Page 34 of Lavish

“Don’t tell me you and Mommy Dearest are on good terms now? You showing her all the tricks I taught you?”

The truth was, she lived in every sharp line I drew, every choice I made to finally get Mama’s attention. Every time I cut someone off at the knees in a boardroom, it was her voice in my head whispering,Faster next time, sugar.

That version of me—the one Mama finally approved of—was Jenese’s blueprint.

I frowned, gathering my bag to stand. “Goodbye.”

“Don’t rush out of this conversation, Serena.We got shit to discuss. I like the new confidence, but pipe down.”

Confidence.

I was twenty-three. Miles was gone. Laurene’s engagement party had ended in disaster, and Mama and Daddy were scrambling to get things in order. The whole town was freaking out over Conrad Ashbourne’s accident, then Lu’s disappearance.

I think Mama threw King Developments at me just to get me out her face.

I was so hyped, but clueless. Then I met Jenese.

I couldn’t make Mama see me beyond her backup plan. Jenese knew all the ways women like us were dismissed.She promised to teach me a different approach. She gave me shortcuts. Secrets. Power.

She taught me how to carry myself. How to command attention. She gave me armor.

And then I walked from her before she could pin our last disagreement on me. And we never spoke again.

Until now.

“Didn’t you just spend sixty million dollars on a property? That’s more money than I recall you having six years ago.” Jenese tapped her chin.

“And?”

“I did my homework. It’s a good property. So fascinating. Old money. Pool. I bet the walk-in closet is amazing.”

I stared at her.

“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m saying.” She leaned in, her voice low and smooth. “You owe me. I think this is a good makeup for what happened between us before.”

“You mean the time you tried to sell me to a married man in exchange for shares in a company?” I was still angry. I felt so stupid walking into that meeting, only to realize I was just a pawn.

Her lashes fluttered. “Don’t be dramatic.”

“I said no then, and I’m saying no now.”

“Oh, honey.” Jenese tsked like I was a child. “I don’t like to hear that answer.”

She slipped her phone from her clutch and slid it across the table. A photo glowed on the screen.

Me, six years younger. In a black dress I hadn’t worn since. Sitting too close to anoldman who wasn’t my type.

“Where did you get this?” I asked, though I already knew.

“Oh, sugar,” she said, voice like satin over a knife. “If I send this to the right people with just a hint of context, you might just have a scandal on your hands.”

My nails dug into my palm, sharp enough to draw blood, but I didn’t let her see me flinch.

“You need more convincing? Fine.” Jenese sniffed, and she sat up in her seat. I noticed the concealer not quite covering the puff beneath her eyes. The faint stiffness in the way she held her jaw.

“I’m writing a tell-all book. And guess what? You’re my main character.”

My heart stopped. “What?”