Chapter 11: The Truth Comes Out
Cassandra’s POV
Immediately, the room broke out into whispers and murmurs.
“A fake?” I heard people gasp.
Various expressions plagued the faces of the guests. Some were perplexed, some were shocked, some were skeptical, and then
there was Ellie.
She was smug.
She was smug as shit. And my blood boiled with her accusation.
However, I didn’t want to make any more of a scene. And I knew there was no point in arguing with her. So I calmly said:
“It’s not a fake. I assure you. In fact, I can prove it. May I?”
I reached for the suit jacket and pulled down the lip of the chest pocket. Everyone watched with wide eyes.
“See? Right here?” I asked, pointing to a small logo. It was a white orchid. “This is how I know it’s not a fake.”
“That doesn’t prove anything,” Ellie scoffed.
“Oh, but it does,” I smiled triumphantly at Ellie. “Each designer at Hot House Flowers has their own, unique logo. This one here is an orchid, as you can see. They sew their logos into discreet places on every piece of clothing they design. This separates the originals from the knock-offs and counterfeits.”
“Genius,” Stanley declared, taking the suit jacket back. “She’s right. Look.” He held out the jacket for people to see more
closely.”
“I’m sure you have one too, Ellie. Somewhere on your dress. Unless, of course, YOUR dress is fake,” I said in mocking politeness. “Come here. Let me check for you.”
“Nonsense,” Ellie spat out. “OF COURSE my dress is real. I have a logo too. In the um…under the bodice. I’m just surprised that
YOU know about this.”
Ellie was acting like she knew about the secret logos, but I knew she didn’t. Just as I knew her dress was a fake. But I didn’t want to call her out. Even though she’d tried to embarrass me. It just didn’t feel right to embarrass her back.
“I’m an assistant to one of the founders,” I said calmly. “That’s how I know. It’s my job to know these things.”
“You owe Cassandra an apology,” Stanley spoke up. “Accusing her of gifting me counterfeit designer clothing? You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
Ellie averted her eyes. Apologizing to me was the last thing she wanted to do and I knew it. But everyone was watching her. And how could she argue with Stanley? He was a powerful man. Intimidating.
Ellie looked desperately to Jordyn. But Jordyn only nodded back slightly. It was his way of saying she better do what was asked of
her.
So…she turned to me, with one hand on her hip. “It was an honest mistake,” Ellie said begrudgingly. Her tone was anything but apologetic. In fact, it was cold as ice. “I apologize, Cassandra. Really. I’m SO sorry. Clearly, the suit is not a fake.”
She glared at me maliciously.
Everyone waited with bated breath to see what I would do.
So I took the opportunity to change the subject. I didn’t want any more awkwardness or any more scenes. This night was about
で
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Stanley, and he deserved a nice celebration without all the drama.
“Think nothing of it,” I waved my hand dismissively. “These things happen.” Then I turned my attention back to Stanley.
“I must say, Stanley. I love the fedora. That’s a new look for you. Isn’t it?” I smiled.
He chuckled and reached up to touch his fedora.
“Just something I’m trying out,” he said. “I’ve decided to become a hat man in my old age.”
“Old?” I said. “Hardly. Besides, age is just a number.”
Everyone chuckled at that, relieved that the scene between me and Ellie had simmered down. Before long, everyone was back to chatting happily amongst themselves. The champagne was flowing. Appetizers made their rounds. And I talked animatedly to the members of the Smith family that I liked.
And ignored the rest.
It was delightful.
An hour later, though, and I was in the fifth circle of hell. Dinner had been called, and I was seated right next to Jordyn. I should have seen that coming. As far as everyone knew, he was still my husband.
But I couldn’t have been any more uncomfortable.
So….I smiled and chatted away with the people beside and across from me, pretending that everything was okay. I didn’t say a single word to Jordyn, though. Nor him to me. And by the main course, the fact that we weren’t speaking to each other was
obvious.
It caused tension at the table. The family kept looking at us while they pretended not to. I was on display and I hated every
minute of it.
I did my best to act as naturally as I could while my soon to be ex-husband sat next to me and the woman he cheated on me with sat right across from him. We were half-way through our beef Wellington, though, when Velma decided to launch a snide
comment my way. 1
“Such a shame,” she sighed. “I really thought we’d have a couple of grandkids running around the mansion by now. I wonder, Cassandra dear, if it’s not physical? Perhaps you should see a gynecologist? It seems to me you might be barren.”
What?
Velma’s comment was directed at me. She batted her eyelashes, smiling innocently at me.
Evil, evil woman! 1
Who says that?
Who tosses out an insult like that, in front of all these people, and then SMILES about it. It was a crass, vulgar thing to say. It made everyone stop, mid-chew. Barren? She was blaming me and my body for OUR lack of children?
The audacity!
“Velma,” Stanley snapped, horrified by her rude comment.
“Mother,” Jordyn said sternly. “Please do not discuss our personal matters. Especially not at the dinner table.”
I knew Jordyn was trying to diffuse the situation. He was trying to stop his mother before things got any worse.
But I’d had enough.
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“Well, Velma,” I said, dabbing my mouth politely and then placing my napkin down on the table. I fixed my eyes on hers. “I’m pleased to inform you that you won’t have to worry about me and my barren womb any longer. Jordyn and I are getting a divorce.”
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