One of Us Is Dead(50)

41

Olivia


I waltzed into the dining room wearing a tight-fitting red dress and a face of resolve. I was adorned in diamonds around my neck, wrists, and fingers. My hair was flawlessly blown out, and thanks to Jenny’s skillful makeup application, there was no sign of yesterday’s mishap on my face. I had to ensure everything was perfectly in place. The white silk tablecloth sat beneath the gold-trimmed chinaware. Several bottles of red wine were set out on the oversized mahogany table. Crystal and Bryce would be here any moment, and I was determined to have tonight go well. Crystal and I had gotten off to a rocky start, and I could tell she was apprehensive about me, always so shifty and uneasy. Tonight, I would fix that. Power couples had to stick together.

I really didn’t need any more added drama. It causes wrinkles, and my Botox sessions were becoming more and more frequent. Crystal agitated me though. I wasn’t sure why. A therapist would have to figure that one out. There was no reason for me to dislike her. With Shannon on her way out of our group, whether she liked it or not, Crystal would take her place. There was power in numbers, so I couldn’t just kick people out without replacing them. Crystal was a replacement—for Bryce and for my circle of influence.

The doorbell rang. I was about to call for the help to answer the door but decided it would be more personable to answer myself. I took a deep breath and twisted the corners of my lips into a welcoming smile. It was forced, but it was inviting.

I threw open the large arched door, revealing Crystal and Bryce on the other side. A soft-pink dress enveloped Crystal, while Bryce wore his usual campaign suit: fitted navy with a red power tie. Bryce gleamed his trademark wide toothy grin. Crystal smiled awkwardly, her lips quivering in every direction, trying to find the right curve they should be in when greeting someone. She handed over a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Dom would have been a more suitable choice.

“Thank you. Come in, come in.” I threw my arms around each of them. “Dean, they’re here,” I called over my shoulder as they crossed the threshold.

“Thanks for having us,” Crystal said.

“No, thank you for coming. We’re so glad to finally have you both over for dinner.”

“Glad you two could make it.” Dean trotted down the spiral staircase. He was dressed in black slacks and a white button-down—not as formal as Bryce, but Dean was never all that formal. Dean gave Crystal a hug and shook Bryce’s hand, and then guided them into the living room for drinks, pointing out the thirty-foot ceilings and superb architecture of the house along the way.

“Crystal and I are looking forward to our housewarming party. We’re excited to show you all the addition we put on as well as Crystal’s eye for design. Right, sweetheart?” Bryce wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into the crook of his shoulder.

“Right,” she said.

I clasped my hands together as they each took a seat on an oversized couch. “An eye for design,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you were a designer, Crystal. Very surprising. I did all the interior design for this house. What do you think?”

She swallowed hard. Dean handed out crystal champagne glasses. Crystal took a drink from hers before answering. “I didn’t study interior design or anything. Bryce is just really proud, and your place looks . . . expensive,” she said, taking another drink.

“Thank you.” I gave a delightful smile. “It was just what I was going for. I wanted guests to feel like it was a rare treat to be in our home.”

“A toast,” Dean proclaimed, holding his drink out. We all followed suit, raising our glasses. “To good friends, new beginnings, and long lives.”

Our heads nodded and our glasses clinked, and we drank to that.

“Did we mention our housewarming party is a costume party?” Bryce took another sip of his champagne.

“No, and I already bought a dress, a very expensive dress,” I said with a huff of annoyance.

“Save it for another occasion.” Dean walked to me and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me in tightly, almost a little too tightly.

“I’m sure you could still wear the dress. Costumes are optional,” Crystal spoke up.

“Nonsense. They’re required. With it being the weekend after Halloween, we figured it’d be perfect,” Bryce campaigned.

“Yeah, babe. It’ll be fun. There’s nothing better than pretending to be someone else,” Dean said.

“Except when you’re me. Then being anyone else is a downgrade.” Bryce howled with laughter.

Dean laughed harder, and I let out a cackle. Crystal did one of those closed-mouth laughs—the one that’s forced for politeness. She clearly didn’t appreciate his sense of arrogant humor. I rather liked when people knew their place in society. Bryce was at the top and he knew it. Shannon, on the other hand, had no self-awareness. She was an ex-wife, a has-been, a “whatever happened to?” And she had wronged me. No one gets away with that.

I would never be like her and that is why she needed to be severed from this group—like a lizard caught by its tail. The only way the lizard survives is if it sheds the tail. Shannon was the tail, useless and unnecessary. And if she wouldn’t sever it herself, I would, because I knew she would only bring the rest of us down. But enough about Shannon. This night wasn’t about pushing Shannon farther away. It was about bringing Crystal closer.