Page 63 of Thicker than Water

“Ren, it’s fine. Lexi, what’s your new business?” I ask impatiently. If they start to fight, we could be here all night. Better to appease her, whatever ridiculous scheme it is.

“I have a proposal!” says Lexi, her mascaraed eyes wide. “I’d like to throw a launch party for my bloodwine.”

“Good god,” Renata mutters.

“It’s going to be great,” Lexi continues. “We can invite all of the vampires we know, and maybe some of the evil witches too. We can use the event hall! I’ll do all of the planning and the decoration…”

“Lexi, it’s not in the budget!” Renata says. “How do you plan to pay for it?”

“I don’t know, with all of the money you save bleaching the sheets,” Lexi huffs.

“Do you even have a plan? A proposal?”

Lexi pulls out her phone. “I have a pinterest inspiration board!”

Renata looks like she’s about to blow a fuse. Lily’s typing becomes quicker as she eyes both vampires nervously. We all know how this could escalate.

“Renata,” I say firmly. “Could you find a few hundred thousand in the budget for Lexi’s…what was it again?”

“It’s a bloodwine launch party. All the celebrities do it when they launch a new brand. It’ll besofun, I promise! We can do it when the academy is on their winter break, then all of the vampires will be back in the city. We can invite Amrita, Damien…”

She starts listing the names of vampires in the region.

“That sounds great, Lex,” I say. “Renata, I’m sure we can make it work, right?”

Renata makes a low, guttural noise that sounds like she’s imploding.

I turn to the executive assistant. “Lily, for the agenda, ‘the board discussed the logistical implications of the event and determined that they would move forward with the proposal.’”

Renata glares at me but doesn’t protest.

“Thanks Celine!” Lexi says, standing up so quickly that her chair falls behind her. She doesn’t notice. Instead, she engulfs me in an enormous hug. “It’ll be such a great time!”

“I’m sure it will,” I wheeze. I’m glad I have healing powers, because this hug is cracking my ribs.

Lexi squeals with delight, then releases me and bounces out of the boardroom in excitement.

Thank god that’s finally over. I move to follow her, but my other sister blocks my way, her expression furious.

“Whatwas that about? Do you have any idea how much work you’ve created for me?” Renata snaps, waving the clicker in my face.

“Renata, I’m sure it will befine. She said she would take care of it.”

“Youknowshe’s not going to do anything helpful! She’s completely disorganized, and sheneverstays within a budget. She didn’t even put together aproposal! I bet she’s going to ask for rhinos again…”

I chuckle. “You have to admit that was entertaining.”

“It wasnotentertaining! It tookmonthsto get the smell of rhino shit out of the pool ducts! Teams of cleaners!”

“Renata, it’s too late. She’s got her mind set on it. Just let her do her thing. And if it doesn’t work out, let her deal with it. You don’t always have to swoop in to clean up everyone else’s mess.”

She mutters angrily at me, but I choose to ignore her. I have more important plans.

“Now if you’ll excuse me,” I say, trying to step past her.

But she’s too quick. Stress, anger, and drinking recently make her faster than me, and she blocks the doorway.

Her eyebrow rises impossibly high on her forehead.