by Becca Taylor
“Abby.”
“Oh, well that’s nothing new she wants to kill someone on a regular basis doesn't she?”
“Yes she does, but this time she has good reason to.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I went out last night, to the fundraising gala at the Museum.”
“Great, did you see any cute guys?”
“I didn't go to see guys; I went to see the head of the museum in the hopes of catering some events for them.”
“That would be awesome, how did it go?” Chloe hopped on one of the white stools next to me and grinned, looking like a little sister hoping to hear juicy details of her big sisters dates.
“It didn’t, I got close enough to talk to her but she wouldn’t talk about using us to cater once she realized I was the boss, and not someone older with more maturity she said.”
“That’s bullshit…” Chloe whispered into her hand, not wanting to offend any regular customers. “Our bakery makes awesome sweets, they’re missing out.”
“I tried to explain to her that we’re a progressive bakery that makes classic and original sweets and confections, desserts that would be elegant enough for her clientele. That regardless of the fact that I'm only twenty six, I have enough experience and skill to handle the account”
“And…”
“She was too worried about her dress, makeup and one man she couldn't seem to find but was very eager to see. Some rich guy, who was a major contributor to the museum and from the way she talked single and hot.”
“So you left?”
“No, I went to the bar and had a glass of champagne, and met a very charming man, who kept calling me Holly.”
“Why?”
“I wore the Audrey dress my mother had made, her pearls and that’s when I messed up. Abby had a package delivered to the bakery since she was out of the country and needed me to do her a favor...”
“Imagine that.”
“Yeah, so I opened the box and peeked inside and they were beautiful and I borrowed them. They were the most beautiful silver shoes, in a sharks tooth pattern with bright red soles and killer heels.”
Chloe gasped and put her hand over her mouth, recognizing the designer of the iconic shoes.
“You mean you borrowed her Lou…”
“Yes, those and the matching purse.”
“Omg she is going to kill you, those are expensive shoes.”
“They can’t be that much can they?”
A few taps later and she had pulled the shoes up on her smart phone, and showed me the price. I felt faint, and dropped my head onto the table in front of me with a thud.
“There over three thousand dollar shoes, holy shit who spends that on shoes?”
“You’re evil sister.”
“Step sister! And she was your sister first Chloe, remember that.” I yelled through my hair, she was not my sister by birth. We had nothing in common but the fact that her money hunting mother clamped onto my father before he died, and claimed all his as her own. Well except for me.
My mother had passed away when I was thirteen; we had been shocked when we heard her breast cancer diagnosis. And heartbroken when she died a short six months later, leaving my father and I lonely and lost. My father had made his money running a business with his best friend, a very successful sports equipment franchise that grew every year. A year after her death he met my stepmother, Millicent who seemed sweet loving and had two daughters. I was excited to have sisters, growing up an only child had been lonely for me but I got used to the fact that I would be my mother’s only child.
I loved being a sister, especially with Chloe who was more like me. With her long blonde hair, pale complexion and contagious laugh we could have been biological sisters. We were together most days, giggling and getting into trouble, she was the younger sister I’d always wanted
Her sister Abigail never warmed up to me like she had, and seemed to wish I hadn’t been around. My father never made a difference between us, and treated my step-sisters like they were his own. I couldn't say the same for Millicent; she treated me well enough, although when my father was away on business she looked at me like I was a bug ruining her picnic.
The business grew, and the money came in more than ever. Millicent was very happy, and encouraged his business trips more and more to open new franchise locations. Business was good, but I missed my father. The stress started to get to him, and he signed more power over to his partner so he could be with us more much to Millicent’s disappointment. She spent money like crazy, not caring how hard he worked for it.
She pushed him to take one last business trip to sign new partners and make the company even larger, a trip he came home from in a box. He’d argued with his partner on the trip who’d sold most of his stock to another company, and they were taking over and kicking him out. I talked to my father the night he died and he told me he loved him, and had promised to take me to a baseball game when he came home.
He died that night in his sleep. My life was turned upside down, and it would never be the same again.
“Step sister, whatever. Don't forget the fifteen hundred dollar bag too.” Chloe rubbed a hand on my shoulder, and patted as she tried to calm me.
“Oh my god, almost five thousand dollars worth of Abby’s accessories that I don’t have and that I'm praying are in one piece.”
“What do you mean you don't have them anymore?”
“I left them in the back of a limo with Armani.”
“Who’s Armani? Was he cute, and why were you in a limo with him. Did he steal the shoes, a limo was he rich.”
“One at a time Chloe, slow down. I don’t know who he is, just that he was cute and a really good kisser. “
“Good kisser? What?”
“You would have kissed those full lips too Chloe, especially looking into eyes that go from brown to molten pools of chocolate when he’s aroused. I left with him in the limo; don't remember where we were going. But I do remember taking those shoes off in the back of the limo, about the time I passed out.”
“What were you doing when you passed out?”
“Straddling his lap.”
I looked at Chloe, it was the first time I’d seen her speechless. It was as if she was struck mute, either that or she was having a small stroke.