A Shrew's Revenge

"Just look at what she's wearing... I swear. I'd never be seen in anything like that." "She could do something about that hair- it looks like a giant spider web." "Those eyebrows... and her glasses, ever heard of contacts?" "Or a gym membership." Nora sighed. She'd heard the whispers before- the cruel taunting of her contemporaries. Whispers followed by muffled laughs by any of the many girls around her, girls like her… her contemporaries. That was who they were, sort of. The girls she'd gone to school with all her life, heiresses just like her, daughters of politicians or successful physicians or bankers. All of them set to inherit their own mini fortune someday. It always amazed her- they must think she's deaf, or otherwise dumb, to not hear the way the spoke about her behind her back, only to put on the sweetest smile when they spoke to her. They certainly weren't dumb- their fathers, although successful, were nowhere near as rich or powerful as her own father. He was the very cream of New York society- and most of their fathers worked for hers. But her own father was too naive, always referring to them as her "friends." As if they gave a rat's ass if she was kidnapped, chopped into a million pieces, and fed to the sharks. No, Nora knew better, she knew they were not her friends. They were never her friends. They weren't her friends in school, they weren't her friends now as adults. Nora made it point to avoid social gatherings like going to the "club". All the Club was, was an overrated country club where rich people had parties and drank cocktails after all. No. Nora hated going to the club. In fact, she pretty much hated going anywhere. She almost never left her house- anywhere she went there was always someone buttering her up just to turn around and insult her when her back was turned. But, being the daughter of the one of the most respected, and wealthy, men in society, Nora also had a role to fill and so she had to make appearances from time to time, for one reason or another. Today- her father had asked her to join him for lunch as he had some important affairs to discuss with her. Nora stood still in the restroom stall, long after the whispering voices had left and then walked out and she found herself alone. Quickly, she moved to the door, locking it so that she could have some peace. If she could she would spend all her time with her books or her violin- her only two loves. She'd been playing since she was quiet young and was a virtuoso but of course, nobody really knew except her father and house staff. None of those girls ever bothered to ask her anything about herself, except if she could get them a better table as this or that function. Nora looked at herself in the mirror, a grin forming across her face. She could see exactly why they made fun of her and she didn't blame them. Her eyebrows were too thick and pretty much connected in the middle, her hair was very wild and unruly, covered in split ends, and her refusal to get lasik had left her with glasses that deformed her otherwise pretty eyes. Nora had been told too many times how ugly she was and so she played along with it, unwilling to become like them. She'd purposely layered on her clothes to disguise the fact that she had been losing weight, and now, she realized she'd failed to match her socks... again. Nora shook her head- how she hated being an heiress. At least if she was poor, she could maybe slip into completely anonymity. With a sigh, Nora dragged her feet towards the door, unlocking it slowly and letting the cool air of the dining hall hit her. Within seconds, Stacey Martin was at her side. "Nora, dear, how are you?" Stacey said, two girls following. "Same as always." Nora said roughly, not bothering to ask how she was. Stacey was the daughter of the VP of some company her father was associated with. Nora wasn’t sure which one, she didn’t really bother to keep track of all of them. Her father was always pressuring them to be friends and Stacey tried but Nora was not helpful. "Good. You look... nice." Stacey said, somewhat disparagingly. "And you look just the same as everyone else. Now if you excuse me, I see my father." Nora said rudely, rolling her eyes visibly and pushing past the other two girls. "Ugh. Bitch." She heard Stacey mumble. Nora smiled as he walked away. She'd spent many years perfecting her shrewdness. b***h? Yes, that had a nice ring to it. b***h, that was the perfect spelling for her name. Nora walked on, ignoring the people who tried to speak to her as she shoved past to get to the table in the back, where her father was waiting. Nora's father watched her approaching, noting how she moved rudely, as always expecting the world to get out of her way instead of trying a simple 'excuse me.' He loved his daughter dearly and knew he had spoiled her too much. Maybe if he had been a better father, Nora would at least be well humored, good tempered. Maybe she wouldn't feel a need to be so cold and distant, to treat everyone with such disdain. Still… he adored her. "Hello Pumpkin." he said as Nora took a seat. "Hi Dad." She said without really looking at him, grabbing the menu and deciding what she would eat. The food at the club was about the only good thing about it. If there was anything to be said about Nora with absolute certainty, it was that she had a good appetite. "Thanks for meeting me here." He said, taking the napkin from his plate and placing it on his lap. Nora took the napkin and stuffed it into her shirt. "Well, You gave me no real choice did you?" She said, waving her arms around for the waiter. Nora's dad groaned inwardly. "I wanted to tell you we are going to have some