Chapter 13 Cordelia - Narcissists
Do you not know I am a woman? When I think, I must speak.
As You Like It, William Shakespeare
“It’s just immature, Miranda. You need to accept this. You and Cordelia need to accept the end of the relationship,” Harrison scolded.
“Oh, we’ve accepted that Little Lord Stubbyfingers.
Neither of us want that back, but we haven’t accepted having your entitled ass in this house.
This is my sister's home and if I want to decorate the guest bedroom door, I will. You should be grateful to have an artist’s eye here to help with the aesthetics. " Harrison just stared at her angrily.
“Oh, Embarrison,” she enthused, staring at the white hallway wall.
“Picture it: zombie homoeroticism. Muscular living-dead men entwined passionately with other muscular living-dead men. I wonder how many dicks I could fit on this wall. This could be my breakthrough piece. Maybe a bunch of men 69ing, with some horny naked voyeurs watching.” She shook her head, chuckling at the idea of cheeky, aroused onlookers.
“That would be scorching. I can make you one of the zombies Embarrison. You’re quite the pervert.
You’d fit right in. Can you see it, Cordy?
” She stretched out her hands and shut one eye, like she was envisioning the final masterpiece.
“Knock yourself out, Randa. You know I support the arts and freedom of sexual expression.” I loved my sister.
“Just stop it!” Harrison screeched. “Emma is here to stay and I don’t want you making her feel bad. You can see me as the villain, I don’t care. But Emma is young and fragile. She—"
“Yeah, the moment a grown man has to protect his girlfriend’s youth and innocence is the moment you know he’s a dirty pervert with an ego problem,” Miranda shot back.
“What is your problem?!” he yelled.
Miranda moved closer to him and put her hands on her hips. Her voice was low, controlled, and dripping with hostility.
“What is my problem? My problem is that I welcomed you into this family. I supported your relationship. I was kind to you, helped you, and put up with your boring ass. And all along, you were a snake, slithering under my radar on your disgusting, deceitful belly. My problem is that I trusted you with my sister. I trusted you with my family. And you betrayed her, which means you betrayed us. Even after that betrayal, you’ve refused to do the decent thing and pay her out.
Don't act like you don't have this and more coming to you, Harrison. I haven't even started yet.”
He stared at her, both of them rooted to the spot.
I spoke up. “We won’t bother you tonight, Harrison. But stay out of the dining room and kitchen because I’m cooking Damon dinner tonight.”
He glared at me, finally tearing his eyes from the spitfire in front of him. “He has a house with a kitchen. You and Miranda can go there for dinner.”
Miranda picked up her bag and headed toward the door. “Nah, I’m out with Cam tonight. It’s an intimate dinner with just Cordy and Damon, so don’t be an annoying third wheel Embarrison." Harrison hated his new name from Miranda, so of course, she wheeled it out whenever she could.
“Bye my loves. I'm off to work,” she called out, shutting the door defiantly behind her.
“You on with Damon, now?” Harrison asked me, making a weird, overly controlled effort to be “casual.”
“There’s something there, yes. It’s new so I’d appreciate some respect.
I don't get in Emma's face, so you need to dial the irrationality back a few clicks.” I lifted my head and stalked past him toward the door.
I'd returned to work and had a busy day ahead.
Then, I had a “date” with my sexy neighbor.
__________
I felt utterly in control as I prepped dinner: steak, baked potatoes with all the toppings, and baked asparagus with baby broccoli.
I didn't know Damon that well, but what man didn't like steak? It was one of Harrison’s favorite dishes.
I checked my phone. Shit, I had 20 minutes until Damon arrived.
I was wearing a fitted pink dress. It was sexy, but somewhat casual.
The neckline was modest, and the skirt ended just above the knee, but it was fitted.
Very fitted. I finished the look with chocolate-colored ankle boots.
I set the timer on the oven and rushed off to do my make-up.
I was finishing the mascara when I heard Harrison and Emma stomping about in the hall.
The tension in the house had shifted. Previously a source of angst, Harrison and Emma were now like comic relief.
Harrison was spiraling the more Miranda gave him shit, and Emma was trying to be supportive but all she could do was give him soothing words and stroke his chest. She never outright confronted Miranda or spoke to me.
I walked past them and entered the kitchen to pull out some wine glasses.
Harrison followed me immediately, casting his eyes up and down my body.
“You’re dressed up,” he remarked. Emma hung behind him like the clingy child she was.
“Well, I have a date, Harrison. People tend to dress nicely for dates.”
“So, Miranda really isn't coming,” he observed, craning his neck to see the two places set at the dining table.
“No. She's out with Cam.”
He snapped out of his apparent trance and thrust a letter in my hand.
“Well, when you see her, tell her this isn't funny anymore. She can't go around fucking with my career or I'll have her charged. She sent this to Brian.”
I skimmed the letter he handed me. I didn't know she was going to do this, but it had Miranda vibes all over it. There was a Dior emblem in the upper left corner, as well as details of the company’s headquarters in Europe.
Miranda was certainly thorough. It was addressed to Brian Howard, Harrison’s boss.
Dear Mr. Howard,
As you may know, Dior has been having branding issues with its Sauvage cologne.
Despite our efforts to halt the narrative that Sauvage is the "official scent of the narcissist," our efforts are being constantly undermined by the use of our product by problematic men such as Mr. Harrison Watts, who has actively sought the company of a teenage girl who is his professional subordinate.
Please ensure that Mr. Watts discontinues his use of the Sauvage line to minimize any further reputational damage to the brand, or we will have no option but to withhold stock of all Dior products to your pharmacy.
If you have any queries relating to the issues raised in this letter, please consult Mr. Watts directly for further information.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Con. Cerned-Citizen
It was all I could do not to laugh. Harrison did wear Sauvage. And it was being hauled over the coals on social media. “I don't know anything about this, Harrison. Sounds like a prank. Who else have you pissed off with your narcissism?”
His eyes narrowed in pure anger. “It's Miranda, I know it.”
“Well, even if it is, it’s not illegal. Nothing in that is untrue on your part. If Dior wants to take action, then they may have a case. But you? Tell me what the letter has got wrong?”
He snatched the offending letter out of my hand.
“Well, Brian started questioning me and Emma.
Tell Miranda her little prank didn't work. He is fine with our relationship.” His voice hit a higher pitch when he reached the last sentence.
Hmm. I knew Brian. There may not be written rules about relationships at the pharmacy, but Brian was a solid family man.
He wouldn't like Harrison carrying on with a junior staff member.
The doorbell sounded and I rushed over to answer it, making sure I looked like an excited, giddy woman who was totally in love.
“Damon!” I greeted him, stepping aside to welcome him in. What a sweetheart! He had a bunch of flowers in his hand and was dressed in a nice shirt and black slacks.
“Cordelia, beautiful as always,” he said with a wink, giving me a kiss on the cheek. Harrison and Emma stood awkwardly in the hall, making it a tight fit as we slipped past them to the kitchen. Damon completely ignored them both, complimenting my hair and perfume as we walked by.
“We’re staying in tonight, Cordelia,” Harrison fumed.
“Okay, whatever. I'm not feeding you though. Go into the living room. Scat!” I dismissed him with my hand, never taking my eyes off Damon.
It wasn't difficult leaving my eyes on Damon.
Was there such a thing as a beautiful man?
If so, Damon was beautiful. At the very least, he was incredibly handsome.
And he smelled so nice, definitely not Sauvage.