"Mummy, daddy hasn't been back home for a few days, is he alright?"
Kika pressed her eyes shut and regretted fretting so much. It wasn't the first time he's gone awol without a word to anyone about when he could be back, but Bloom must have noticed her anxious glances she threw at her phone screen, staring expectantly at the door and even absentmindedly dropping things.
"He's alright sweetie, don't worry about him."
Bloom's sullen expression vanished in an instant and she continued licking her rainbow popsicle.
"Sweetie, you're soiling your dress!"
Kika had been so preoccupied with her thoughts and with waiting for Ezmae's update that she wasn't paying attention to Bloom. The sticky cold flavoured water dripped on Bloom's cashmere sweater and it struck a throbbing in Kika's vein. It was a limited edition designer sweater handcrafted for the little princess as a gift on her birthday.
"I'm sorry, mummy."
She looked down at herself and the mess she'd made on the beige-coloured sweater.
"Rhea."
"Yes, my lady."
Rhea rushed out of the kitchen and bowed.
"Get Bloom another sweater to change into before I take her out to her playdate."
"Yes, my lady."
Kika instinctively raised her phone on reflex and glanced at it and Bloom's eyebrows knitted at her.
"Mummy!"
Kika was startled by Bloom who hopped out of her seat and into her lap.
"Use your indoor voice sweetie. What is it?"
Bloom transformed into a cute little vampire with skin paler than glutinous rice and bright red lips. Kika's eyes broadened and Bloom smiled broadly at her reaction. In the process, her razor-sharp canines were exposed.
"That's wonderful sweetie but can you—"
Kika gasped as Bloom nodded profusely and transformed back to her human conformation.
"That's amazing, I'm so proud of you!"
She scooped up her baby girl and showered her soft cheeks with lots of kisses.
***
Kika alighted from the black sports car and walked into the fancy hotel building where her husband's mistress was shooting a scene for her new movie. She adjusted her sunshades and stepped into the private elevator. Ezmae says Mallory isn't as dumb as Luke's previous mistresses who expect him to take them in after he has a good time with them.
She gets something in return for doing whatever wants in whatever position he wants.
"So...there really is a girl out here who enjoys stealing other people's husbands."
Kika kicked the door to Mallory's private make-up room open.
"What? Are you here because Luke got tired of you and thinks I'm better? You're jealous, aren't you?"
Mallory was startled but after she turned she recognized the lady right away and told the makeup artists to excuse them.
"Pfft! Excuse me? How are you so full of yourself? You really are shameless! I'm here to check up on my hushed and the staff."
Kika regarded her pitifully. In the process of following Mallory, Ezmae discovered that Luke had previously lodged in this hotel all the times he wasn't home. The hotel partly belonged to her and Daneliya but Luke probably didn't know that or he wouldn't have stayed here. Authors travelling from afar applying to get affiliated with her publishing company can lodge here for thirty per cent off of the original price.
"And? Everyone here already knows about us."
Kika gritted her teeth while Mallory grinned from ear to ear.
"How can you act so brazen? Is it really that easy for a bitch like you to cause harm to someone and remain unfazed?"
Kika almost bit her lip. Her comeback was so lame. She was usually the queen of comebacks, it's probably because this Mallory is a potential threat, being able to keep Luke away from home and his daughter for the past few days. Also, she's unsure about the kind of feelings they share, is it just physical satisfaction or... something deeper.
"Why should I feel bad?"
Mallory snickered a bit, using her monochrome nails to lightly cover the smug look forming on her lips afterwards.
"Luke was right, you're just a loser."
Too bad Ezmae wasn't here to hear this, Kika thought. She would have smacked this bitch right in the face two or maybe four times. But this... she's disrespecting a princess consort, was she oblivious to the consequences or is she just dumb? Kika took a step forward whilst pulling her lips in a firm line.
"What did you just say?"
Kika wasn't surprised Mallory cackled. She wasn't a violent person so she won't slap her across the face. If she's unlucky to get recorded, it'll be the top search on the internet in just a few hours. PRINCESS CONSORT OF THE SUSPENDED HOUSE OF WAGNER FINALLY SHOWS HER TRUE COLOURS.
She didn't just take the easy way without anticipating the consequences. She'll deal with you with the full ramifications of the law. Justice can be ugly too in the hands of the wrong person.
