One of Us Is Dead(30)

Jenny nodded.

“Shannon, I asked you a question,” I said, swirling my mimosa.

She shot daggers at me. “I’ve got some things I need to take care of now, thanks to a recent betrayal.” Her eyes flickered at Karen.

Jenny and Keisha exchanged worried glances. Usually I never noticed those two, but I knew I needed to be observant of everyone if I intended to gain power over this group of women. Shannon’s reign was over. All hail Queen Olivia.

“Shannon, if you have something to say, just say it,” Karen said.

“Is someone talking?” Shannon held her hand to her ear. “Sounds like an ex, backstabbing friend.”

Karen rolled her eyes and took a sip of her champagne.

“Listen, Shannon,” Crystal turned her body toward her. “I want to apologize for Bryce’s behavior last night. I’m truly appalled by it, and I, too, am upset with him. You planned a wonderful gala, and people are only going to remember how incredible your event was.” Crystal smiled.

Shannon nodded slightly but then raised her chin. “There’s no need to apologize for Bryce. He and I are having dinner tonight to discuss what happened between us.”

Crystal leaned back. “Oh, I didn’t realize he had arranged that.” She took a gulp of her mimosa, finishing the rest of it.

“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Karen asked.

Shannon grabbed a few grapes and popped them in her mouth. “Not sure who’s talking, but yes.”

This exchange between Shannon and Karen reminded me of how Shannon used to treat me when I first arrived in Buckhead. At first she pretended like I didn’t exist, and then she bullied and ridiculed me. It was nice to see it happening to someone else for a change.

“It’s inappropriate to go out to dinner with another woman’s husband, Shannon,” I said, knowing full well that I, the pot, had just met the kettle.

“He was my husband first,” Shannon shouted. She took a deep breath and pretended to straighten her jewelry.

“So, which outfit did you guys like most?” Keisha asked, holding up her copy of Vogue and trying desperately to change the subject. She was being the peacekeeper since Jenny surely couldn’t handle it now.

“Page fifty-three,” I said, throwing poor Keisha a bone. She quickly flipped through the pages.

“I don’t mind that you and Bryce are going out to dinner. We’re happily married,” Crystal said meekly.

Keisha took a swig straight from the champagne bottle. Karen bounced her foot faster. Jenny took the magazine from Keisha and flipped through it with so much vigor, she was ripping every other page. I was at the edge of my seat. The only thing that would make this more perfect was a small bag of SkinnyPop popcorn.

“so. were. we,” Shannon said in the most dramatic way possible.

Crystal’s eyes tightened, and I thought for sure she was going to jump down Shannon’s throat, but instead, tears came slithering out the corners. How pathetic.

“Shannon, come on!” Karen shook her head.

“What? Did you all forget? She stole my husband.” Shannon threw her hands up.

“No, she didn’t. One in two marriages end in divorce, Shannon. It’s not that big of a deal,” I said calmly.

“Oh, eat it, Olivia.” Shannon waved a hand at me dismissively.

I dropped my mouth open, acting as though I was appalled by her words, but really, I was rather enjoying myself. I thought I’d have to do so much more to get Shannon out of our group, but here she was, committing social suicide.

“I think you should leave,” Karen said.

“Crystal, you should leave.” Shannon smiled.

“No, you, Shannon.” Karen raised her chin.

Shannon whipped her head in Karen’s direction. She scowled at her and stood up from her seat with force. “Fine. I don’t want to be here anyway, especially around a fake friend like you, Karen.” She looked at each of us. “Vogue isn’t even a book, Olivia, you half-wit. And Crystal, I’ll tell my husband his whore said hi.”

Shannon turned on her foot but stopped and looked back at Jenny. “I’m so sorry. I’ll call to check on you later.” She gave a sympathetic look and then turned back and stormed out.

We all took intermittent sips of our drinks and glanced at one another.

Keisha refilled her glass. “Well, that was interesting.”

“Can we revoke her membership now?” I raised an eyebrow.

“No, she’s just having a hard time,” Jenny said.

“Yeah, she was doing so well. I guess the mixture of what Bryce did and losing the chairwoman position just made her freak out.” Karen glared at me and shook her head.

“I feel bad for her.” Crystal wiped her eyes with a napkin and took a bite of her cheesy stuffed croissant.

Karen bounced her foot. “We all do.”

I nodded along, my body doing the opposite of what my mind was thinking.





22

Shannon


“Right this way,” the hostess said as she escorted me to a corner table set for two. She pulled out my chair and told me she’d send the server over when my other guest arrived. “I’ll have a bottle of Dom Pérignon right away,” I said. She nodded.

I was dressed in my tightest designer dress and my highest heels, waiting eagerly for Bryce to arrive. I had asked him to dinner so we could discuss what happened and how we’d move forward (as a couple). He had agreed; however, he was unaware of my true intentions. Sure, Bryce had embarrassed me in front of the whole town, but I backed him into a corner, and he couldn’t just outright declare his love for me. He had his career to think about. Now that we’d be alone, he could disclose his true feelings like he did just before the mishap onstage. I knew I sounded delusional, but this was how it had always been with Bryce. I had to convince him to love me the first time, all those years ago, and I knew I’d have to do it again. He was the type of man that made decisions with both his heads. The heart never played a part. Bryce was like an ice sculpture, cold and inflexible, so I just had to chip away at him carefully. Either he’d be sculpted into the man that once loved me, or he’d be destroyed in the process.