Chapter 23: Blondie

OLLIE

“Anything stronger?” I asked the bartender, leaning against the bar and returning an empty glass of champagne.

I’d been hiding in this corner of the event with its own private little bar.

Not that I could stay away from the curious eyes.

It’s like they already knew I was Sarah’s sister.

Thank heavens, I no longer had to worry about that stupid jewel.

Archer was calming Anna, and Sarah was glued to Alexander.

I didn’t know which group was worse to be around.

This was more intense than a K-drama on display.

I only stayed to keep an eye on Sarah, but Alexander hadn’t let go of her hand, so now I didn’t have a plan in mind other than having a much-needed drink to cool off.

It was probably better if I stayed here alone, away from the fuzz.

Free and alone.

I sighed.

“Tequila?” The man raised his eyebrow in a question.

When was the last time I drank tequila?

“That will do the job. Make it a double, please.”

He placed the liquor in front of me, and I swallowed the harsh drink as a punishment, feeling it burn my throat.

I signaled to the bartender.

“Another one.”

“Make it two,” said a tall blonde woman with a femme fatale vibe from across the bar.

I felt bewitched by her looks and smiled back at her.

She was stunning.

“To an ungrateful son of a bitch.” She raised her shot with a slight grin.

I could beat that toast.

“And to a cheating, lying bastard,” I offered, thinking about Roger.

I raised my glass to clink hers and we took our shots together.

“You know it only takes one man to fuck you over? Just that one man, and then you are screwed,” I told her.

“~El amor es una magia pero~ is…~no bueno~. Is it your ex?” I gave her my best Spanish combined with a funny movement of my hands, something I only did when I was tipsy.

Both the woman and the bartender seemed entertained by my little show.

Was this why I didn’t drink tequila?

~Shit~.

“My boss. Well, kind of. We are sort of partners,” she confessed.

“Business partners.”

She quickly specified, as if “partners” alone meant something different.

“Oh, it must be tough keeping the ‘it’s all professional’ front,” I said, clenching my fingers.

She winked.

“Not if you are professional in bed.”

“Wow, missy.” I laughed.

“We need another round.”

I signaled to the bartender.

“Yes, keep them coming,” Blondie agreed.

“Imagine falling in love with someone who doesn’t want you the same way.”

She was trying to hide how miserable she felt, but it was evident she needed more than a bottle of tequila to drown her pain.

Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t been truly in love with Roger.

I mean, I was hurt by what he did, but I didn’t look like this woman.

She looked like she was about to rip her heart out from her chest, but it made no sense.

She was a bombshell.

Who wouldn’t be at her feet?

Who could even compete with this woman?

“Maybe he is doing you a favor by being honest. I mean, believe me, honesty—” I stopped.

“Honesty is rare. At least he’s not giving you mixed signals,” I consoled her, opening my palms.

“But he is so…intriguing and irresistible.” She looked back at the party, full of lust and desire.

“Just say it—he’s smoking hot,” I cut her off, laughing.

She covered her head with her palms in embarrassment and nodded, sending us both into laughter.

“So, to hot boys.” She raised the shot in her hand.

“Hot boys? I don’t want any boys around. To hot manly men!” I raised my shot to meet hers.

“To hot manly men!” we said in unison and drank our shots.

“So, what’s your story?” Blondie asked as the bartender put two more shots in front of us.

I studied her beautiful features.

This woman was from another galaxy.

I didn’t like women in a romantic way, but for her I would probably make an exception.

“Girl, I’m bro-broke.” The hiccup slowed me momentarily, but I continued.

“I’m so, so, so broke. I’m not even thirty, and I’m starting to feel old with all the shit I’ve been through.”

“How about that insecurity? Did I mention I got cheated on by a cute secretary?”

Two truths, one lie.

Just how I liked it.

Roger had never cheated on me.

Nevertheless, I was entitled to make people believe he was the worst piece of shit on this earth.

He was.

“Wow, I think you need this more than I do.” Blondie passed me her shot.

“Did I mention he stole my business idea too?” I downed the two shots like a pro.

I didn’t even frown.

Shit, I was getting dizzy.

“That is why I have no coins in my pockets. Just a cute ass,” I sang my words like a jingle, feeling strangely petty.

I sighed and rested my forehead on the table.

“He always said I had a cute ass.”

“That’s what they always say.” Her eyes widened and her voice was bitter.

“Thank you for sharing.”

