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A bewildering and befuddling description for a pigment Ali knew well.

“What are you talking about?”

Charlotte’s free hand came up to trace a line across Ali’s brow before swooping down and across her cheek.

Ali spluttered, struggling to find words, cheeks heating all over again.

This woman!

“Oh—my god, are you—You’re talking about my eyes?”

Charlotte nodded, tongue darting out to sweep across painted lips, half a breath away from laughing.

Ali fanned super heated cheeks.

“Smooth. Very smooth.”

Looking rather pleased with herself, Charlotte teased, “You’re adorable when you’re all flustered.”

“Don’t you dare! You’ll make it worse,” Ali cried, burying her face in her hands, grumbling into them. “There’s nothing adorable about turning into a tomato.”

Charlotte laughed then, a bright and clear sound. Like music. She tugged Ali’s hands away from her face, lacing both their hands together. “But it’s so entertaining for me.”

But, of course, the playful moment was shattered when a sultry voice called out. “Charlotte, my dear.”

Ali bristled not appreciating the implied ownership in Victoria’s greeting.

“Victoria. How are you?” Charlotte responded, no sign of nerves.

She stood tall, like a regal goddess, face set in a mask of genteel etiquette. She dropped Ali’s hands. Arms snapping back to her sides, fingers curling in on themselves until they were balled tight.

“Wonderful, now that you’re here.” Victoria stepped closer, her voice was lined in a gentleness that could set anyone at ease, convince them to do or believe anything.

Her hand slid over Charlotte’s upper arm and curled around it. The snapping rigidity in Charlotte’s skeleton paired with muscles pulled taut like bow strings was instant.

Briefly, Ali wondered if she developed powers of invisibility as Victoria ignored Ali altogether, despite their shared proximity.

Jade green slithered over Charlotte’s form. “You look sensational as always.”

Ali frowned, taking a moment to assess. The expensive suit she wore… Well, Charlotte would have worn it better. But, she did look good. There was no way to deny her attractive features. Nice face… Fine. A very nice face. She must be around Sasha’s age, maybe eight or so years older than Charlotte, though her clear skin barely showed it.

“Thank you,” Charlotte replied, offering nothing else, giving a stellar impression of a woman made of stone.

“How are you? I’ve missed⁠—”

Oh, hell no!

Ali stepped into Charlotte, wedging herself partially between them, forcing Victoria to take half a step back and release Charlotte, cutting off her next words as Ali demanded to be acknowledged.

Victoria’s gaze—warm and a touch greedy when looking at Charlotte—went cold at the sight of Ali. “Who is this?”

Ali felt her spine straighten as something protective and stubborn filled her chest. Because she didn’t need more than ten seconds to know with bone deep certainty that Victoria was one of the worst kinds of women there was.

She flashed Victoria a sunny and unbothered smile as she extended her hand.

“I’m Ali,” she said, her voice easy though her eyes never wavered as she proudly proclaimed the words that weren’t technically true. “Charlotte’s girlfriend.”

And sure it wasn’t true in the implied context. But from the first time she witnessed the cold greed in Victoria’s eyes, Ali was in this. She was going to sell this charade or die trying, because ten seconds was all it took for Ali to know she fucking hated this bitch.