Page 150 of The Billionaire's Baby
"It is, right?" I twist my fingers together. "I think my brain cells have melted together. I mean, look at me." I gesture to myself. "I used to love wearing designer clothes. I'd walk into a meeting full of men and enjoy the power I held over them, but now—"
"Now you find all that hot girl shit exhausting?" She nods. "Instead, you want to do the old lady shit, like a puzzle, knit a sweater, sit in a chair while you shower…?"
I glower at her and she chuckles.
"Did you get your knickers in a twist because you saw him?"
I blink. "Not exactly. I’m just going crazy trying to come up with a way to get back at him."
"And that’s important?" Isla tilts her head. "That you have your revenge for something he supposedly did?"
"Supposedly?" I huff. "He totally maneuvered me to where he wanted me to be."
"Maybe that’s what you wanted, too?"
I turn on her, "What do you mean?"
"Look, Karina," she leans back in the sofa, "you’re so strong willed... It’s one of the things I love about you. If I had half the backbone you have—"
"Oh, but you do, Isla. You run a successful wedding planning business, which is no mean feat."
She smiles, then shakes a finger at me, "Oh, no, we’re not talking about me here."
"But—"
She shakes her head. "Let me finish, babe."
I sigh, "Sorry, that was impolite of me, please continue."
She folds her legs under her, makes herself comfortable. "That’s what I mean. You are so clear-headed, doll. There really isn’t much anyone can force you into doing."
"Except, he did..." I say slowly.
She nods, "So maybe somewhere inside, you wanted it, too?"
"What?" I frown. "You think I subconsciously knew what was happening, but I went along with it anyway?"
She purses her lips. "All I’m saying is, he’s not the only guilty party here."
"Hey," I protest, "who’s side are you on?"
"Yours, honey, always yours." She smiles. "I’ve seen each of the other women go through their own journey before they got one of the Seven."
"Which is why you’ve sworn never to be entangled with one of them?"
She scowls.
"Yeah, yeah, okay, we’re not talking about you." I make the motion of zipping my lips with my fingers.
"Good." She props her elbow on the armrest and supports her chin on her palm. "Each of the other women found a way to strip away the masks the Seven wear to the world, so their true natures were exposed."
"You mean, they found a way to see them at their most vulnerable?"
She nods. "What bothers you the most about what happened with Arpad?"
"That he used false pretenses to first lure me to London, then to make me accompany him to see his family."
"So do the same to him."
