Page 21 of His Beautiful Revenge
Zulika squealed and hugged her. “Seriously, Norah …I’m so happy for you.”
Norah hugged her. “Thank you, baby. Now, let’s get some work done.”
Giacomo, of course, couldn’t stay away long. He arrived at lunchtime and bore Norah off to a little trattoria in the city. They shared a plate of pasta and half a bottle of a superb white wine, chatting easily and enjoying the warm day.
It wasn’t until Giacomo was paying the check that Norah saw her.Tara. Norah had learned enough about the blonde woman now that she recognized her immediately as she walked towards Norah. Norah didn’t like the smile on her face.
“You must be Norah.”
Norah gazed back at Tara coolly. “You must be Tara.”
Tara smirked and sat down without being asked. Norah glanced at Giacomo, who was talking to the maître d” and hadn’t seen them. “What do you want?” She asked Tara, who lit a cigarette and observed her for a few moments.
“Just wanted to see my replacement. He’s a good fuck, isn’t he?” She flicked the ash of her cigarette and didn’t wait for a reply. “Lovely, thick cock and he knows how to use it. And thatface…”
Norah’s expression hardened. “I’ll ask again, in case you’re stupid enough not to understand my question. What do you want?”
Tara cackled. “Oh, you have some fire in your belly. Good. That’s good. You’ll need that when he screws around on you. And hewillscrew around on you, Norah, mark my word.”
“Please leave.”
Tara didn’t move. “You know why he’s with you, of course. I’ll tell you, unless you’re under the illusion that you have some sort of magical cunt that he can’t resist. Payback.”
Norah sighed. “I really don’t care what you think.”
Tara’s mouthed formed into a perfectO. “You really don’t know, do you?”
Giacomo was there then, his face full of anger. “Tara, what the fuck are you doing here?”
She smirked, completely unfazed by his annoyance. “Just filling in your lovely whore on the real reason you’re fucking her.”
She turned back to Norah. “He knew, you know.”
“Tara, shut your damn mouth.” Norah had never seen Giacomo look so angry. She stood and took his arm, her eyes cold as she looked at the blonde woman.
“I really don’t care what you have to say.”
She began to walk away when Tara called after her. “Lucian. Giacomo knew I was screwing him before he offered you a job. Before he fucked you. That’s what I mean by payback. It wasrevenge,you stupid bitch.”
Norah felt her heart stop. She looked up at Giacomo, who shook his head. “That had nothing to do with …”
“Youknew.You knew your girlfriend was screwing my boyfriend …and then, what? Giacomo?”
“It had nothing to do with the way I feel about you,mio caro.Nothing.I love you.”
Norah pulled her arm away from him. “But you knew …and you never told me?”
Giacomo closed his eyes. “Norah …”
“Youbastard.” She whispered the words, her voice breaking. She heard Tara behind her.
“He’s just like all of the rest of them. Just like Lucian.”
A fury rose up in Norah and she turned and slapped Tara’s face, hard. Tara, laughing, staggered, but righted herself as Norah, with burning anger and hurt in her eyes, looked at Giacomo.
“You’re a liar and a user. Go find someone else to play your twisted games with.”
Giacomo reached out for her, but she ducked out of his reach. “Don’t follow me.”
