing someone says when I absolutely do want to know,” Nat replied.
“Spill it, ladies,” Avery said, looking across the table at Amelia and Jessica.
“Well, do you want the business articles on Instagram or on TikTok?” Amelia answered.
“TikTok,” Ash answered.
“God help us,” Sienna said with a laugh.
“Well, apparently a video of Titus getting off his jet in Madrid just hit twelve million views,” Jessica said, looking at her TikTok app.
“Not surprising,” Nat answered.
“God,” Avery laughed.
“Well, think about it,” Nat smirked at all of us. “The man looks like he was perfectly designed by a team of women who hate their exes.”
“Oh, here we go,” Jessica said with a laugh. “The footage from a charity gala.”
“The one that was stitched together?” Amelia said, glancing at her phone.
“And?” Avery pressed.
“Well, no one is happy he’s with Cat,” Jessica said. “The comments show that none of his fans are handling the relationship well.”
“Fans?” I blurted out in shock. “The man has fans now?”
“What are the comments saying?” Ash asked.
“Do we really want to hear them?” I interrupted.
“Of course we do,” Nat said. “That’s how you arm yourself against these wicked little beasts.” She looked at Jessica. “Let’s hear one.”
“Okay,” Jessica said. “Here’s one: ‘I’ve known this man for eight minutes, and I already disagree with his choices.’”
“That’s not so bad,” Avery said with a laugh. “Cat knew him much longer and most definitely disagreed with his choices.”
“Oh, it gets brutal,” Amelia said.
“Do tell,” Nat said as the cocktails and espresso shots were set in front of us.
“It goes on: ‘What does this woman have that I don’t?’ and ‘Imagine having access to every woman on the planet and choosing this one.’”
“Ouch,” I said.
“Please,” Nat responded. “If they don’t hate you, you’re ugly.”
“Okay, these are new,” Jessica said.
“Oh shit,” Avery laughed.