Chapter 26 — Belinda White
1236 Words
“I mean you don't look any different than you did back at the firm,” Henry said.
I gritted my teeth, refusing the urge to slam his head into the ground.
“Oh please…” Belinda purred, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You've always been such a tease.”
Fucking b***h.
Acting as if she wasn't silently eating up every word from Henry.
“I'm just a gentleman, Linda.”
Well what do you know… It's Linda now, huh?
“My God…” Belinda giggled, playfully slapping Henry on the chest. “You haven't changed much yourself.”
She said, stepping closer. “At least give me a hug, will you?”
Oh! Hell to the damned no.
I stepped between them, just as she reached for Henry.
“Hi, Mrs White.” I grinned.
She blinked, stepping back a bit.
“Uhh… hi?”
“I'm Rosie. Rosie Alphonse,” I said, taking her hand in mine.
She glanced from me to Henry as if asking who I was.
“Ohh… I'm his fiancée's daughter,” I said.
“Oh…” she drawled, subtly pulling her hands from mine, then she stepped back.
“It's Miss White, sweetheart.” She bit out.
Interesting.
“I didn't know you were engaged, Henry.” Belinda said, desperately trying to hold onto her smile, though it kept faltering ever so slightly.
Henry chuckled. “Yes I am, Linda. It happened a few months back, while I was in Paris.”
“Wow… I guess you found love in the city of love.”
“I guess so…”
“But a kid…” Belinda trailed off, glancing at me with disdain. “Why settle for a single mom?”
Henry opened his mouth to say something, but I beat him to it.
“Oh my—don’t tell me you don't have kids, Miss White.”
She flicked her hair with a light scoff.
“Of course I don't, I'm saving those for when I find the right man.”
“Oh wow… You aren't married either.” I gasped, feigning surprise.
“Of course not.” She cut in sharply. “Like I just said, I haven't found the right man yet.” She said, glancing at Henry.
“Damn… I really thought you were.”
“And why would you think that?” She fired back.
“It's just…” I drawled. “You look pretty old—”
“Old?” She repeated sharply, cutting me off.
I glanced at Henry, scowling at the amused look on his face.
“Yeah… you should be in your late forties or early fifties, I believe—”
“Of course not.” She bit out. “I just turned thirty a few months back.”
“Really?”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
I stared at her unamused.
I assure you, Miss White, everyone stopped buying that lie ten to fifteen years ago.
“I really wouldn't have pegged you for a thirty-year-old woman… maybe it's the make-up.”
“Yes, yes…” she grunted. “It should be the make-up.”
Trust me, they're the main reason why you still lie about being thirty with confidence.
“You know, I don't wear them that often, just on special occasions.”
What a lie.
You probably became one with it as soon as you clocked thirty.
“Speaking of special occasions, I actually just came back from a Vogue editorial shoot. I was featured for their timeless beauty campaign.” she said, emphasizing on the word ‘timeless beauty’
More like an anti-aging cream ambassador.
“I've always wanted to shoot my shot at modeling,” I commented.
She scrunched her face.
“I could call in a few favors for you, seeing as you're connected to Henry, but…” she drawled, eyeing me up and down with disgust. “You're just too plain, I don't think you'll stand out much.”
“I see…”
“But don't worry, I'll pitch in a good word for you next time I'm shooting for Harper's Bazaar.”
“You're connected to Harper's too?” I asked, with mock concentration.
She chuckled softly. “Of course I am, I'm deeply connected with a lot of celebrities and influential people.”
“Wow… that is so cool.”
“I know…” she cooed, waving carelessly. “So… what does your mother do?”
“Oh, my mum? Nothing as glamorous as yours, Miss White. She's the White House Deputy National Security Advisor.”
“W-white House?” She echoed, eyes wide as saucers.
“Yeah,” I nodded.
She scoffed bitterly. “As you said, it's nothing as cool as mine though.”
“Hmm…”
She glanced at her wristwatch, then back at us. “Look at the time, I'm meeting with the creative director for Louis Vuitton tomorrow.”
“Of course… you're a busy woman after all.”
“That I am,” she said, smiling brightly. Then she turned to Henry.
Oh, here we go.
“How about I take your number, so we can keep in touch?” Belinda said, passing her phone to Henry.
“Of course—”
I grabbed it before Henry could.
“I'll give you mine instead, since I'm like his secretary,” I said, typing in my number.
Her face turned red from frustration, fingers fisting by her side.
“How can you be his secretary?”
“Benefits of having kids, Miss White. He has me act as his secretary for free. Can you even believe it?” I said, handing her phone back to her.
“I see… maybe I could put my number on his phone instead.”
“Yikes… he left his phone at home.”
“Then he should know his number offhand, right?”
“Trust me, he's a total clutz who doesn't remember something as simple as his birthday, let alone a phone number.”
“Wow… I didn't remember Henry being this dumb back then.”
I laughed eerily. “Old age. You know how it gets.”
She scowled. “Sadly I don't.”
“Of course… you're just thirty.” I muttered, dryly.
She flipped her hair to the side.
“Alright then, I'll call or text you tonight so I can remind you to send his number to me.”
“No problem, Miss White.” I replied with a large grin.
She stretched out her arm towards Henry and he took it.
“It was really nice to meet you, Henry.”
“Likewise, Linda,” Henry replied, pulling out his hand from hers.
“Talk to you soon,” she said with a sultry smile.
You wish.
Then finally—
She turned around, strutting away. Making sure to add more swing to her hips.
Christ.
Even the hoes on Blue Street weren't as desperate as this woman.
“Let's go home, please,” I said, walking towards the car.
“Aren't you going to get something—”
“I suddenly lost the urge to shop, Henry,” I said, pulling the car door open, then I slammed it shut.
Henry walked towards the driver's seat and started the car.
I turned to stare outside the window as the car pulled out of the supermarket's parking lot and onto the road.
- Writer
