“It’s one of the reasons you love me,” Brandt said, teasing Tempest.
Olivia had the good sense to get a sudden chill down her spine when her gaze met Tempest’s. “He was very rude, ma’am,” she said, this time with not half as much tone.
“I’m sure if he was rude, there was a reason. What is your name?” Tempest demanded.
“I’m Olivia. I’m Remi’s girlfriend. Or at least I was. If he wants to see me again he’s going to have to do some groveling after the way he disrespected me earlier. I will not allow anyone to correct me like a child. And then to promise to pay my bills and even something as simple as buy me an outfit to visit my family, and then not even remember! It’s disrespectful! And when I reminded him that he owed me for my bills, he just threw a handful of wadded up money at me! I just can’t even with him.”
“Why does he have to pay your bills?” Tempest asked.
“Because he wanted me to go get something to eat with him. Only instead of feeding me, all he did was order drinks.”
“I still don’t understand,” Tempest said.
“I told him I wasn’t in the right frame of mind after all the stress of being disrespected by your husband this morning, and because my bills are past due, and I had to go get a new outfit to wear to visit my family, and I just couldn’t make it today, so he promised to pay my bills and buy me an outfit. I mean, once he says he’ll do it, it’s his responsibility, not mine.”
“Ah, I understand. And for the record, you are aware that respect is earned, not demanded, aren’t you?” Tempest asked.
“If you don’t demand respect, you’ll never get it!” Olivia exclaimed.
“Bullshit. If you have to demand it it’s not real anyway. Your behavior will warrant respect or you don’t deserve it. Brandt? Keep me on video-call and angle me so I can watch her the entire time. I’m recording,” Tempest said.
“You got it,” Brandt said.
Olivia cut her eyes at the woman on Brandt’s phone, before rolling them and gazing out of the window like she didn’t care.
“Is there something you’d like to say,” Tempest asked.
“Nope. Not a word. Just anxious to get home,” Olivia snapped.
“Smart girl,” Tempest said.
~~~
Vince looked up expectantly when the door opened. “’Bout time,” he said, angling his head to the right to indicate where Remi was.
“Got here soon as I could. Had to take somebody home.”
“His friend, I’m guessing?”
“Yep. She do that to his car?” Brandt asked.
“Honestly, I haven’t gone to look. But wouldn’t surprise me. She was in a rage,” Vince said.
Brandt shook his head as he started toward Remi.
“If you could manage as little damage as possible…” Vince said, gesturing at the two or three tables he’d purposely sat on the opposite side of the room from Remi.
“Do my best,” Brandt answered. He walked up behind Remi, watching him sucking down a chocolate shake. From the looks of it, he’d had several bottles of gin, and about five milkshakes. “How’s it going, Remi?” Brandt asked.
Remi stopped sucking on his straw and awkwardly twisted his body to get a look at Brandt. “Really? You’re going to hassle me here, too? I’m minding my business, enjoying my new favorite drink, and you’re going to come in here and fuck with me some more.”
“I’m not fucking with you, Remi. I’m just coming to give you a ride home.”
“Why? I got a car.”
“You got no business driving in this condition.”
“I am perfectly fine.”
