Page 31 of Space Cowgirl: Houston, All Systems Go
“I’m the maid of honor and self-appointed declarer of ugly shit,” Jules says, pointing to the remaining boards.
Ray choke-laughs and excuses himself to the kitchen.
“Excuse me?” Pearl draws all five and a half feet of herself up. That’s including the heels. “I’ll have you know that my work is featured in several of Houston’s prominent homes!”
Jules shrugs. “Sucks for those people.”
Pearl clutches her pearls.
Jules sighs and straightens from the wall. “Listen, lady. Have you even asked Holt what he wants? What he likes? I mean, I know this place is dated, but it sure as shit isn’t eighteenth century England, so I don’t know why you insist on trying to make it look that way.” She walks into the room, bypassing Pearl to stand next to the large picture window. “Do you even notice how all the furniture is angled to look out the window? And you want to cover it up? And that”—she points to the beat-up La-Z-Boy—“is ugly, but it’s well-used. It’s comfortable. What in the hell is Holt going to do after a long day working the ranch? Plop his ass down on a settee?”
Pearl looks around the room as if seeing it for the first time, glancing nervously at her boards. Shaking her head, she says, “He’s a guy, of course he has a La-Z-Boy. That’s why I’m here. Help him get ready to entertain society.” She throws me a sly smile. A smile that screams she’s interested. Not in me, but in the society I might bring her way. I definitely feel sick now. “And he’s a West, dear. He doesn’t actually work the ranch.” Pearl crosses her arms, looking pleased with her conclusions, muttering, “Not that a woman of your caliber would know these things.”
“Oh dear, you have no idea what a woman like me knows,” Jules drawls. “Like how, at just eighteen, Holt West, eldest of the West Oil heirs, raised his brother and sister after their parents died. Or how he took what used to be a tax write-off of a ranch and turned it into one of the most successful cattle ranches in Texas. Or how he wakes up before the sun rises every morning to go over the schedule with his foreman, then puts in at least eight hours himself before calling it a day, always making sure to leave his boots at the door. Or how the very idea of entertaining society makes his skin crawl like he’s rolled naked over fire ants.”
Jules pauses and looks me over. A look that says she’s picturing me naked. The corners of her mouth slowly curl up before she shakes her head as if to clear the image. I can feel myself blush from my own reaction stirring under my belt. I blush harder, thinking about how I haven’t exactly been all that welcoming to her, and yet here she is, defending me against a short Southern woman with swaths of plaid at her disposal.
Jules’ eyes flick back to Pearl. “A woman like you couldn’t possibly know what a man like Holt wants.”
Pearl stomps her foot, and the heel wobbles. “Well, I never!”
“I know, that’s probably why your work is as dried up as your vagina,” Jules mutters loud enough for everyone to hear.
Pearl gasps. The assistant snorts and there’s a crash in the kitchen where Ray is hiding.
“I won’t stand for this.” Pearl spins back to face me and I’m a little too slow in wiping the smile from my face, judging by her scowl. “Mr. West! You can’t just let this, this person dictate—”
I hold up my hands, heading her off. “This person, although, uh”—a glance at Jules shows she’s amused at my discomfort —“colorful?”—Jules just smirks —“in her articulation, is a close friend of the West family, and as such, has an equal say in the whole remodel.” Pearl sucks in air, but before she can speak, I rush over her, unable to stop myself from trying to play peacemaker. “And I know I didn’t mention that, which is my fault. I apologize, ma’am.” I try to rummage up some charm and smile at the designer. I’m not sure if I manage to be charming, or if Pearl just sees West and not Holt, so doesn’t care. Either way, she saddles up to me and takes my hand, wrapping her pointed red talons around my fingers.
“Oh, Holt, there’s no need for that. Call me Pearl.” Her fingernails graze my skin, causing a chill to race down my spine. And not the good kind.
I nod noncommittally and pull my hand free. “I should’ve asked for Jules’ input first, then relayed that message to you before you did all this”—I look over what could be mistaken for a grade school presentation of the many plaids of Scotland—“…work.”
Jules snorts, causing Pearl to narrow her eyes in her direction.
“And what, may I ask, is so funny?” Pearl makes the mistake of asking Jules.
“I was just thinking that if you’d worked as hard on your design as you are on Holt, I wouldn’t have needed to intervene.”
I sigh internally. So much for making peace.
“This is how this is going to go down, Pearl,” Jules continues. “Mr. West likes her design.” She points to the assistant. “So you’re going to help execute it, or you’re out of a job.”
Pearl’s mouth drops open and her heavy eyelashes flutter like butterflies caught in the wind. “You want to go with a recent graduate rather than a seasoned, award-winning designer?” Pearls laughs, then sobers when she sees Jules is serious. She glances at me.
I can’t help but grimace, my headache increasing at being put on the spot, but I forge on. “I have to say, ma’am, I do like this design the best,” I say, pointing to the assistant’s board.
Her mouth opens and closes a few times, reminding me of a freshly caught bass. If a bass wore bright red lipstick.
“Fine.” She starts snatching up the other design boards. “I won’t have my name associated with what will undoubtedly be a complete mess.” She hugs three boards to her chest before realizing the futility of her efforts and dumps them back down on the couch. “Forget it. I’ll have my people come collect everything.” She struts to the door, pausing by Jules. “And you…”
Jules says nothing but slightly shifts, squaring her shoulders.
It’s enough to make the interior designer rethink the target of her last bit of venom and she instead turns to her assistant. “Ungrateful girl!”
Pearl’s heel snaps. She drops to one knee, the hand at her throat snatching her necklace on its descent. Beads bounce everywhere.
Pearl has lost her pearls.
