Yvette looked all innocence. “I wouldn’t missyour birthday for anything.” Looking Sophie up and down in herbikini, towel, and flipflops, she cringed. Gesturing awkwardly, shepoorly attempted to compliment her. “And I wanted to see thatyou’re looking well. That these Sutherland folks are taking goodcare of you.”
It ached to know her aunt may have rememberedher birthday every year, as she clearly knew the day, but hadn’tbothered until it meant a few hundred-thousand-dollar payoff. Toolittle, too late.
“Didn’t I just give you enough money to lastuntil you nailed the Netflix job?” Sophie made to leave, but Yvettegrabbed her arm. Her long, fake nails dug into Sophie’s skin beforeYvette remembered Sophie didn’t respond to violence. She’d onlytried it once, but Sophie already had a decent right hook by then.Bruises didn’t get Hollywood wannabes jobs.
“Yes, and thank you. My landlord has backedoff a bit. Really, I have apologized more than enough for missingyour birthdays.” Yvette’s expression was all regret.Ha.
“And selling my family’s belongings. Andtarnishing my reputation, more than a few times. Oh, and for neverbeing the grownup.”
There was always another job she was countingon soon. But, if it was her own money that she’d actually earned,Yvetteneededto invest it in the next job, not frivolitiessuch as food and electricity. Investment usually meant more plasticsurgery, makeup, hair stylist appointments, mani-pedis. “You are somuch better of a person than I could ever be. Your sweet motherpassed that on to you. I appreciate everything you’ve ever done forme.”
Moving onto excessive sweetness was never agood sign. Sophie tore free of her grip and continued toward thehouse. She knew exactly what Yvette was here for. Wasn’t sure shecould handle it.
“Please. I took you in–” Yvette’s tears werein full force, her body limp with hopelessness.
“Because I was a nice source of steadyincome. Someone to tell you how nice you looked, what a greatactress you were, how generous you were.” Letting loose the finalresentment she’d been harboring, Sophie kept her voice calm but wasvibrating inside. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go. My motherwould never have chosen you if she’d had any other choice. Perhapsyou should have skipped the last Botox, nails, the airfare to comehere, the fancy car rental… and not bothered to show up here.”
That was enough for Yvette. Like flipping aswitch, she was in full-bitch mode. “You’ll have had full access toyour funds since this morning. If you cared about me and my futureat all–”
Sophie scoffed, astonished somehow. “How doyou think you’re entitled to a share ofmyinheritance? Youblew through yours before I was even born.” Sophie knew this daywould come but couldn’t help being astonished at her aunt’snarcissism. Couldn’t help her disgust.
“For putting up with your antics, yes.”Yvette walked as close as she dared, standing tall in herstilettoes to drive the point home. Her voice low, she sneered,“I’ll make you a deal. You give me half, and I’ll stay out of yourlife. Forever.”
Sophie backed away, turning toward the houseagain. Yvette wasn’t done yet. Anticipating the threats, Sophiecouldn’t decide whether to hear them out or to run away, pluggingher ears and yellingla la la la la.
“What do you think will happen if you don’t?This is sure a sweet little town you’ve decided to settle in. Itwould be too bad if all of your clients found out about theembezzlement scandal I helped get you out of a few years back. Orperhaps that little prostitution ring you were running before youleft LA? I could keep going, it just depends on how quickly youcome through for me.” Yvette was almost giddy now from herdeviousness.
Seething, Sophie stood tall, eye to eye withYvette in her bare feet to Yvette’s heels. With all of Yvette’screativity, it was astonishing she was so unsuccessful in life. “Iactually should thank you for teaching me how to be practical,frugal, and love myself for who I am. You’re not getting one morecent from me. Go home. Don’t ever contact me again.”
Her hand finally on the front door, sheignored Yvette’s finally plea as she started sobbingmelodramatically in the driveway. “Please,” she cried.
A rumbling voice from behind them spoke up.“If you don’t leave this property immediately, I’m calling thepolice.” Sophie’s hand stilled on the doorknob mid-turn. Asher hadbeen clearly listening in. He’d let Sophie handle it, then he wasthere to back her up when she needed it.
Instantly switching to the charming vixen,Yvette strutted like a hungry cat towards Asher. “What’s this?Little Sophie find herself a handsome boyfriend? If she won’t shareher money, maybe she’ll share you.”
Holding his ground, he didn’t flinch when sheran her long red nails along his shoulder. His arms folded acrosshis chest, he remained expressionless, unmoving until she got thepoint. Wow, she certainly was dense. Her hand ran down his back andslapped him on the ass as she circled her prey. Still ignoring, hedidn’t move.
Sophie would have socked her by now. Wastempted to intervene, but it was interesting to watch Asher notreacting in the least. She could use a few lessons on ignoring.
Putting on a pouty, dejected expression,Yvette finally stepped back. “Well, you’re no fun.” Glancing backto her niece, she used her innocently sweet expression that couldhave won her an Oscar, “My dear, dear Sophie. You have four days.Au revoir.”
Turning on her heel, Yvette sauntered back toher shiny rental convertible. Suffocating dust billowed behind thewheels as she flew down the driveway. Yvette meant what she said.And could pull it off, as she had many times before. Connivingbitch.
Biting her lower lip to keep from crying,Sophie breathed slowly in and out. Refusing to shed a single damntear on behalf of that witch again. How could that woman be relatedto Sophie’s mother? They were from different stock.
Sophie doubted her mother had a clue what shehad turned into, or she might have written for foster care, ratherthan letting her go into the care of her only living relative.
Frozen in place, her hand still clutchedaround the doorknob, she blinked away the threatening tears. Oncethe car was out of sight, Asher turned towards her. Seeing herabout to lose it, he closed the few steps between them in aheartbeat.
His arms wrapping around her, he held herclose against him. Melting into Asher, she let him hold her up soshe didn’t crumble.
***
Still in her swimsuit, towel slipping down,Sophie soaked two perfect breast prints into his shirt. He didn’tcare. What a damn witch. Her aunt was a real piece of work.
“Why can’t she just leave me alone? I triednot sending money for a while, but that just made it worse. I hadto take time off of school to clean up her mess.” Sophie buried herface into his shoulder, her hair tangling in his short beard as hekissed the top of her head.
“I’m no psychologist, but there is somethingseriously wrong with that woman.” His voice was gruff, strugglingto restrain the emotions that were boiling to the surface.
