Julia’s POV
There’s nothing like a mid-afternoon pedicure with your friends to temporarily distract you from the hellscape that is the Woman of the Year competition. Beatrice and Emma are perched on the plush chairs beside me, their feet soaking in warm, bubbly water. The air is thick with the scent of lavender and the sound of our laughter.
It was a beautiful Saturday, Lilian attended a seminar in France for artists, and when she told me she had arrived in NYC, I could not help but show up at the manor and catch up with her. Coincidentally, Beatrice heard about the Forbes List nomination and she wanted to celebrate with me so she and her girlfriend came over to the manor.
“Can you believe it?” I say, sipping my wine. “Out of all the people in New York, my stepmother-in-law, Sarah, get
