Page 36 of Play to Win
Immediately uncomfortable at the eyes that had shifted to her, Portia took a slow, deep breath and released it.
“Can I help you with something?” she asked Melissa. “Or do you have nothing else better to do with your time?”
The shrill laughter stopped and Melissa shook her head at Portia. “Still as clueless as ever. No, there’s nothing you can do for me. Just as you’re never going to sell that awful gaudy-looking house for anything more than chump change.”
Portia tilted her head, raising a brow in question. “Oh, are you a real estate expert now?” she asked. “I thought I’d heard something about you being unemployed.”
As a recipient of gossip which often turned out to be straight lies, Portia didn’t pride herself on listening to or repeating stories she heard from others about people. But Melissa had always been a different case. Besides, last night’s girls’ night with Camy and Rylan had opened Portia up to a whole other world of female politics. Especially when they’d downed Pink Starburst shots and went through the Providence High yearbook with a ‘where are they now?’ segment.
Melissa’s porcelain complexion paled further, her thin lips pulling into a straight line. “I happen to be married to a very prominent businessman who takes very good care of me,” she snapped.
Portia nodded and laced her fingers together in her lap. It was her only nervous movement as she sat with her back straight and chin up.
“That’s wonderful,” Portia replied. “I always knew you would marry well.”
“Just as I knew you would never amount to anything.”
“Not sure that’s accurate.” Portia clapped back. “Considering my company easily grossed seven figures last quarter.”
She didn’t like to brag, and she rarely ever talked about her business or the profits with others. That could be because of the small circle of people she actually socialized with, but whatever the reason, this was out of character for her. But Melissa Bannon had always put Portia on the defensive. The difference this time was that Portia had no intention of taking Melissa’s crap lying down.
Melissa shrugged. “I’m not surprised at all. Sex always sells. However, it’s still basic and crass. But then I guess that works well for you.”
“Success works well for me, Melissa. How about you?”
“Look, Plain Portia,” Melissa said as she stepped closer to the table. “You’re still the same uncouth little outcast that you were when we were younger. Hell, even your parents finally had the good sense to disown you. I hear your dad is a big shot in the political arena and your mother stands classily by his side. Both without their only dismal daughter.”
The words felt like sharpened barbs driving into Portia’s skin. They stilled her tongue and brought flashbacks of that last argument she’d had with her mother, but Portia refused to let Melissa see that she’d expertly hit her mark.
“I don’t beg for attention, Melissa. I never did and I never will. Now, if you’ll excuse me, some of us actually have work to do today. You can go along with…whatever it is that you do to make yourself feel worthy these days,” she said.
“Everything alright here?” Ethan asked as he came up behind Melissa.
The infuriating woman had the gall to smile as she turned her head so that her hair flipped sassily in Ethan’s direction.
“Why Ethan, darling. No, everything is not alright. I was just looking for a seat and I saw that this one was taken by someone less than worthy of this great establishment you and your little friends have here. I mean, what would the Town Council say if they knew you had a porn star working here at the bar that they were so nervous about opening in our peaceful little town? I’m sure if I called my Uncle Murray, he’d have to call an emergency council meeting to get to the bottom of this situation and that might lead to fines and penalties, and maybe even the bar being shut down until an investigation could be completed. Now, I know you don’t want that do you, honey? After all, you and your buddies are supposedly working so hard to mend your broken reputations around here.”
Portia watched as with each sugary spoken word that fell from Melissa’s mouth like venom angered Ethan. His eyes grew to a deep dark green, a muscle in his jaw tightening as he stood silently listening to her.
“We’re open to the public, Melissa. And as long as our guests act with kindness and decency, we’re happy to serve them. You think you can do that today?” he asked, his tone not changing at all to reflect the anger Portia could sense brewing inside him.
Melissa frowned. “Don’t let the porn videos fool you, Ethan. I pegged you for more of a man than a sex fiend, easily swayed by vulgar blow jobs and sex toys. But if you make the wrong choice—”
“There’s no choice to be made,” Portia interjected. “As I said before, I’m just here on business. There’s no need for anyone to change what they’ve been doing in Providence on my account.”
“The sooner you leave, the better,” Melissa spat before turning back to Ethan.
She placed a hand with narrow fingers and mauve painted nails to the center of Ethan’s chest. “Remember what I said, Ethan darling. Choose wisely,” Melissa crooned and let her hand glide across his chest before she moved away, leaving Ethan and Portia alone.
Only a few seconds passed before Ethan reached for Portia’s hand. “Come on, let’s take a walk.”
She shook her head. “You’re working. I can just get my stuff together and head home. It’s no big deal.”
But itwasa big deal, she thought instantly. After the incident with Bobby and all the flack she’d received during her last year of college, Portia had sworn she was through with running from her problems. Especially those problems that weren’t her fault to begin with. She’d packed her bags and escaped from Providence as quickly as she could twelve years ago, in an effort to get away from people like Melissa. Now, she wanted to be stronger.
“I’m on my break,” Ethan told her. “And I want to spend it walking through the park with you.”
* * *
