Page 40 of Sugar, Spice, and Magical Moonlight (Midlife Menace #2)
“Hello, darlings.” Flashing a dazzling smile, the Enchantress clutched her hands to her heart. “Enjoying your pizza?”
I blinked hard while staring up at my nemesis. Why were her eyes bloodshot?
Des beamed up at her. “Mama’s pizza is always delicious.”
Her eyes flared, then narrowed on me. “How lucky you are.”
There was no mistaking the acerbic bite to her tone. Did she honestly expect me to slave in the kitchen for them? She was messing with the wrong witch if she thought she could out-bitch me.
Before I could shoo her away, Ric motioned toward the chairs beside Des, and then the half-eaten pizza on the other end of the table, far enough away from Ric’s maw. I was surprised my boyfriend hadn’t eaten it, but he said he’d filled up on shark earlier.
“We have a few slices left,” Ric said. “Won’t you sit with us?”
Grr. I’d rather Puffy, or even the gnomes, ate the pizza than share it with them.
Nimue slithered forward, licking her lips with a forked tongue while eyeing the pizza.
The Enchantress’s gaze darted from Nimue to the table. “We wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“Nonsense.” Ric stood and pulled out the chair next to him, the iron legs scraping across the concrete. “I insist.”
I bristled when the Enchantress flashed a dazzling smile. Why was he being so nice to her? Was it just a ruse, so he could pry information?
The Enchantress slowly lowered herself onto the edge of the chair, making a face while acting as if it was a public toilet. Of all the nerve!
But then she screamed when the chair snapped beneath her, debris scattering across the floor. She blinked up in shock. “Oh!”
Des jumped from his seat, gaping down at her while shuffling from foot to foot, and I knew he was upset by the commotion.
I patted the empty chair next to me. “Come here, Des.”
He eagerly skirted around the Enchantress and sat beside me, then slipped his headphones over his head and focused on his screen.
“Is anyone going to help me up?” the influencer shrieked.
Ric held a hand down to her. “I’m terribly sorry!”
Nimue pushed him away with a hiss and helped the Enchantress to her feet.
“I don’t understand.” The Enchantress frowned at a split in her dress while wiping dust off her legs. “It was a sturdy chair.”
I glared at her. Was she made of lead? “The chair was iron,” I said matter-of-factly. “It would take an elephant to break it.” Yet, it had snapped like twigs.
“It’sss an old chair.” Nimue gave her an apologetic look. “It was probably russsty.”
I scowled at the chair’s remains. “I don’t see any rust on it.”
Anger flashed in the Enchantress’s eyes. “The minotaur must’ve sat in this chair before I did.”
Frederica jerked back, her wide nostrils flaring, her dildo horns slapping together. “Nein. I sit on mine bench.”
Turning up her chin, the Enchantress let out a huff. “Well, I certainly didn’t break it.”
Ethyl placed her small hand on Frederica’s furry arm. “It’s okay, Freddie,” she whispered loudly. “Nobody will be mad at you.”
Frederica abruptly stood, rattling the entire table with her thighs. “I go for walk.”
Ethyl blinked up at the minotaur, her wings drooping behind her. “Do you want me to come?”
Steam poured from Frederica’s nostrils. “I go alone.” The minotaur stomped off into the nearby jungle without another word.
Hanging her head, Ethyl pushed around an uneaten piece of crust on her plate. “I think I made her mad.”
The Enchantress let out a burst of grating laughter. “Why, when she’s the one who broke the chair?”
Ethyl’s cheeks flushed, her eyes narrowing on the Enchantress.
“You don’t know that.” She jumped from her seat, her wings angrily buzzing.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have to clean up now that we don’t have servants.
” So much for Ethyl’s infatuation with the Enchantress.
Though I hated that Ethyl was upset, I was glad everyone saw through the influencer’s kind facade.
When Ethyl flew past the Enchantress, she gave her a withering look, and the influencer had enough decency to glance away. That’s when I knew the Enchantress was behind the chair break. Perhaps she’d used a spell to weaken the iron. Clearly, she had a vendetta against Frederica. But why?
The Enchantress turned her hard gaze on me. “Are you ready for your interview?”
I focused on my wine while leaning back in my chair and wondering if it was good or bad that I’d developed a stronger tolerance to alcohol since our isolation.
“After I finish my wine, and after you agree to apologize to Frederica.” When the Enchantress made a spluttering sound, I cut her a dark look. “Those are my terms.”
Her lips twisted as she clenched her hands into fists. “Fine,” she answered, “But don’t forget these interviews are for your benefit too.”
I refused to answer her as she left in a huff, her hissing bodyguard slithering behind her.
I stared at Ric as he settled back in his seat. “Frederica didn’t break that chair.”
“I know,” he answered, his face grim.
“That Enchantress has some nerve!” Shu waggled his head like a diva on steroids. “She really thinks she’s all that and a bag of chips.”
I rolled my eyes. “Tell me about it.”