guests for dinner." He said as he heard Nora order an inordinate amount of food. "Really? That's why you dragged me down here? Have you ever heard of a phone?" She said with a very unladylike snort. "Please, Nora. I really need things to go well tonight. I wasn't expecting these guests but can you please be on your best behavior?" He said, looking at his daughter. Nora sighed, knowing that was code for brush your hair. "Okay. Who's coming?" Nora said at length, trying to be nice. "It's George Carlton and his son, Brian." He said, making Nora suddenly cough. "Are you okay?" He asked as Nora drank her water in a quick gulp. "Yeah. Yes. I'm fine. George and Brian Carlton? You don't have any businesses with them." Nora said, trying to act calm. "I don't- yet. But George and I have been brainstorming for years on how to make our businesses merge. He and I were great friends in school. I'm sure you'll remember we used to spend summers with them when you were little?" Her father said. Nora shrugged. "Barely, that was a long time ago." She said apathetically. "You were 12 the last time we went." He said, knowing she was trying to be difficult. "That was almost 13 years ago- it honestly seems a bit fuzzy." Nora said, forking around her plate. "Well, whatever the case. He says he has some good ideas. Please try to be nice, Nora. I want them to see how charming you can be." Her father placed his hand on hers and she nodded. Nora's only soft spot was her father. He was perhaps the most understanding and kind person she knew- two traits that were not common in men as wealthy as he was. She smiled at him, one of the few natural smiles she gave anyone. "I'll be nice, as long as no one provokes me." she said. It was actually quite easy to provoke Nora, all you had to do was disagree with her. She also had it out for people who overly agreed with her, thinking those were the kind you wanted to avoid the most. There was nothing more suspicious to her than a friend who always told her she was right. "Look, It's Martin Santos. My new Assistant VP of Operations. I'm going to go say hello. Be right back." Her father said, getting up and rushing to another table. Her father was always very considerate of his employees, doing his best so that they each felt appreciated and valuable. He was an exemplary employer, always approving anything that could benefit his workers. Most people drew the unfortunate comparison- a man that handsome, charismatic and kind with a daughter that spoiled, crude and unattractive. They were opposites. Nora sat staring down at her plate. Of course, she remembered Brian Carlton- she'd never forget him. Besides, who in the world didn't know who he was? Brian was the most sought-after bachelor in the Country, the son of one of the few men richer than her father in the US, and a reputed playboy. Nora enjoyed reading about his escapades in social magazines and gossip blogs. He was more handsome and tempting than the devil himself- at least that's what they said but Nora knew just how handsome he really was. She'd met him, live and in the flesh. Every Summer since she was six, her parents would travel to the Carlton Summer Home in the Hamptons, where she would be forced to spend endless hours avoiding the neighboring girls who only teased and tortured her. She almost never saw Brian in those days, after all he was becoming a teenager and had more important things on his mind. She used to watch him sneak out at night, or sweet talk a maid, thrilled at how suave he was. But it wasn't until the very last Summer they went, during the last weekend, that she realized just how wonderful Brian Carlton really was. As usual, Nora had spent the summer either in the library or outside playing with the dogs. Nora loved dogs- animals in general- but dogs especially. That's when she heard the three girls from next door talking. "She looks so creepy." one of the girls said. "Like she's putting some gross spell on you." The other two girls shrieked in laughter. "Fatty...loser." Nora was still as she listened to them from around the other side of the fence. She knew that the other girls made fun of her but it was one of the few times she had actually heard it... up until that point anyways. "She's gross." Nora sat in the back- the house seeming so far away. It was a large property, she had only made it to the very back because she had been busy chasing the puppy that she now cradled in her lap. Then she heard a voice. "You know, you shouldn't really eavesdrop." Brian said, sitting down next to her. Nora shrugged. "Not like I care what they think anyways." She said, pouting, not realizing she had cried a bit. "Good. You shouldn't care what little girls like that think. The only people who you need to worry about are the ones you love. Besides, none of what they said was true." Brian said. "Of course, it is, I'm fat and ugly. Everyone knows that." Nora repeated lamely. "Of course not. If you ask me, I happen to think you're quite a cutie." he said, making her look up at him. Brian was a 16-year-old boy at the time and already so very good looking. "You're lying." she said, turning back towards the puppy. "Nope. Why would I? Besides, even if you weren't an adorable kid, you've got a lot more going on in your mind, worth more than twenty of those girls combined." Brian said, reaching out his hand to help Nora get up. They both walked back to the house in silence and they never spoke another word, but Nora had remembered his kindness. Even if it wasn't true, it was the nicest anyone had ever been to her. She'd fallen in love with him that way- maybe it was a silly childish love, but she'd held on to it faithfully ever since.