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“Vivi Darvyn, I’dlike you to meet Shaw Bengala.” The two women nodded icily at one another. “Wewere hoping we could beg, borrow, or steal some of your precious time Vivi?”
That slight smilenever left Vivi’s lips, aware every person in the room was watching her everymove. Either wanting to get her attention to plead for a personal consult. Orjust to gather gossip so they could send it out into the internet ether.“Absolutely. Follow me.” Vivi snagged the attention of a nearby concierge. “Ifanyone needs me, I’ll be stockroom D, with my nephew and his friend.” Turning decisivelyon those staggeringly high heels, Vivi sashayed back through the awed crowd whoonce more naturally parted to make way for her.
If Shaw thoughtthe reception area was impressive then the emporium itself was a tsunami ofluxury, plushness and bling. Yet somehow still managed to be tasteful. Thewalls were lined with gowns upon gowns upon gowns. The muted lighting makingeach and every one look like a dreamy confection of sparkles or lace.
Areas weresectioned off for individual appointments. The relatives, wedding party andfriends seated on comfortable cream sofas, waiting for their bride-to-be toappear from the nearest change room and stand on their own private raised smalldais before them, so they could oohh, aaah and critique each offering.
Shaw was flat outhorrified, and she had seen a lot of peoples’ insides on the outside.
But this set upwas on a whole different scary and incomprehensible level of misery that shejust could not comprehend. Beside her Kaleb stumbled a little, Shaw automaticallycatching him by the arm. “You okay?” His pupils slightly dilated, breathingragged. Heavens, what was wrong with him?
“Sorry.” Vivi glancedback. “I forgot the Banks/McCleigh party would be in today.” Vivi waved acasual greeting to a large group off to their left. So many women inattendance, extra seating had been brought in specially to seat them all.Whilst two female security guards lingered at the rear section of the roomdiscreetly. “Fourteen bridesmaids. Six of them are half siblings by threeseparate stepmothers, and all the stepmothers are here. Even I have to keep mydistance. I mean there’s conflict, and then there’s bordering on a riot.”
Kaleb appeared tohave recovered his senses by the time they reached a door with large letteringon it designating it as Storeroom D. Shaw surprised to discover that this wasin fact Vivi’s office. A large desk taking up the main section. Three comfygreen armchairs across from it. Off to the side was a rack that had threedresses in various stages of development hanging on it. Beside it a mannequin,currently naked. Lastly was a large drawing easel, where a sketchbook restedshowcasing a blank page.
Vivi swept aroundthe desk but paused before sitting, her eyes critically studying Kaleb.Releasing an exasperated sigh, she pointed at a door behind the mannequin.“There are clothes in there we used for a magazine photoshoot in Bali lastmonth. I’m sure you can find something that fits better than that dreadfult-shirt at the very least.”
The rat bastardwasted no time in exiting. Barely pausing to give Shaw an encouraging wink,that she was pretty sure she was supposed to interpret as - you got this.Yeah, right, because she was so good at dealing with Demons and their hurtfeelings… not.
Vivi eased herselfinto the large office chair behind the desk, proceeding to glare at Shaw as ifshe personally were responsible for all the woes of the world.
For the love ofFreyja. Taking a seat in one of the available comfy green armchairs, Shawwondered what she was supposed to say. What would Kaleb do in a situation likethis? Probably blather on until he’d so discombobulated the other person theywould agree to anything. Yeah, so not her strong suit.
Pity she couldn’tplay to her strengths here, but Shaw was savvy enough not to immediatelybrowbeat Vivi, or place her in a chokehold to get her to agree to attend thebaby shower. What this moment called for was small talk. Something about theweather. Something innocuous. Crap, she was coming up blank. Oh, hold on.
“I met yourbrother the other day… Flagstaff. Funny dude, in his own quiet way.” The momentthe words left her mouth, Shaw knew she’d put her foot in it. As all the colourdrained away from Vivi Darvyn’s face.
“You’ve held aconversation with Flagstaff?” Vivi’s hand was visibly trembling as she yankedoff her glasses, throwing them down on the desk, dark eyes flashing,communicating clear disbelief.
“Well, I wouldn’tcall it a conversation. See, Kaleb took me to a group session at the hospital,where he ended up basically doing all the talking. Then these Gxthian assassinsgate crashed, things got interesting, Flagstaff stepped in to help, along witha few of the others, and he kind of, sort of… cracked a joke at the end. Ithink they enjoyed the dust up.”
“Really? ThankLucifer. Kaleb has been saying for a while now that Doctor Happy Harmony wasuseless with all her let’s hold hands and just get along rhetoric. That thosepoor boys just needed a little more confrontation in their lives… When I get myhands on her skinny neck, I’m going to wring it.”
“Kaleb threatenedDoctor Agl with all sorts of dire consequences if she didn’t hop on board hisideas for a new treatment plan.”
“Good.” Vivicollapsed back in her office chair. “Excellent. I’ll visit this weekend coming.Check in on things.”
“Speaking of thisweekend.” Shaw slid a war hatchet shaped baby shower invitation across thedesk. She hadn’t been totally on board with the pink edging that Kaleb hadinsisted upon. But had to admit it did make the calligraphy that looked likedripping blood pop. “Since you haven’t been taking any calls or responding toyour emails, I thought I’d personally extend an invite to Stephanie’s babyshower.”
Vivi eyed theinvitation like it was a flower arrangement made of plastic. “I’m afraid Ishall be unable to attend.”
Kaleb chose that momentto reappear, wearing a loose pale blue shirt barely buttoned that matched hiseyes, cream coloured trousers, and cream canvas boat shoes. “What did I miss?”Unsurprised to be the recipient of two scowls directed his way in response.
Although Vivi’sscowl smoothed out when she saw what he was wearing. “Much better. We can’thave our King running around in cast-offs and rags.”
In contrast Shaw’sscowl only deepened as she surveyed his new outfit, opening her mouth beforeabruptly slamming it shut.
Hah, Kaleb wasbeyond pleased he’d gone with the pale blue shirt. He’d studied the sparseworks of art on Shaw’s living room walls this morning closely. They were goodquality abstracts, more telling, they were primarily in shades of blue. Theonly colour Shaw allowed to interrupt her cream and tan decorating palate.
Dropping into anarmchair next to Shaw he noticed the baby shower invitation sitting on thedesk. “Is there a problem? I double-checked the date with Brand. He said you’dbe free.”
“My meld mate doesn’tknow anything about my social calendar. I’m afraid I can’t attend due to priorcommitments.”
“Oh, that’s apity.” Kaleb abruptly shot to his feet, turning to Shaw. “We had to make aneffort to ask. Come on. Lots to do.”
Slowly Shaw got toher feet. How was this strong-arming Galen’s mother into attending the shower?
“Remind me to ringJenna and cancel the second honour throne. And we’re going to have to rearrangeall the tribute speeches to just mention… what is Stephanie’s mother’s nameagain?”
