“Hello?”
“Hello? I’ve been texting you for an hour. I called the house at five and you weren’t here. I was worried.”
“I’m with Lena. We’re having brunch.”
“Please tell me that brunch isn’t a euphemism for Botox.”
“That’s hardly a laughing matter. By brunch, I mean an omelet. Egg whites only,” explaining herself to him seemed especially tiring just now.
“We have eggs at home. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Indeed,” she said automatically, and then winced because she knew Lena had taken note of her response.
“I thought we could Skype. I have a few minutes now…”
“I’m just finishing up brunch. I’ll call you when I get home.”
“I don’t like disappointing you. And I don’t like being in Dubai without you, Marj. Don’t think this is my choice.”
“As you say,” she couldn’t help replying. Lena smirked at her knowingly.
“And that would be the concerned call because you’re not where he left you, I presume,” Lena said, phrasing it as a question when the answer was obvious. “Shall we get you home so you can talk?”
“That isn’t necessary. If we’re finished here, however, I wouldn’t mind a chance to speak with him.”
“Indeed,” Lena said with a half-smile, and paid the check. They rode back to the townhouse in silence, and as she got out of the car, Marj squeezed Lena’s hand.
“I do appreciate what you tried to do, to help me. But my situation isn’t like yours. It’s different.”
“It always is, when it’s yourself. How many women have told themselves the same lie? I’ve often wondered that.”
When she got back, Maria was waiting for her.
“Maria, hello,” Marj said hugging her.
“I’ve missed you.”
“Well, come inside and let me get you some tea or coffee.”
“Thank you for all the help you’ve sent my way. They wouldn’t even take money for the groceries! And your husband paid my rent for the next year. I was flabbergasted.”
Marj smiled. “I didn’t know that. He’s very generous.”
“Yes, he is. I’m sending you both a thank you card.”
They talked about everything and Maria got Marj all caught up to speed.
“So no more internet dating?” Marj asked.
“Nope. I’ve found the man of my dreams.”
Marj smiled. “I’m glad it worked out. You deserve to be happy.”
“And so do you, dear.”
Chapter 11
Marj went up to the bedroom and called Brandon on Facetime.
“So how was consorting with the enemy?” he greeted her.
“We had breakfast together. She’s lonely,” Marj said by way of excuse.
“Probably because she’s evil. I guarantee that woman has a designer voodoo doll with a scrap of my hair glued to it somewhere in that mansion.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” she said.
“Don’t tell me she’s taken you in, too. Please don’t tell her the circumstances of our marriage.”
“I haven’t told her a thing. And I have to admit, she kinda of blackmailed me into going. But I saved two people’s jobs. So I guess it was worth it.”
“Was it the women you roomed with in Vegas?”
“Yes.”
“Honey, they were caught stealing.”
“Or the Wicked Queen framed them. I don’t know. But I know they didn’t do it. So give them their jobs back.”
“If Lena said she was helping them, then I’m sure she went above my head and pulled strings. Now, what went on in the queen’s evil lair?”
“It was breakfast. And not in a dark lair. She did a lot of speculation and she commiserated a little.”
“Commiserated as in you’re miserable?”
“Commiserated as in she was once married to a Cates workaholic, and so am I,” she said bitterly.
“There’s nothing to be miserable about. Your husband has a job that could give you anything you so desire.”
“Money is not everything,” she said. “There’s so much more to life than that. And I just want you to see you’re missing out on what makes life truly worth living.”
“I’m extremely driven,” he said.
“The best parts of life aren’t found in the boardroom. When you look back on your life, will you really be happy you spent more time at work and less time with the people you love? Not likely.”
“You never dreamed about being swept away by a dashing billionaire,” he teased.
“What girl doesn’t? But it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”