A Shrew's Revenge

Chapter 5

Nora was done trying to be nice and had made sure everyone knew it as she sat about sluggishly at dinner.

First, she'd burped out loud during the first course, and then she'd excused herself to go pee.

For Brian, the evening seemed a sure telling of an almost unbearable year at her side. With a sigh, he watched as Nora became even less desirable as a wife than she already was. He found it hard to believe that this strange creature was in fact an heiress who had received the best education at the best schools.

When it finally got around to being that moment, he'd just about decided to run.

"Nora, would you very much mind if we spoke alone?" Brian said as dinner ended, making Nick and George nod knowingly.

"Sure. Everyone out." She said rudely. Brian wondered if she was purposely trying to be unpleasant.

Nick and George left the room, Nick looking quiet red faced for Nora's less than lady like behavior that night. When they were alone, Brian struggled to muster up the courage for his next move.

"Nora, I've really enjoyed spending time with you this week." Brian said as Nora yawned loudly.

"Have you?" She asked, watching him walk over to where she was sitting.

"Yes. I know this is going to seem a bit forward but I wanted to ask you something very important." Brian said but a loud burp made him wince.

"Excuse me." Nora said, enjoying how uncomfortable he looked.

"Not at all. Anyways, I was hoping, you would accept this ring and my hand?" He said, suddenly getting down on one knee and taking out the box from Tiffany's. Nora reached out and took the box, opening it slowly.

It was a beautiful ring, Princess cut and on a platinum band. It was amazing. Nora felt bitterness sweep over her, knowing no one would ever give her a ring like this out of actual love.

"You want to marry me?" She asked. Brian nodded.

"Okay." She said, sliding the ring over her finger which surprisingly fit perfect. Brian smiled, leaning in and giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

"you know..." He said, looking at her hand for the first time and noticing she had lovely hands. The fingers were long and slim with perfectly shaped and polished nails. "It looks even more beautiful on your finger."

Just then Nick and George stormed in, having eavesdropped on the conversation and the congratulations began to spread. Nora sat there, staring at the lovely ring, feeling they heavy stone weighing her down.

-------

Nicholas Lida sat in his study, a drink in hand, trying to overcome the guilt for what had happened. He knew he was forcing Brian to marry Nora, and tricking Nora into marrying Brian but he couldn't see his daughter this way any longer.

He hoped that with time, marriage would do Nora some good- help her change, maybe find herself. She had always worked hard to push people away and he knew it made her miserable. There was a soft tapping at the door as Nora entered the room.

"I was just thinking about you." Nick said as his daughter approached him.

"Were you?" Nora asked, doubting he ever really thought about her.

"Yes. I was just wondering if maybe you didn't jump into this decision a bit quick." Nick said, making Nora raise a brow.

"Is there any reason for me not to accept?" She asked.

"No." Nick said, looking down at his drink.

"Good. I have to speak with you about my plans for the summer." Nora said suddenly.

"What plans?" Nick asked. Nora never had plans, for anything. Even after she graduated college, and he had expected her to take an active part in the company, she had instead chosen to stay at home, shut away all day.

"I've decided to spend sometime in London this Summer." She said simply.

"You have?" Her father asked. "What about your wedding?"

"I'll be gone for two months- I'm sure we aren't having the wedding so soon, are we?" Nora said.

"We thought maybe in August or September." her father said but Nora shook her head.

"No, I've always wanted a winter wedding. It needs to be at least December." Nora said, buying for time.

"Okay. So we can do December but how will you plan a wedding in such a short time?" He said.

"The same way I would have planned it had it been in August." she said logically.

"Why London? Who are you going with?" He asked.

"I've always wanted to go to London and I'm going to stay with a friend from school. She invited me not long ago but I never really was interested in travelling." Nora said.

"Until now?" He asked.

"Yes. Meeting Brian had opened up my mind to several new ideas." She said with the fakest smile you have ever seen.

"Well, if you are determined to go... When do you leave?" He asked. Nora handed him a printed Itinerary.

"Sunday???" he exclaimed. Nora nodded.

"I have to admit, I bought the flights on a whim." She said, looking at the flight which left Sunday evening.

"This is impossible. Do you even have a passport?" Nicholas asked, feeling like everything was happening much too fast.

"Of course I do. I had to get one for school." Nora said.

"So that's it then?" Nick said, looking at his daughter. She looked very determined.

"Yes."

-----

"You sure worked fast." Stacey said as she walked down the street with Nora. Nora had called her immediately after dinner, telling her about her travel plans.

"Yes. I need to get away from here. You were right, I'm going to string them along and then snatch it all up from under them." Nora said vindictively. Stacey looked around her, distracted by the sites.

"Tell me again why we are having lunch in Brooklyn?" Stacey asked. Nora rolled her eyes.

"Weren't you the one who said you weren't just another spoiled Manhattan snob?" Nora said. "Besides, I promise this is the best curry you've had."

"I hope you're right." Stacey said, following her into a dingy and dark restaurant.

