Chapter 6
Anna's POV
As Eric and I stepped out of the auction house, I felt a surge of relief wash over me. The evening had been a lot, and I was ready to leave the pretentious atmosphere behind. But just as we were about to make our exit, we crossed paths with Bianca and Jeremy. I rolled my eyes at the sight of them.
"So you really had an escort after all," Bianca sneered, her gaze raking over Eric from head to toe. He looked sharp in his black suit, but I could see how she was trying to belittle him.
"Unlike you, Bianca, I do what I say I would," I shot back, my voice steady. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and I could almost see the gears turning in her head.
"You like embarrassing yourself, don't you?" she retorted, her tone dripping with condescension. "You know your failed attempt to slap me was caught on camera. I feel you want to embarrass yourself yet again."
I couldn't help but smile at that. "Where does your boyfriend think he'll get the money to pay for that diamond necklace? I hope you both aren't trying to run out of the country with those expensive things on you," she pointed at me, her voice laced with accusation. "Because you're making me understand that you're raising thieves, Anna."
"I'll only run if you run with Jeremy, since I got all my stealing lessons from you," I shot back, feeling a surge of confidence.
Jeremy stepped in, trying to play the peacemaker. "I'd suggest you don't speak to Bianca that way, Anna."
"Maybe you should tell your wife to back off. You both crossed our path," Eric interjected, his voice low but firm. I could feel the tension rising, and I knew he was holding back his anger.
"I wasn't referring to you, whatever your name is, and I'm sure it's not relevant," Jeremy mocked, his arrogance palpable.
"You were referring to Anna, and me? Not much difference, and I'd rather you respect it the way it is," Eric replied, standing his ground.
"Who are you to say these things to me?" Jeremy shot back, his tone challenging. "You have no idea who I am. In fact, you'd regret talking to me this way if you knew who I was."
"I said, who are you?" Jeremy pressed again, his condescension evident. "Because with the way you're dressed, I don't think you can sit at the same table as me."
"Anna's fiancé," Eric said, taking my hand in his. "And I'll add that you lost a very rare gem when you dumped Anna. I'm grateful you did; otherwise, I wouldn't have found her. Now, I'll make sure I treat her the way you failed to."
He pulled me closer and planted a soft kiss on my cheek. I could feel the heat of Jeremy's stare burning into us, but I didn't care.
"Jeremy!" Bianca yelled, breaking the moment. "Why are you staring at her that way?" She turned and walked away, clearly annoyed.
"Bianca, wait!" Jeremy called after her, but she was already gone.
"They're so pathetic," Eric and I said simultaneously, bursting into laughter.
"Nice work, fiancé," I smiled at him, feeling a rush of happiness.
"Nice work, fiancée," Eric replied, a small smile breaking through his usual stoic demeanor. We high-fived and walked out of the building, feeling victorious.
Once we were home, Bianca's voice echoed in my mind. "It's such a sad thing the CEO didn't show up today, after all the anticipation." She entered the house, struggling with her earrings, her exhaustion evident. "I am so exhausted. That party was awesome, right, Jer?"
I glanced at Jeremy, who looked utterly puzzled. "What were you saying, Bianca?" he asked, almost as if he didn't want to know.
"You're thinking of Anna and Eric, right? I know it was a shock or whatever, but you're literally so shaken by it. Will you just brush it off?" Bianca snapped, her irritation palpable.
She stood up and went to the kitchen, pouring wine into two glasses before handing one to him. "How come she found someone already? I thought she told me that true love takes time," she said, taking a sip.
"Seriously, you should really take your mind off it. I thought you had no memory of her. Besides, I'm here. You shouldn't have thoughts of anybody else; we're married for heaven's sake," Bianca continued, her voice rising.
"But what she said…" Jeremy repeated, and I could see Bianca's anger flare.
"How come you remember what she said? You're not over her, are you?" she shot back, her frustration boiling over as she stormed upstairs.
Jeremy fell silent, and I could feel the tension in the air.
"You know I've always liked you, and seeing you hovering about her gives me the ick," Bianca yelled from the stairs. "You're the CEO of this company; act like it. You should be in charge of your own life too and not get controlled by someone you had a failed relationship with, not to mention someone who works under you."
"We both know how much we hate her guts, but being angry at me won't fix anything," Jeremy yelled back, but Bianca was already charging down the stairs.
"I hate her guts, true, but the same person you're claiming to hate was once your fiancée, and I was once her best friend. You want me to believe you just hate her all of a sudden? Do me a favor and forget about her. I have, and life is still going on. She's not coming back."
"She came to the party with a new guy she just met. Big deal! But you and I know we have a bond way stronger," Bianca said, finally calming down, hoping Jeremy would too.
"Babe, it has been a long day. I might just be overthinking things," Jeremy said, pouring more wine into his glass.
"You think?" Bianca replied, her tone sharp.
"You're being overly dramatic, like you want to end her, but since it can never happen, the joke is all on you," she said, taking a sip from his glass.
"I will do nothing to hurt her," Jeremy insisted.
Bianca rolled her eyes. "That's the soft spot I'm talking about."
"I'm just being humane, Bianca," he defended himself.
"Call it whatever you want. I'm going to bed," she said, her voice cold.
"Have a good rest. I'll be up in a moment," he replied, but I could see the worry etched on his face.
As Bianca climbed the stairs, I could sense the storm brewing within her. She was fixated on me, and I knew she saw me as a disruption to her happiness. I couldn't shake the feeling that she would stop at nothing to make my life miserable.