LOGINLAURA'S MIND WAS troubled slightly as she got into the car with clarance. Her hand was in her bag, holding the rejected bank card. She ran her fingers over the sides of the card, thinking of what could have happened if the fat man had not come to her rescue.She glanced over at Clarance, who seemed to be having the time of her life. A part of Laura's mind warned her that Clarance had been trying to set her up in the restaurant, but another part of her mind remembered that Clarance has brought out her own card.But was it to pay for just herself and leave Laura out to be humiliated?Or was she going to pay for both of them and save them the embarrassment?Those were the question that Laura asked herself but could not come to a definite answer. She looked out the window, imagining herself as a part of the Emerald women society. Her long dream since she knew about them 5 years ago. She had tried different tactics to get their attention to her - getting married to billionaire Dante Vale,
"MA'AM, THE BILL..." the waiter said, coming back after Laura and Clarance had eaten for almost 30 minutes.Clarance glared at him for a second before she snarled. "Can't you see a card on the table? Use it for crying out loud."The waiter nodded, bowing slightly as he picked up the card from the table. He slid it into the machine and said their total bill. "Can I charge it to this card?""Duh!" Clarance rolled her eyes. "You are holding the card and still asking me dumb questions." She noticed Laura was not looking very confident, so she stretched out to take her hand.The waiter inputted the bill, and pressed some buttons. He stood, waiting for some seconds before he cleared his throat softly and said in a small voice. "Ma'am... the card is not authorized to make this transaction."Clarance slowly froze, her eyes never leaving Laura's as she asked, "What do you mean by that?""This transaction is not being cleared by the bank, or the financial secretary of whoever owns this card." T
LAURA COULD FEEL the power dynamics shifting under her foot as soon as she found out that Clarance was not a member of the society of Emerald women. The society was the top hierarchy in this part of the state, and the major dream of almost every woman in the city. Every woman married to a billionaire must have had a dream of belonging to that group of women, but it was strictly by invitation. No one knew anything about the society, their meetings were secret, their members were secret, but everyone knew how powerful they were. They worked underground and away from the spotlight. Laura was one of the women whose dream was to belong there. She thought that when she became a very successful model, she would be invited immediately, but her career flopped, just as her marriage was flopping too. She fought back the tears, not wanting to give Clarance the satisfaction, and ruin her make up. "You-" her voice was hoarse, so she cleared her throat. "You are a part of them now..." she tried
LAURA DEFINITELY KNEW what she was doing when she chose to delay Clarance for almost 2 hours. She had read somewhere that it was a powerful move. Keeping someone waiting for you would show the person that you were not a subordinate. So after Laura accepted the meeting with Clarance and ended the call, she went ahead to book an urgent appointment at the spa and hair salon. She spent the better part of an hour at the spa, getting massages and sauna treatments, and then she went for a manicure and pedicure. She wanted to be seen as powerful. She wanted to get attention. And with the way heads turned when she walked into the Cafe, it seemed like her plan worked. She looked for Clarance for some seconds before seeing her. Clarance was red with anger. Laura resisted the urge to smile at Clarence's looks. Laura flipped her hair and then walked down to meet Clarance. "I hope I did not keep you waiting for so long," Laura said, placing her Birkin bag on the table and crossing her legs. Cl
"YOU CAN NOT be serious," clarance whispered fiercely.Janice's lips were curved in a smile but her eyes remained cold as she said, "Do i look like i am joking?"From the look on Janice's face, Clarance knew that she was not joking. She realized that she had underestimated the cruelty of Janice Clit, but it was too late to back out now. She swallowed her drink in one gulp before she said, "You want Avery Quinn to come, and you are sending me to her?""Why not?" Janice asked, feigning oblivion."In case you did not hear, I hace met the woman, and it was not for a social visit." Clarance said. "She stole my man and is threatening my relationship with my daughter." Her voice has subconsciously rose and now, the women in the room could hear her. They all went silent, watching the drama. Clarance noticed they were listening and took in a deep breath."Well, do go on," Janice said, smiling. She was enjoying this.Clarance snorted. She did not want her problem and insecurity to be gossiped a
CLARANCE CONTINUED HER lies on Laura. She already knew that they women ostracized Laura, so it was not hard to make them hate her even more."I knew there was something off about Laura," one woman said as Clarance spoke."Hmm," Janice said. "I remember seeing her at an event some months back. She was like her husband's play thing."All the women shook their heads. Janice said, "We pride ourselves on being strong and wealthy women, even without any husband..." The women nodded their head in approval. "And Laura Hill is just not like one of us...""She allows herself to be controlled by her husband," Clarance said. "She even wants to get pregnant for him.""As he is going broke?" One of the women asked, appalled.Clarance nodded. "Don't worry, soon, everyone would see and know the truth that Dante Vale is going broke."Janice took a small sip of her wine and muttered. "I feel sad for Gloria. Her husband is in business with Dante. And if Dante is going broke, it is only a matter of time







