Sasha was aghast that one small purse could possibly cost that much, but didn't comment further. "Well, I'm guessing they can afford it, given Matthew's profession."
She glanced pointedly at the huge wall clock mounted over the fireplace. The gilt framed clock was an antique according to Julio, who'd found it at an estate sale, but to Sasha it just look old fashioned. And really, really ugly.
"I, ah, hate to duck out on everyone like this," she ventured, "but I've got to get up early in the morning. Please, enjoy the rest of your evening."
"Hey!" protested Julio. "You didn't finish telling us about Mr. CEO's daughter. Was she a sweetie like her brother?"
Sasha couldn't hold back the urge to roll her eyes. "Not exactly, no. She was - well, I guess a typical teenaged girl, is all. Spent most of the night glued to her phone."
That began a whole new debate, with one person bemoaning how rude everyone had become and how no one actually talked to each other these days, while someone else defended their frequent use of a phone in a public place, claiming it was for business purposes. No one noticed when Sasha very quietly stood and left the room - except, of course, for Julio, who caught up with her just as she was about to ascend the stairs.
"Traitor!" he hissed. "You were supposed to bail me out."
She shrugged. "We agreed on ten minutes," she reminded him. "It's been almost thirty. Besides, they're not talking about work right now, so I did what you asked. And Matthew is supposed to call me in a few minutes, so I need to go. Okay?"
Julio sighed and gave her a quick hug. "Okay. Though I know there's more to the story about Ms. Prada. I'm willing to bet she was a Class A royal bitch to you."
"Yeah, sort of," acknowledged Sasha wearily. She gave him the basics, including the offhand remark Hayley had made about Katya.
"Omigod, she did not call your mother 'The Old One'!" gasped Julio. "That little bitch! Oooh, if your mother had heard that she would have stomped all over little Ms. Prada with her high heeled dancing shoes. For starters."
Sasha laughed. "I would never dare repeat that comment to my mother. She'd insist I stop seeing Matthew immediately, ask why I would want to date someone who had such a rude child. But since I haven't actually told either of my parents that I'm dating anyone, I guess it's a moot point."
Julio frowned. "Why haven't you said anything? You've been seeing Mr. CEO for what - two months now?"
"About that, yes. And you know exactly why I haven't told them, especially my mother. You know what they're both like, Julio. If my mother knew I was seeing Matthew she'd demand to know everything about him. And if she learned he was rich, she'd be calling me every single day and asking all sorts of questions, pushing me to settle down. My dad wouldn't be much better. Besides, the two of them certainly don't tell me about the latest person they're sleeping with. Not that I want to know," she added hastily. "Or that I'd be able to keep track, given how much they both like to sleep around. But don't say anything to them, please? I'll tell them when the time is right."
Julio and Chad had met both Katya and Enzo on several occasions when they had come to town to visit Sasha, and at times she thought that her landlords got along better with her parents than she did. Julio in particular adored Katya, watched every episode of Beyond Ballroom, and was even Facebook friends with her.
"Well, my lips shall remain sealed," declared Julio. "And I'll be up bright and early as promised to drive you to the studio. A deal is a deal after all."
Sasha bid him good night and was halfway up the stairs when he called out her name, causing her to turn around.
"Don't let the little witch get you down, hmm?" advised Julio. "I can tell Matthew really likes you, so don't let one bad dinner with his kids spoil things. She'll come around eventually. I mean, how could she not love you?"
She blew him a grateful kiss and continued up the stairs to her room.
But as she waited for Matthew to call, she recalled the warning her aunt Linda had given her last month - about how a man would nearly always choose his children over the new woman in his life. She just hoped that Hayley's animosity towards her wouldn't force Matthew to one day have to make such a choice.
"So how was your weekend with your father?"
Lindsey had waited barely ten minutes after the kids arrived home to quiz her daughter about the last two days they had spent with Matt. She knew getting any real information out of Casey was useless, since he still hero worshipped his father and would never dream of betraying any confidences or secrets they might have shared. Hayley, on the other hand, was growing up to be very much her mother's daughter, and would be Lindsey's best ally in getting this ridiculous divorce called off.