I felt her hand on my shoulder for a second.

Two drunk girls showing sympathy for each other.

“I just hate men.” I closed my eyes.

“Is it awful that you are making me feel better about myself?” Her voice was velvet.

“A little shit can be a blessing in disguise. Never thought your troubles were so small, did you?” I said honestly.

If Blondie only knew, this was just the tip of the iceberg.

“Am I having shots with Jesus himself?” she teased.

“Wait! I’m thinking of something good.” I rubbed my hands in anticipation then held up another shot to give my toast.

“To a controlling, misogynistic, shallow Greek god.”

I stopped to think for a moment, and then added, “May his dick become squashy and useless for eternity.”

“Wait, I have to stop you there. Call it my sixth sense, but he is either the best fuck you ever had in your life, or he is at the top of your wish list.” She smirked playfully.

Blondie was a medium!

My expression said it all, and she got so euphoric I wanted to cover my face.

“I knew it! You haven’t had sex with him yet?” she probed.

My hand went down with the shot still in hand, and my lips pressed unapologetically.

A silent confession.

“That means there is another guy! Oh, tell me more about this Greek god! We are so over that lying bastard ex-boyfriend of yours. Tell me, is this Greek god really that misogynistic?”

“No, I just wanted to say something awful,” I admitted.

Because he was awful, and I hated him.

What other reasons could I have?

“Well, what about him do you hate the most?” she pressed.

I frowned. “Like just one thing?” There were so many.

“Yes, the first thing that comes to your mind.”

“To start? I guess I can’t stand his air of superiority and entitlement.”

~Fucking asshole with a stick up his ass.~

“Then you should call him out.” She smiled confidently.

“Call him out? Like in front of everyone?” This woman in front of me seemed to have all the answers.

“Yes. What better way to hurt an entitled person than by harming their reputation?” she purred. “Unless you want to fuck him, then you should use a more sensitive tactic.”

“You know what? Maybe I will.” I stood.

“Which one? The harming his reputation thing or the sensitive tactic?”

“I kind of want to do both,” I admitted, and we both cracked up laughing again.

Damn, these shots already had us both sassy.

“Wait, but what should I do?” she asked.

“Oh, I am not the best one for love advice. I am kind of a mess.”

I touched my head, feeling dizzy.

“Don’t be like that.” She sounded disappointed.

“Well, if he isn’t a lying bastard, then I don’t see a reason why you shouldn’t try again,” I suggested.

I tried to imagine how any man could resist her.

“The truth is he already rejected me tonight. Twice.”

~Ouch.~ Hurt blondie has balls.

“I even pulled the seductive card on him, and he pushed me away. That has never happened to me before.”

She sighed deeply.

“I should be happy and grateful. He is a man who puts women in charge. I’m at the height of my career because of him.”

“You really want him that badly?” I asked.

“I’m doomed,” she confessed,

“Isn’t the third time lucky?” I encouraged her. “A woman in power is resilient, Blondie.”

She laughed lightly, sounding partly convinced.

Maybe some hope would help.

Blondie held out her hand. “My name is Seline.”

I shook it. “And I’m Ollie.”

“Ollie, you are the most outspoken and honest person I’ve met in a long time.”

An honest liar.

“Well, you are very fun to hang around with,” I added with a tipsy grin.

“Ha! Not many people would say that. I guess it’s part of my badass bitch front. It’s okay. I’m comfortable being a bitch all the time.”

“Interesting,” I muttered, rubbing my chin.

“I think you should give a lesson to that Greek god of yours tonight.” She reached out to the last untouched shot on the bar.

“On my way to that.” I made two little guns with my hands. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Blondie. I’ll be on my worst behavior tonight.”

I waved goodbye with a smirk and returned to the center of the event.

I walked as straight as I could, making a couple of stops to rest when I stumbled over my long skirt.

Walking in these heels was painful, but nothing felt more exciting than making that brute of a bastard regret ever meeting me.

I was not stopping, even if my legs failed me.

I was so ready to scratch that bothersome need to do something recklessly impulsive as the liquor courage blazed in my veins.

~Fuck, I was alive~! More alive than ever. Searching for him. Searching for retribution.

I got on my tiptoes, trying to get a better view of the crowd.

It shouldn’t be hard; I was hunting for a giant.

Finally, I spotted my target in the tent’s far corner.

The oh-so-mighty Robert Darius Rothschild looked more regal than ever.