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“Why?” I snap. It’s what I want to know most. “Why did you post that? I’ve never done anything to you.”
I’m not sure what I expected. A denial mostly, possibly an apology or a claim that she didn’t know it would go viral.
Instead, a bitter grin tilts her lips. “You probably believe that, too.” She shakes her head and mumbles, “Never did anything to me.” Her eyes blaze with anger when she looks at me. “Where’s Oliver tonight? Not leading him around on your little leash?”
“What the hell are you talking about? Why do you even care? You two have been apart for almost two years.”
The manager who called her for us sticks his head through the door to talk to her, but she barely glances at him. “I’m on break, John.”
He leaves and she turns to me with a sneer. “Do you have any idea how much I despise you? Even the sound of your name pisses me off. All the times I had to hear it from Oliver’s mouth. ‘Ella does this,’ or ‘Ella said that. You should dress more conservatively. Ella doesn’t have to show off her tits.’”
I’m frozen in place, stunned by what she’s saying.
She juts her finger at me and it’s a good thing there are tables between us. “You’re the reason he couldn’t love me. I tried. I did. I tried to be what Oliver wanted. I even tried to make him jealous once.” A quick, cruel smile accompanies her words. “I grabbed Alden and kissed him right in front of Oliver. I bet Alden never told you about the kiss, did he?” She doesn’t give me any time to reply before continuing. “I didn’t think so. But do you know what Oliver did then?”
Her eyes shine with unshed tears, and she swallows. “He laughed. They both did. He didn’t care because I wasn’t you. When you and Alden got engaged, I thought maybe that would do it, maybe Oliver would see that your choice was final. But Alden wasn’t enough, was he? You had to have both of them under your thumb.”
I’m doing my best to absorb what she’s telling me through the anger and alcohol. “You told the world that Oliver and I conspired to kill his brother because you wanted revenge on me for some shit that I didn’t even know about? Do you have any idea what he’s been through this year?”
Her arms fold over her chest. “Well, good thing he had you to swoop in and take over his life…and his bed.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Really? Are you going to stand there and tell me you haven’t fucked him?” The truth must be written on my face because she laughs. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Maybe you shouldn’t be such a slut.”
My heart beats in my ears. Deep breaths help me keep my composure and weigh my words. “Do you want to know what I think? I think Oliver saw through you. Alden and I both thought you were good for him, but he knew better. He saw the person you are under your fake smile bullshit. Aldenis dead. Oliver is injured to the point he may never be the same and he’s facing prison. You knew what you were doing when you posted that. You knew it wouldn’t only hurt me and my business.” I nod, scoffing. “Yeah, Oliver had your number, bitch. He knew you were trash. Because only the lowest human being would try to make this situation worse over petty ass jealousy. You’re pathetic.”
She shrugs, and I want to knock the smug look off her face. “You wanted Oliver. You got him. At least until he goes to prison. Guess we all lose.”
My self-control snaps, and I lunge in her direction. How dare she take it so lightly? How dare she blatantly ruin our lives then shrug it off?
Two strong arms wrap around me and pull me back. Paul’s deep voice echoes through the empty dining room. “I sympathize. But beat her ass another time. You don’t need a violent news story about you going viral now. It won’t help Oliver either.”
“Hey! You all need to leave right now,” the manager orders, striding into the room. “I don’t want any trouble in here.”
“We’re going,” Paul assures him. “We were just trying to get our money back. Watch your registers. She’s a thief.”
The outrage on Breanna’s face is amazing. “I don’t! I’ve never…”
Tori grabs my wrist and I let her pull me away. She looks back at Breanna as we’re leaving the dining room “Your poetry sucks and your shoes are fucking ugly. Jealous, no talent bitch.”
We exit onto the street and my rant comes out in a puff of steam through the cold. “That bitch, acting all moral like I didn’t watch her put her pussy on view to skinny dip when we were teenagers. There probably wasn’t anyone in our high school that didn’t see her naked.” Tori snorts out a laugh while I turn to Paul. “You told her boss she was a thief.”
His smile is serene. “It seemed prudent since she’s trying to cost you your job.”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about Paul with Tori in the beginning. My first impression of him was that he was kind of boring, but that’s not true. He’s quiet and introspective, but he can be funny. And apparently, he can misbehave if given a good reason. His calmness and her excitable energy work together. He’s good for her.
I wish I knew what was good for me.
CHAPTER5
Things only get worse as the week goes on. I try to carry on like normal, hoping to wait it out until people move on to some new scandal but the public interest only grows. There’s a tsunami of appointment cancellations and many more who don’t show up. My business phone goes from ringing constantly for appointment requests to lighting up with calls from people who want to tell me what a piece of shit I am.
When I show up to open my studio on Thursday morning, a group of about twenty women are gathered out front. This can’t be good.
I pull around back to park and let myself inside. They spot me through the front window and signs are hoisted into the air.
Boycott Ella’s.
