Glaring at him on steroids, she could sense the muscles of her jaw set.
"Know that with a name like that, it's almost like your mom had great expectations for what you'd do with your life."
"Something greater than becoming a shoplifting gold digger, you mean?"
He did not answer, merely raising an infuriating dark eyebrow.
Yes, fine, perhaps her mom did go a bit overboard with the naming, but all parents dream for their child, don't they? But how on earth did he even know she had so many middle names to start with? "Let's just get one thing clear, DIEGO. I don't appreciate the thought of you rummaging through the intimate aspects of my life. It makes me feel like a burglar rooting around in my drawer full of lingerie."
"I haven't had the pleasure of your panty drawer yet," he responded in his infuriating drawl, "but I'll add it onto my to do list ASAP."
She brushed off his outstretched hand as she stepped out of his black convertible, and once she smoothed out her outfit and tried to pretend she didn't resemble a goddamn freaking banana, they headed toward the entrance of the country club together, ISAAC letting ISAAC ease up on his pace so she could maintain on her very high heels.
He allowed his gaze to move from her face, along her body, and all the way down her long legs which were fully on display given the indecent length of her dress.
"You look wonderful," he told her, although she felt like a custard meringue.
And the low pitch of his voice did something strange to her insides, something she'd never share with him or anyone else.
"Although maybe I shouldn't say it," he continued, "because as you indicate, this is purely a business transaction. I mean, I wouldn't want you to interpret my actions as workplace harassment or any of that."
"Don't worry. You just go ahead and say whatever you want." She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Because if I don't okay it, I'll throat-punch you."
She knew that she shouldn't be snapping at her, but her stomach was churning and she felt like she might throw up. Because she just kept getting the worst sensation that this whole engagement party was going to be a complete disaster…
She was hovering in the MANCHESTER LED waiting for ISAAC to obtain her a second drink when TENZ JER'SEY came to join her. "Well, I never did see you two hitting it off," TENZ JER'SEY mused after congratulating her with a warm hug. "Yeah, I didn't even see it coming myself," she was able to say. "So, how are you?"
"Alright. CAT M'NOO and I are having a baby. It will be great to have kids, though CAT M'NOO's already complaining that I'll need to bring in more money to cover the army of nannies she's anticipating."
She smiled at him. In spite of his flaws, she could see him being a good father.
"I'm glad you and me can still stay friends, KY," he said in earnest.
"Sure, me too, TENZ JER'SEY.". Whatever did occur was merely the universe's way of telling me we were never supposed to be together. That we were always better off just being friends. Because even though he was technically the worst boyfriend in the whole freaking world, they were best friends first before they ever started dating, and it is nice to be friends with him again. He always had her, as did CAT M'NOO and PELLA and NIKKI, and it's seldom a person will discover true friendship like that. TENZ JER'SEY and CAT M'NOO wed soon after the announcement of the engagement as well because of some family business deal, and then CAT M'NOO got in touch with her later and actually apologized. He apologized and told her he was in the wrong and really sorry for what he did to her. She knew now that they were not meant to be, and even though it really hurt her to lose him, his apology provided her with closure on their whole relationship.
"Yeah, friends," he said. \"Let's get a coffee sometime. I'll call you next week?\"
"That'd be nice."
And then TENZ JER'SEY gave her one final brief smile before departing when he saw ISAAC approaching. ISAAC laser-glared over TENZ JER'SEY's receding back. "What did you want, TENZ JER'SEY?"
"Just wishing me well and saying we need to have a coffee next week." She looked around the room. "Party's going well."
"Really?" ISAAC was surprised she was even upset. But with as much champagne as she had had, she was a little more loose than she had been.
They started mingling and found themselves at the center of a large group of party guests anxious to catch a glimpse of her beautiful ring. After oohing and ahhing over her rock for a proper duration, Marjorie Martinelli sat down and started questioning her. "So, how in the world did you two find each other?" Marjorie questioned her.
She opened her mouth, then shut it. She didn't know how to answer, since ISAAC didn't brief her on how to respond to this particular question. "ISAAC, you do them," she blurted out, knowing there's no way in the world he's ever going to be able to spin pretending a cop is the moment when she totally fell in love with him.
A flash of transient alarm flickered across ISAAC's face. "No, babe, you explain it to them," he replied when he couldn't think of an answer. He clearly didn't script this fake engagement party charade quite so well…
Her jaw dropped. How in the world would she ever get away with this? She swallowed hard. "Uh, okay, sweet little bunnykins, let me just put on my thinking cap…"
And she smiled to herself at ISAAC's expression when he overheard her speaking of him in the newly coined pet name.
"Sooo, it all started at that funeral. You remember, uh, when ISAAC jumped into the pool and drowned that man?"
"Sure, we all do," Marjorie nodded.
"Well, how could I not fall for him after witnessing him defend my integrity in what can only be described as a Dynasty-esque Alexis Colby vs. Krystle Carrington complete and total bitch fight?"
Majorie's sidekick, Vera Vecchiarelli, gave her a dubious look. "Really…?"
"Well, when he came out of the pool, he just looked like a, uh, drowned bunny. And that was when I fell totally and completely in love with him."
"Why, because he looked like a drowned rat?" Marjorie said in a bewildered tone.
She nodded maniacally. "Why, because he looked like a little cute drowned bunny."
"I believe you mean he looked like a drowned rat," Vera interrupted.
She stared at her sternly. "No," she said slowly, "I mean he looked like a drowned bunny." Perhaps she had consumed more drink than she should have by now, but how else was she to survive this fake party for her fake engagement?
Marjorie and Vera clearly weren't fooled by her feeble attempt at lying. Marjorie coughed. "Dear, are you absolutely sure that this engagement is real?"
Oh Lord, they were going to be caught out! "Like this!" she exclaimed, cutting herself off as she shoved ISAAC so hard that he lost his balance and plunged headfirst into the pool.
There's a huge splash as he entered the water.
And his swearing and spluttering were the only noises she heard in the moment of silence.
Then people gasped and shouted out loud all about her.
And although she could actually feel ISAAC's scowl slashing into her, she couldn't help feeling pleased with herself on the inside.
He wriggled over to the side and finally hauled himself clear, his suit torn and expensive, and his hair plastered to his face.
"See?" she cried out in a playful tone, snapping hands together. "Aren't he the cutest when he looks like a drowned bunny?"
Marjorie had nodded hesitantly, and Vera had tried a weak laugh.
And choosing she must slip away from their questioning before they caught on she was lying, she had hurried off to get herself a fresh drink.
Whatever in the world was that, KYOLINE?" ISAAC ploshed up behind her at the patio bar, spilling water all over the stones.
She blinked slowly. "I needed it to be believable, and I have, uh, standards, so I wouldn't necessarily fall for a guy unless there was something really amazing about him."
"I'm your fake fiancé," he emphasized.
"Uh, so?
So lower your goddamn standards," he growled.
VINCENT DANZA approached. "Did I hear KYOLINE call you fluffy bunnykins?" He laughed out loud. "Why does she call you that?