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Behind them, her bodyguards remained stoic. They were already used to their mistress’ bouts of insanity. Past immigration and on their way to the hangar, Mairi caught sight of a familiar face, and her laughter died.
Déjà vu again,she thought. Over a year ago, she’d had a confrontation with the woman heading her way, also in this very airport.
Jane stopped laughing as well. “Mrs. L?” she asked worriedly. Following her employer’s gaze, she saw a sophisticated-looking blonde heading their way.
Oh.Jane recognized the other girl right away. It was Alina Kokinos, the former fiancé of Damen Leventis.
A moment later, and the blonde stopped walking as well, having seen who was in front of her. Pain flashed in her eyes as her gaze found the infant.
The last time Mairi had seen the other girl, Alina had been with Damen. Then, she had let her doubts get the better of her. Then, she hadn’t yet believed in Damen’s love for her.
Never again,she swore to herself, squaring her shoulders.
Tightening her hold on Nala, she resumed walking. She was determined not to give the other girl the time of the day. She didn’t want to have anything to do with Alina, period. And she wouldn’t have, if not for Alina speaking the moment Mairi walked past her.
“My therapist told me I should be okay with how things are.” The moment Alina spoke, the entire area fell silent. It was clear everyone wanted to listen in.
Mairi forced herself to keep walking.
Hatred filled Alina’s heart at the way Mairi looked so damn dignified. It wasn’t fair the other woman had everything she wanted, everything that was supposed to be hers because Damen had been hers first, too.
“She told me there was nothing for me to be jealous about because the whole time, Damen had always treated me with respect while you were and will always be a slut to him.” She lifted her chin. “And even if you have a baby, it doesn’t change a thing. You’re still a gold-digging slut, and sooner or later he’ll realize his mistake and come back to me.”
Mairi slowed down.
“Mrs. L?” Jane didn’t like the look on her employer’s face. It wasn’t sad, wasn’t angry, but it was still...terrifying.
“Could you take Nala from me for a moment?” Mairi asked calmly.
Jane reluctantly took the baby and the carrier from her employer. “Are you sure about this, Mrs. L.?”
“It’s a long time coming,” was the cryptic reply.
Oh man, Jane thought. This was going to be really bad.
Alina kept her back straight and chin up as she watched Mairi head her way. She hated the frisson of apprehension that ran down her spine, but even so she couldn’t stop it.
“Hello, Alina,” Mairi said politely as she stood in front of herformerrival. Although, looking at the other girl, the qualification was something Alina would still likely have trouble accepting.
Alina slowly looked at Mairi from head to toe, her lips compressing as she took note of the expensive but understated jewelry gracing the other woman’s ears and throat and the equally tasteful frock Mairi had on.
“You know what my therapist also told me?” Her lip curled. “Fine feathers don’t make fine birds.” She was hoping to rattle the other woman into making a scene, but instead she received a smile that left her nonplussed.
“I’m just glad, you know.”
“About what?” Alina asked sharply.
“That your therapist hasn’t told you to jump off the nearest bridge yet,” Mairi said with pseudo sincerity. “Because then you’d be dead in a heartbeat.”
Behind her, Mairi heard one of her bodyguards snickering. It was Chucky, for sure. It was always Chucky who was quick to laugh. The sound was abruptly cut off, but by then it was too late, their audience coughing as they did their best to muffle their own laughter.
Alina’s face flushed with anger. “You’re socrass!No wonder Damen treats you like—-”
“Like what?” Mairi demanded, losing her temper. She just had it. She just really about had it with this girl. “Like a woman he’s obsessed with? Becauseyes,” she said feelingly. “That’s exactly how he is with me. If a slut is what you call someone who can’t help wanting her husband, anytime anyway he wants then yeah, I’m a slut, and happily so because you know what? Ilovehow he can’t get enough of me, and he willneverget enough of me. No matter what you do, no matter if you walk in front of him with your cup negative-AAA breasts bared naked—-”
The slur had Alina screaming, but this time, Chucky had also lost it. Together with the rest of her bodyguards, everyone had burst out laughing.
But Mairi wasn’t finished. “—-and shake your hips like Taylor Swift, my husband WON’T ever want you the way he wants me!”