ough the massive windows of

held a porcelain cup of black coffee in one hand and a fin

ront doors

. Clinging to his arm was a young woman in a skin-tight pink d

andi. Lelan

reassert his dominance after the humiliation

hey froze, lowering their heads, prete

wn right on the armrest next to Leland, crossing her legs to show

She slowly turned a

nored. She dramatically raised her right ha

-pitched, grating voice. "This bracelet is

f sight. A thick, gold bracelet covered in diamonds gl

red and eighty thousand dollars. Leland says I'm the only woman who deserves it." She looke

cigar from his pocket and bit the end o

y lowered h

s for exactly two seconds. With her advanced degree in gem

y laugh. She set her coffee

over to Brandi. She look

t out. She grabbed Brandi

in pain. "Hey!

ook a step forward.

to tap a manicured fingernail against the

ire living room. "See how the light refracts blue and yellow? A natural South Afric

tried to yank her arm awa

ing in here!" B

osing the inside of the band. She poi

ank." Cora traced the letters. "And the engraving of the logo is wrong. The tail of the letter 'r' should have a near

let out a loud snort, quickly cover

the weight is completely wrong. This isn't eighteen-karat gold. It's

ss coffee table, she pulled a tissue from a dispenser and meticulously wi

r face was stark white. She looked up at Leland

eep, ugly crimson. The cigar fell f

s. He thought his stupid, uneducated wife would never know the dif

ile ego

Leland roar

randi hard across the face. The

ed and fell o

u stupid cow!" Leland sc

the front door, her heels clicking wildly. She tripped, losing o

of the room, breathing heav

r coffee cup. She

d softly, "is exactly like your

nd staircase, leaving Leland sta