Page 74 of Marrying the Billionaire Single Dad

"Yeah, well, forget I said that," I mumble.

"No, no, no, no." Isla taps into her phone, "I am absolutely gonna use it."

"Fine," I signal at the bartender for another drink, "just don’t attribute it to me."

"So," Karina turns to me once I have my grubby fingers around another filled-to-the-brim shot glass, "you want to know about Damian Savage."

"Yeah."

"You know I can’t break client privilege."

"So why are you here?" I snap.

"Hey, hey." Isla waves her hand between us. "Be nice, Julia. You know Karina didn’t have to be here at all, considering she takes care of the security for all of the Seven, and she has a vested interest, considering her prior relationship with Arpad."

Karina’s fingers tighten around her glass and some of the water spills over the side. "I have had prior dealings with Mr. Beauchamp."

"Ooh, it’s Mr. Beauchamp, is it?" I lean forward in my seat, taking in the tightness at the corners of Karina’s lips. Apparently, Ms. Hoity Toity successful business woman here has a soft spot, or is it an Arpad-shaped spot, in her life.

"Asshole," she snaps, then drains her sparkling water like it was champagne.

"Want something stronger?"

"I don’t drink," she retorts.

"Fine," I sniff. "Don’t take your frustrations out on me, girlfriend. You didn’t have to come. You know you could have simply said that you wouldn’t help me."

"But I want to," she draws in a breath, "help you." She reaches for a napkin from her designer purse—Jesus how much did that cost, huh? No wait, I can afford that now that I have money in the bank. So what, if I sold my body to line my bank account? And shit… I don’t like the sound of that. Not at all.

I slump into my chair. "Thanks," I mumble. "I didn’t know who to turn to, and with my best friend now married… Well," I glance between the two women. "Apparently, and despite my having grown up in this city, it’s the two of you I know best, at this stage in my life."

My lower lip trembles and pressure builds behind my eyes. No, no, no I am not going to bawl! Nope. I sniffle, reach for my shot glass, which is empty. "Crap." I signal toward the bartender.

"Go slow, babe," Isla cautions. "We’re here for you."

Karina watches me from under hooded eyelids.

"I don’t care what you think of me," I burst out at her. "Clearly, you have your shit together and I don’t. Well, some of us are late starters, and hell, what the hell is wrong with me, yelling at you, huh?"

I reach for the paper napkin, and Karina grips my hand. "It’s okay," she says.

I glance up at her.

"I’ve been there." She holds my gaze.

"You have?"

"Of course, babe, so have I," Isla offers. "I mean, it’s definitely not easy when your friends get married one after the other, and you’re left bringing up the rear…"

"Literally," I scoff under my breath.

"I don’t understand." Isla squints at me.

"It's… nothing." Definitely need that drink now.

Karina folds her arms in her lap.

I signal to the bartender, who tops up my shot glass.