Vain (The Seven Deadly 1)

“Oh no, no, no. Not here,” I told him, sitting rigidly. My fingers worried my lips, desperate to leave.

“Why not?” he asked, puzzled.

“I’m not prepared to see anyone we know here.”

“Shit,” he said suddenly.

Sav knocked on my window, startling me. I turned Spencer’s direction and gave him the dirtiest look. Sorry, he mouthed.

I got out and she eyed me with obvious disdain at my appearance. “Sophie?” she asked, obnoxiously raising her sunglasses as if that would change what I’d worn. A snicker left her lips before she checked herself. “Um, how are you?” she asked, letting her glasses fall back down on her plastic nose.

“I’m all right. How are you?” I asked.

“I’ve never been better,” she said, not disguising the obvious pleasure she got out of seeing her mighty queen fall so hard. Little did she know how much I could care less what she or any of the others thought of me. I just didn’t want to be kicked while I was already down.

Savannah led us into the restaurant and Spencer fell in beside me. “If I had any idea, I never would have done this, Sophie.”

I wrapped my arm within his to reassure him. “It’s okay, Spencer. I’ll survive,” I told him, offering a smile.

His eyes blew wide for a moment before he checked them. “I’m still very sorry.”

I squeezed his arm to reassure him it was okay.

We sat at two tables pushed together. Two by two they all came flitting in, dramatically announcing themselves with flourish by flaunting their ridiculous material. Everywhere I looked, an Hermès scarf, a Fendi bag, a Patek Phillipe watch would flash in my face. Before, all I could think of when I saw these things was that I wanted or needed to have them as well but after Masego? All I could think of was if I pawned these items, I could buy them food for a year, purchase a new generator or even a new building.

“I can’t tell him. Not now, Pemmy. News that his mother did this would send him over the edge!”

“He’s going to know you’re gone, love.”

“I know. I think I’ll try slipping out with you tonight when your plane arrives.” I’m a coward.

“You won’t even entertain the idea of letting him know his mother did this?”

And risk her cutting him off too? Never!

“No, I can’t, it would kill him, Pembrook.”

“So you’ll let him believe you betrayed him? Is that really a better fate?”

I nodded, sure revealing the blackmail tactic would only hurt. “Betrayed by someone he’s barely known six months or his mother?” Not to mention her little threat.

“But why be the fall guy? Why allow her to escape this intact?” he asked, suspicious.

“Because I love him, more than you could possibly imagine,” I confessed truthfully. Let him take that however he wishes.

Pembrook smiled at me but his expression was sad. “How unselfish,” he told me, wrapping me in a hug. “Who would have thought such an unselfish act would, in turn, cause you so much pain?”

“Not me,” I confessed candidly.

Pembrook left my CHU and I looked around me, certain I didn’t need to take back a single thing. I discreetly gave away all my things, leaving Mandisa my comforter. I would return home with only a single pair of jeans, shirt, boots and toothbrush.

Which is why Ian hadn’t thought it anything weird when we went to say goodbye to Pembrook together.

“Are you coming?” Ian asked as he passed by my CHU.

I nodded, a queasy feeling residing in the pit of my belly.

I followed closely, listening to him fill Pembrook in on whatever they would need soon. Pemmy dutifully dictated it all on his pad. I had no doubt Pembrook wouldn’t hesitate in accommodating them. I would ensure it was my money that paid for it all though.