Page 81 of Chase
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Connor muttered. My eyes flicked to him then his brother before returning to the box with the brand name I know so well from the high-end shops I walk past. In years gone by, I would stand peering in the window at a jeweler with my nose almost pressed to the glass, hoping one day the beautiful sparkling items would be mine. I cracked open the lid.
Inside, I found the most stunning ladies' watch I had ever seen. The bracelet was made of what I thought was steel, and the Roman numerals blinking back were highlighted by diamonds. But the star of the show was the face; it was the most stunning shade of rose pink that glistened under the light as matching steel hands with a single diamond on the end ticked softly.
“Do you like it?” Russell asked.
“It’s beautiful,” I stammered. He reached for the box and extracted the watch from its red cushion before wrapping it around my bare wrist. “It’s too much.”
“Nothing is too much for you, Trouble. A woman as beautiful as you deserves to be dressed in only the best accessories to heighten her shine.” Russell focused on his brother. “Your turn.”
“You’re an arsehole,” Connor grumbled, pushing his box in my direction.
“That information isn’t new or unexpected. Arsehole is a name I’m comfortable with.” Russell shrugged, sat back in his chair, and crossed his arms as if he had just won a battle.
I bristled, annoyed by his manners. Yes, today, he was being an asshole, and I would be sure to tell him later.
“Sorry, Sam,” Connor said, and I glanced at him, the softer man I’ve come to love appearing. “I’ll take it back.” I slowly removed the paper and ribbon from his gift only to find a box similar to the one Russell had given me, but this time, the word Omega decorated the lid. “You don’t need two designer watches.” This time, Connor leaned back and ran a hand through his hair.
When I opened this box, a gold watch encrusted with a ring of diamonds around the face sat on heavy blue velvet. I audibly gasped, then took the item from its resting place before wrapping it around my free wrist. I sat in the middle of the two men I love with all my heart, wearing the dazzling jewelry gifted to me, stunned into silence.
Gloria chose this moment to skip across and ask if we wanted any more drinks. Her focus landed on the empty boxes and then my wrists. Her jaw dropped as her eyes popped from her head.
“Oh my fucking God,” she stammered. “You have over fifty thousand pounds on your wrists.” I glanced up at her, taken aback by both her knowledge and audacity to point out the value. “Which one gave you the gold one?” She flicked a finger between the boys but didn’t actually acknowledge them. I gaped at her, mute. “Well, whichever one it was, fuck him first as a thank you. He spent a good ten thousand more.” With that revelation, she spun on her heel and skipped back to her station the way she came.
The tension at the table reappeared with force, but before anyone could make any further comment, our time together was interrupted again. Violet rushed into the café with Harrison hot on her heels this time. She stopped at my chair, bent down, and grabbed me into a bear hug.
“Happy birthday!” she squealed. “Let’s go!” My enthusiastic friend took my hands and started pulling me to my feet. “Come on, Sam. There’s wine to drink and music to dance to.”
“It’s only half past two in the afternoon,” I told her with a giggle.
“I’m a mother. I still want to be in bed by eleven, so let’s make the most of the day.” I shook my head but rose to stand. Harrison stood behind her and opened his hands in defeat. When his wife wants something to happen, it usually does. Russell and Connor joined us as I collected the boxes from the table. “Oh, nice watch,” Violet cooed. “Wait, two nice watches.”
“Yes, both Russell and Connor gave me a watch.”
My two men moved beside me, one on each arm, as their little sister glared at them. She crossed her arms over her chest, and her left foot started to tap furiously on the floor, the silver sandal she was wearing clinking off the tiles. Harrison walked to her side and wrapped his arm around her waist before whispering in her ear. She shrugged him off, and he held his hands up before raising his eyebrows in our direction.
“Russ,” she said sternly. “Did you know Connor bought Sam a watch?”
“Yes,” he replied petulantly. “It’s none of your business, Violet. Stay out of it.” She took two steps forward and prodded at his chest with a slim finger.
“You’re a dickhead,” she told him.
“That seems to be the general opinion.”
“Well, it’s the right one. Come on, Sam,” she said with a sigh, then took my hand, pulling me from her brothers’ arms. “We’re going.” She led me across the café and out onto the street with Harrison following behind and not so much as a backward glance.
***
“Wow!” I said as Harrison pulled up in front of the huge sandstone mansion. “This is incredible.”
“It really is something, isn’t it,” Violet gushed. “Harry and I love coming here, don’t we?” Harrison climbed out of the driver’s seat and opened our doors as we stepped out onto the perfectly white gravel. He took his wife in his arms and kissed her softly.
“I love going anywhere with you, Vi,” he said.
“How many rooms does it have?” I asked, my eyes roaming over the array of windows and doors.
To get here, we drove through a mile of immaculate gardens, where every flower and bush looked exactly like they did in old movies set in English manor houses. I half expected Lords and Ladies dressed in Georgian attire to be wandering around the paths.
“There are no rooms, only suites,” Violet corrected me, and I rolled my eyes at her husband, who smiled. Even though my friend has pretty much always had access to a lot of money, even when her life was complicated, her husband knew true poverty in his childhood. It makes him more realistic regarding life, something Violet will hopefully never have the pain of experiencing.