"Is that the girl you were talking about?" - Asked Winterbourne? Indifferently looking at Angela.
"No!" - Greg snapped, but his voice muffled Angela's laugh.
" Oh! Greg praised me again? Do not pay attention, Mr. Winterbourne, I am merely an ordinary worker. I just used to strive for perfection in everything. " Angela immediately went to the young man. At first, when she only came in and saw this man her eyes mirrored a certain doubt, and then the predatory glitter. She found another rich and handsome man in front of her, it's always good to have a choice.
Halting close to Winterbourne, she raised a hand in an elegant gesture. But the man did not even think about getting up, much less shaking her hand. Her limb remained awkwardly hanging in the air. The blond man, meanwhile, turned his attention back to Greg. Completely ignoring the girl.
"And how often you hire coattails, Wells? - Asked Winterbourne with a mocking smirk. Angela staggered as if slapped.
"Mr. Winterbourne, I don't want to offend you, but ..." - The general barked, boiling with anger. But meeting the cold gaze of the blond guy immediately bit his tongue.
"What did I say wrong? This lady herself said that her work is mediocre, while Mr. Wells hires only talented people, we can draw the appropriate conclusions." - Winterbourne said matter-of-factly.
Angela was utterly taken aback, not finding words. Neither his face nor in the voice of Winterbourne showed any hostility towards her, his expression was deadpan what so ever. But with every word he tried to bit her. What's happening?
Recovered a little, Angela threw a reassuring glance at her father and set in a vacant chair, putting on the most charming smile.
"Mr. Winterbour, I see you very much like puns. I appreciated your joke. Although I still want to note that you are mistaken about me. I am..." - she had already planned to paint all her virtues, as the door to the room opened again.
Only here it was not the door leading from the hall, but the one that was near the sofa. Lana appeared on the doorstep. Seeing her, Greg finally relaxed a bit and began to rise, but he stopped in the middle of the movement.
His eyes fell on her dress. It was completely different. Now she was wearing a gorgeous pearly dress. Without any unnecessary decorations, but it sat as if it were poured over her. The hairstyle also changed, the hair was arranged in waves into a complex shape and fastened with a multitude of pearls.
Strange! When did she have time to change clothes and why?
"Speaking about coattails," - hissed Angela.
Greg threw a scornful glance at her and wanted to head towards Lana, but she stopped him with a gesture. Greg frowned, not only the clothes changed. Lana herself somehow changed, she seemed so unnaturally cold. Without giving him the opportunity to rise, she confidently moved closer to their company.
"I apologize for being late." - She said, and looked around, stopping her gaze on Winterbourne.
There were no more vacant seats left, but he didn't order a servant to bring one more chair. At the same time the young man smiled broadly and, moving slightly on the couch, patted the pillow beside him, inviting. Lana, to the surprise of all those present, didn't particularly react to this and sank down on the offered place. Greg began to boil.
"Lana, come here." - He stretched out his hand to his girlfriend, but her neighbor on the sofa cut him off.
"We do not have much time for our conversation left. So let's continue. Five minutes to go. I think your girlfriend will survive such close proximity to me for five minutes." - He said with a grin, referring to Greg. - "It's really your girlfriend this time? right?"
"Yes!" - Greg answered firmly, - "And since you have so little time, can you already ask all the questions at once?"
Greg's voice was seriously irritated. He felt much calmer before when Angela acted out. But now, when Lana sat down next to this man, he felt his insides rolling in anger. Especially when you consider that these two looked surprisingly naturally together. Even the suit of Mr. Winterbourne had a similar pearl trim. What the hell is going on?
" As you wish. Then I very much like to know how it happened that the entire press a few months ago was full of news about your romantic relations with Angela Leib. And even a possible wedding. Since before that, all the rumors about you came down to fleeting connections. And then suddenly you tear your ties with one girl and pick up another from the street. At the same time, the first one judging by her show now not entirely of the picture yet. What, Gregory, lack the guts to do this? Or are you into polygamy?"
Winterborn said the last words smiling slightly. Greg could no longer tolerate this, his nostrils flared. But he did not have time to pounce. As the next act made everyone presents literally petrified.
Lana without any warning leaned over and grabbed a carved letter knife from the coffee table, and in one smooth motion, stabbed it in the back of the blond guy's hand. The blade went through and stuck into the sofa cushion below.
It seems that everyone has forgotten how to breathe and only Lana quietly leaned back, arms folded across her chest.
Furthermore, Winterbourne himself was not particularly surprised by what had happened.
" Was it necessary to do this?" - he asked through his teeth, not taking his eyes off the knife handle in his hand.
"I waited long enough for you to shut up! And now you will be silent and afraid to even move, so as not to stain everything with your blood. I have a whole two or three minutes until Raymond bandage your hand. And that is entirely your fault, I told you not to insult Greg and but off." - Lana answered with a straight face as if they were talking about the weather. And indeed the servant had already fled to his master with a first-aid kit.
Lana, meanwhile, looked at the clock on the wall and looked at Angela with her father.
"So, now when we got rid of one nuisance, it's time to get rid of the other two pests." - Lana said, smiling sweetly.