I could feel my anger rise. What she said hurt. I always took pride in my girls and in the fact that I had always been there for them. It was true I had been neglecting them somewhat during these past couple of days, but I would never let them down.
“Abandoning everyone or abandoning you?” I had to air this. It needed to be said. The question silenced her for a minute. I didn’t think she was expecting that.
“He’s not letting you out of his sight. He’s constantly there, constantly with you. It’s unhealthy, Clara. Can’t you see that? It’s like he’s obsessed or something.”
I couldn’t believe this. Everyone but Rachael was happy for me. Everyone but her had been saying it was a long time coming.
Finally fed up her tantrum, my voice went up a notch. “What’s happening here is none of your fucking business!”
She didn’t like that. Rachael was a pretty girl, but when she wasn’t happy, her features began to resemble those of an evil creature. She was quite frightening when she was like that. “Oh, I get it. I should just do as I’m told by the great Clara Murphy should I? Just fuck whomever you tell me to and keep my fucking mouth shut.”
I was mortified. She knew I would never force her to do anything she didn’t want to do. That was always my number one priority.
“You know for a fact I would never force you to fuck anyone. You decide, Rachael. Not I!”
Getting closer to me now, she started screaming, “Why do you think I do it? I never enjoy it. I was just trying to make you happy. I’m always trying to make you happy, and yet you never fucking notice me. Never even batted an eyelid!”
Her confession shocked me. I always knew she liked me, but never to this extent. I guess I had been blind.
Calming a little, I offered her a hug, and she cried in my arms. “Why won’t you love me?” she whimpered.
I stiffened, and before I could even comprehend what she had just said, Rachael’s lips were on mine, forcing my mouth apart so she could stick her tongue down my throat. “I could love you. I could make you happy. Just let me.”
I tried pushing her away, but her strength was enormous. “Get off me.”
She ignored my pleas and strengthened her grip. Her tongue was there again—almost making me choke. Her hold eventually slackened as she moaned into my mouth. I took the opportunity to reach behind and pull her away from me.
I slapped her hard across the face and I pointed to the door. “Get out!”
Hearing the door creak open, I looked up to see Belinda enter. “What the hell’s going on?” Her face looked shocked when she saw the state of us. My dress was now riding halfway up my arse, Rachael’s hair was all tossled, and she was rubbing the side of her face.
“Rachael, I want you to leave and never come back. Consider yourself fired.”
Belinda’s eyes widened, and Rachael’s face took on an even more sinister mien. “You’ll fucking regret this,” she seethed as she marched out the door.
Belinda rushed over to me. “What the hell was that? Are you okay?”
Taking deep breaths, I nodded. “Yes, she said some things I wasn’t aware of, and then it all just spiralled out of control. I’m shocked. I really don’t know where it all came from.”
Belinda offered a sympathetic smile and stroked my arm. “To be honest with you, she has been acting weird lately. Ever since Luca came on the scene really. All of us have been saying how happy we are that you have someone in your life and that it was a good thing you were finally taking a break. Rachael, on the other hand, has been saying the opposite. She seems to think you’ve abandoned everyone. I knew there was something definitely wrong with that girl.”
“Well, she kept it well hidden until now.” I chuckled a little, but I didn’t find any of this amusing. I had never been forced upon by a woman before. It was all a little too shocking for me.
“We all know she hated Luca. Even Luca’s bent her ear about her attitude. That couldn’t have helped matters much.”
My eyes widened. “Luca never said anything to me.”
“He probably didn’t want you to worry. He may have been trying to give her the benefit of the doubt.”
I shook my head. “He still should have come to me. We’re supposed to be business partners. We should be telling each other everything.”
“Does this mean you’ll tell him about Rachael?”
Thinking about it, I realised I would have to. Rachael had been fired, and I would have to give him a reason. “I don’t think I have a choice in the matter. Rachael’s fired now.”
Belinda sighed. “Well, luckily for us, we are operating on a first-come, first-serve basis tonight. Any of Rachael’s regulars will have to be picked up by someone else.”