"You know Brooklyn is considered quite the trendy neighborhood now, gentrified and all?" Nora said, staring at Stacey.

"Sure." She said, wiping down the seat, "But this is the other part of Brooklyn."

Nora laughed, amused by the girl in front of her. Nora wasn't really quite sure why she was trusting Stacey- there was no reason for her to think anything good of her, but then again, there wasn't any reason for Stacey to think anything good of Nora so they were at least on equal ground.

"Thank you." Stacey said as she was handed a glass. "Oh I love your hair."

Nora looked up at the waitress who had silky smooth hair in auburn waves. It was really nice.

"Thanks. I always go with Bea- best kept secret in Brooklyn." The waitress said, pointing to a tiny salon across the street.

Stacey smiled politely, waiting for the waitress to be out of ear shot.

"So what are you going to do in London for two months?" Stacey asked.

"No idea. I'm going to stay in a hotel and rest?" Nora said making Stacey shake her head.

"No, come on. You'll be in London!" Stacey said.

"You don't know what it's like for me. I don't look like you and people make sure I know it wherever I go." Nora said.

"You don't even try though. I mean, I'm not saying you have to look like me, you should look however you want to look but something tells me you're not happy this way." Stacey said.

"What makes you say that?" Nora asked.

"The fact that you are planning on hiding from everyone in a London Hotel." Stacey said.

The waitress appeared then, placing their food in front of them before leaving. Nora stared after her, admiring the hair.

"You know, you could look nice with that color." Stacey said, noticing Nora's interest. Nora rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, right." She said, looking down at her food. Stacey gulped.

"Is this really going to be good?" Stacey asked.

"Yes. Just trust me." Nora said, taking a gulp. Stacey forked it around for a second before finally succumb and taking a bite.

"Mmmm OH wow, Oh My God, this is soooo good." She said, enjoying every bit of it. Nora smiled.

"Told ya." Nora said, serving herself some rice.

"You did. Now, what can I do, to get you to trust me?" Stacey asked, making Nora look up at her.

"I already did... with this entire dilemma." Nora said but Stacey shook her head.

"No, that's not how I mean. I mean, what if we went to go visit Bea and got her to do something about that mess you call hair. When was the last time you even brushed it?" Stacey asked.

"Hey, be nice." Nora said, "and... last week. I think." Stacey made a look of horror.

"You see? What if, and it's a big what if but try it okay? What if we did go to see Bea, get your hair done, those eyebrows waxed and left you looking like a whole new you for London?" Stacey asked. Nora squinted.

"You're not serious, are you?" She asked. Stacey nodded.

"No, no. I couldn't." Nora said, concentrating on her food. "Besides, I would look ridiculous."

"No, I'm actually quite convinced, the more I see you, that you wouldn't. Just Trust me." Stacey said with a smile.

----

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Nora said, the room a blur as Bea blow dried her hair. Bea was a woman in her 30's who had somehow managed to get herself involved in the conversation.

"Come on, you'll be surprised at how different you look already." Stacey said, noting the huge difference in the eyebrows. Stacey had never really noticed before how much those thick frames of hers really deformed Nora's eyes.

"Done." Bea said, turning Nora towards the mirror so she could view herself. Nora reached around, trying to find her glasses and placed them on her nose.

"OH MY." Stacey said, unbelieving. "It's amazing!"

Nora stared at her hair. It was a bit lighter than her natural color without looking fake and it accentuated the nice color of her skin. Her eyebrows were winged now, shaped nicely above her eyes. She really did look different. In fact, she could almost pass as pretty.

"Nora, ever thought of contacts?" Stacey asked, looking at the glasses despairingly.

"I have. I even have a prescription I never filled. I don't know- I've never been particularly motivated." Nora said, putting her hair back into the ponytail she had before.

"Well you should. Your eyes are so big and I'd never realized they were blue. Those glasses make them look dark and much too big for your face." Stacey said.

"Your friend is right and if you ask me, Instead of running off to hide in London, I would show up on Monday and blow them all away." Bea said suddenly. Nora laughed.

"OH MY GOD, BEA, you're brilliant." Stacey said. Bea looked surprised.

"I am?" She asked.

"She is?" Nora repeated.

"Yes. You see, everyone will think you are in London but what if you showed up on Monday and no one knew it was you?" Stacey asked. Nora laughed.

"They'd recognize me in a second." Nora said.

"No. Not without your glasses and a change of clothes. Nora, you look so completely different." Stacey said, "I might not even recognize you."

"This is crazy." Nora said but Bea jumped in.

"Yes, but she's right. You look completely different." Bea said.

"I saw this ad... Bea, hand me that newspaper. You see? They're hiring. All you have to do is walk in on Monday, apply for the job and that loser will loose it when he sees how gorgeous you are." Stacey said.

"They'll never hire Nora Lida." Nora replied.

"No, but they might hire someone different. Think about it. Come on, you string him along, just for a few months and when you finally have him where you want him, you crush him."Stacey said. Nora turned to look at her as if she was mad.

"that's insane. It can't work." Nora said.

"But I think it can."