He Shoved Cake in My Face. I Destroyed His Empire! novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: The Peace Offering

"Put it down, Colette," my mother said, from the armchair by the window. "Not on the silk."

Colette set the box on the glass coffee table.

She untied the ribbon with the care of someone who knew she was being watched.

Inside sat a small white cake with two tiers and pink piping.

Across the top, in loopy letters, it said Sorry, Alle.

"No shellfish," Colette said brightly. "I called the bakery twice. I know how careful you have to be."

"How thoughtful," said my mother.

Colette beamed at her.

She hadn't noticed that my mother had said it in the voice she used on bankers who were about to lose a client.

I stayed standing.

"I'm not hungry," I said.

"You don't have to eat it." Colette's eyes filled, right on time. "I just needed you to know I'm sorry. I've been sick about the soup. It was an accident, Allegra. My hands were shaking."

"Your hands were steady in the lobby."

"That was Dominic's idea. I only went along because I was scared of him."

I looked at her pink coat and her red eyes.

For ten years I had believed those tears.

I watched them now and felt nothing at all.

"What do you want, Colette?"

She wiped her cheek with one knuckle.

"I want you to be my maid of honor on Saturday."

My mother did not move.

I could feel her not moving.

"It's black tie, at the boathouse on the Hudson," Colette went on. "Dominic's investors will be there. If people see us together, all that ugly lobby business goes away. We'll film the fitting. We'll show everyone we're friends again."

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