"I didn't think you'd be so clueless. There isn't a single blondie here who hasn't been in Luke's bed. Thanks to him I've been able to get to where I want in life but...look who's talking."
"What?"
Kika arched an eyebrow, certainly amused. Where was this bitch leading this clearly won conversation too?
"How virtuous are you, huh?"
Mallory stood arms akimbo and eyed Kika from head to toe. Kika either slays or drops jaws in a sexy outfit. It'll be pointless if Mallory wanted to use it against her. Just her bustier could buy five of Mallory's outfits.
Oh... Kika's irises contracted. Maybe she thinks she's having fun with other men just because she doesn't think about the world's worshipped morality standards before picking out what looks good on her.
"You had nothing to your name apart from some title that has been suspended until fuck knows when, you even stole Luke from your cousin!"
Kika wasn't surprised that she had taken the low approach and hit exactly where it hurts. Sadly, she was way misinformed. Firstly, only Luke had his title suspended. Secondly, she met him after Melody and he had already broken up, he came over to tell her to stop clinging to him and she happened to see him while he was storming out. He didn't even notice her.
She withheld herself from laughing Mallory to scorn. No, no no...that would be too easy. Deluding her into thinking she'd won was...also good but she wanted a different kind of satisfaction. Watching the bitch herself realize that she'd only been a fool all along.
She gasped and threw her arms to cover her mouth, she also broadened her eyes to look more believable. With the way, Mallory's body language changed proved that she could probably take Melody's advice and debut in the acting industry. Just dissing some seductress off could land her the best rooky of the year award.
"Is that what he's been saying about me...?"
Her tone had changed so much that it sounded like muttering in Mallory's ears. The bitch grinned wildly and Kika scoffed from within.
Ha, too predictable.
"Stop acting like you've been honest from the beginning. The stench of your hypocrisy is ruining my makeup."
Mallory rolled her eyeballs and checked her watch. Her next shoot was in fifteen minutes, when was this jealous wife going to leave?
Kika's shoulders relaxed a bit and Mallory raised an eyebrow in surprise. Was she so shameless that she'll also sweep her dirty doings under the rug? Mallory wasn't going to let that happen she was going to emphasize in her next statement what...
"Those are false rumours, over time the truth will come out and you'll realize you're the only irritating one here. I have nothing to my name, huh? Have you heard of Foxtöön?"
"Pfft! What? That famous publishing company?"
Kika's eyes curved in a slight smile. Famous, she says. Maybe she really needs to give herself some credit. The company is doing so well that even a shameless whore had heard about it.
"Go check who's the CEO."
Mallory flinched and Kika's smile surfaced after drinking in her surprised expression. Haha, too easy.
Luke should at least bang someone who's got brains and derives her information from authentic sources not just cheaply sponsored gossip sites.
"Isn't it Luke that—"
"I thought you said Luke's tired of me so why would he help me?"
Kika's comeback silenced Mallory and left her completely at a loss for words. She sabotaged herself by mentioning that very true piece of information earlier. Also, most of Luke's wealth inherited from royal blood was also confiscated until further notice over the past three years.
"Just face it and stop comparing. I'm nothing like you. I didn't get sugar daddies to move up the ladder but I must ask, isn't it disgusting trying to live off the backs of others just for a slight success?"
Kika took another step forward and there wasn't any space left between them for her to take another one.
"And everyone thinks of you as some slut who stoops as low as giving sex in exchange for material things, Mallory Shipman..."
Yeah, Kika did a little research and this bitch has nothing close to a good reputation online. She has a lot of followers who Kika suspects are paid to do so. She's a d-list actress and she picked probably the worst person in the industry to back her up.
"You get hated and everyone is aware of the shady methods you used to get to where you are right now, I wonder if it's really worth it."
Kika leaned back to scan Mallory's reaction. She was shaking in anger. Kika shook her head with a disappointed look. She was too quick to give herself away, if she was smart she would have at least pretended or put on an act so she won't appear so gullible right now, I mean, she is an actress after all.
Unfortunately, Kika wasn't done yet.
"Live your own life. Stop being dependent on others."
Kika walked passed her and brushed her shoulder intentionally.
"When you start relying on other people, you'll live in constant fear of losing everything. I didn't know then when I married Luke, I hope you don't end up like me."
Miserable, broken and constantly afraid he has a new plaything to warm his bed, Kika thought to herself as she slammed the door behind her.