“The only person slinking into the shadows is you.” She pins me with a smug look I instantly want to wipe off her face.
“I hate to disappoint you, Saff, but I’m going nowhere.”
“It won’t be up to you,” she retorts.
“It sure as fuck won’t be up to you.” I wipe my hands on a paper towel before we face off. Even in her skyscraper heels, I am still taller, and I derive immense satisfaction in towering over her diminutive frame.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to underestimate your enemies?”
“I’m glad you’re openly admitting the truth, and I’m not threatened by you.” That latter part is a semi-lie, but I’ll never admit it to her. I’m not threatened by Saffron, per se. It’s what she represents and how easily she has injected herself between Reeve and me. I’ve begun questioning how strong our relationship really is, if it’s crumbling this fast at the first sign of trouble.
She steps closer, prodding her finger into my chest. “You should be.”
I shove her finger away. “Reeve loves me. He has loved me his entire life. You will never compete with that.”
“He might think he loves you, but it’s only because he’s known no different. I mean, look at me and look at you.” Her scathing gaze roams me from head to toe, obliterating the last of my patience.
“Exactly. Reeve would never choose a skank like you over me, but continue to daydream, you delusional bitch.” I move to sidestep her, because I’m done breathing the same toxic air as her, but she grabs my wrist, halting me.
“I’m going to enjoy taking him from you, and I’m going to rub it in your face in the most public way.” Her nails dig painfully into my skin as she twists my wrist, and I attempt to wrench my arm back, but she’s got hidden strength I can’t shake off. “You’re such a stuck-up prissy princess. I bet you’ve been handed everything on a silver platter. Reeve included. Consider this my gift to you. It’s time for a wake-up call, and I’ll get enormous pleasure delivering it.”
I stomp on her foot, digging my stiletto heel into her flesh, enjoying the murderous scream she emits as she finally drops my hand. My wrist is throbbing, and I cradle it against my chest. “You don’t know me, and you don’t know Reeve.”
Her eyes narrow, her jaw tenses, and she glares at me with such unrestrained loathing, I take an automatic step back when she advances on me. Prickles of awareness dance over my skin, and I rein my anger in, because she’s unpredictable right now. She looks like one hell of a scary bitch, and I wonder if I haven’t underestimated her, in part. The evil glint in her eyes sends a spike of fear shooting through me. She is shaking with visible rage, and I wonder if she isn’t more than a little unstable. “I know he was hard during every single sex scene. I know the moans we both made when he thrust his giant cock against my pussy during filming was real.”
Her words poke holes in my fragile heart, and she continues digging in the knife.
“Reeve is mine.” She shoves at my shoulders, and I stumble a little. “He might not have accepted it yet, but he wants me as much as I want him. He is mine. Not yours. Mine. You don’t fucking deserve him. I do!” she yells. Her eyes dart wildly around the place, and something is definitely off. Scrutinizing her more closely, I can tell she’s on something, because this mania isn’t like her. She’s been nothing but cold, calculated disdain in all our previous encounters.
Saffron paces the tile floor, and I bite my tongue, some inner voice of self-preservation warning me not to push her any further. “I will be the one wearing his ring and having his babies. Me, not you!” She jabs her finger in the air, waving it at me. “It will take minimal effort to dispose of you, so either back off or prepare to be defeated.” She laughs as I edge toward the door. “You’d do well to be afraid of me, bitch,” she threatens. “You don’t know where I’ve come from. The people I know.”
Feeling braver now I’ve reached the door, I level a parting shot. “I know your crazy is showing, and if you think I’m keeping this conversation a secret from Reeve, you are truly delusional.”
She lunges for me, and I open the door, racing out into the corridor, slamming headfirst into a familiar warm solid chest. Reeve’s citrusy scent wafts around me, and I grab him, grateful he’s here. “Oh my God, Reeve. Thank God.”
Saffron comes barreling out of the bathroom, slamming to a halt and crumpling to the floor the instant she sees him. “She attacked me!” she shrieks, clutching her foot and sobbing.