Page 38 of The Forever One
“Truth be told, the Ambrosios have always been a giant bag of dicks.” She chuckles and sips at her drink again.
I laugh, because hearing something like that come out of Polly’s mouth is like the Queen of England saying fuck. And the distraction is wholly welcome.
“You’re not wrong, Polly. So, you only gave me a job in the club when I was seventeen because of my grandmother?” I’m not salty about it. Far too much has happened lately for this to be something I allow to bother me in any way, I’m just curious.
“I did. When I heard they had passed away, I sought you out, which wasn’t easy, considering your parents rarely had a fixed address, and then you basically avoided the system with Everest. But I have my ways, as you well know. I never expected you to get into the escorting side of things, but I was never going to stop you from becoming who you wanted to be either. I just guided you a little along the way. Much like I do with all of my girls.”
“Well, thank you, Polly.” I hold my glass up to clink against hers in a toast of gratitude.
“I’m glad Eleanor got what she deserved, by the way. She’s had that coming for years. Your face will heal, but her soul was always destined for the dirt. I remember the job for her husband all those years ago. It was just an arm candy job, where you had to look pretty and hang off his every word all night. He was purposefully trying to piss off his wife and it turns out he did a spectacular job, I guess. To the point where she killed him and played it off as suicide. She even went as far as to forge a suicide note that essentially said he felt so guilty for his open infidelity, he could no longer live with himself.”
“How do you know all of that?”
“Research, darling. Even once a job is complete, you keep an eye on those big clients. I knew it wasn’t suicide from the moment I read about his death online. Not with the way he had spoken to me. He planned more bookings, but obviously never got around to keeping them.”
“Wow, I guess I need to up my research game. I’ve been trying to keep on top of the current client lists we have, getting to know them. We’ve recently opened up to new clients, but only after they’ve been vetted by me personally.”
She smiles and it fills me with warmth because that’s the kind of smile my mother would give me when I finished any task.
“Your grandmother would be so proud of the woman you’ve become, River Rose Fox-Mancini.” We both drink, placing our glasses down as she takes a deep breath. “You do need to be wary, though. I don’t know them personally, but the Ambrosio twins are known to be devious.”
“Twins?”
“Elizabeth and Ugo are twins, but it’s not a widely known fact among the families. No idea why they kept it a secret, but now you know.”
Polly’s dropping some bombs this evening.
“I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“Good. Now, you’ve been married to that delicious man for a while. When shall I expect a mini-Mancini on the way?” She wags her brows, encouraging me to answer, and I almost spit my drink out.
“Erm, definitely not any time soon. Petal is due in just over a month though, so I’m going to be an aunt. Which is perfectly good enough for me. I get to dote on the little thing and give them back again when I’m finished. Win-win.” It’s that dreaded question I’ve heard about that all married women of my age get asked, and I don’t understand why it’s such a thing. Marriage doesn’t automatically equal babies. We are simply two people who fell in love and got married, not in that order—okay, maybe not so simply, but whatever.
“Oh, yes. I remember you telling me Petal was pregnant. How is she?”
Nice swerve on the subject there, Polly.
“She’s great. We met her doula the other day too, Lydia. She’s perfect for them, actually.”
“Evening, ladies.”
We both look up and, to my surprise, standing there in slacks and a deep blue shirt, bottle of beer in hand, is Kai.
“Oh, hello, young man. You must be Kai. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Polly.”
He looks a little taken aback at her forwardness as she offers him her hand, but it’s only brief and he kisses her knuckles like she’s royalty. He shrugs his shoulders at me like he has no fucking clue what he’s doing, that dimple on his cheek more prominent now as he smiles; he’s clearly done some face-scaping.
“River, darling, it’s been a pleasure, as always. I’ll see you again soon. Charles is waiting outside for me.” I stand as Polly leans over to air kiss my cheeks.
“Are you sure you have to go?”
“Don’t leave on my account, ma’am.”
Kai and I speak at the same time and Polly chuckles as she ties a black scarf around her neck.
“It’s okay. Eight in the evening for a woman my age is almost time for herbal tea and bed.” She winks at me and I know damn well what she’ll be doing. Waving, or more like wiggling her fingers at us, she heads toward the exit through the throng of tables.
“It’s alright in here, Riv.” Kai slides into the booth next to me and clinks my glass with his bottle.