Holiday: Annihilate Them, #2 Read online

  Transfixed, I watched him remove from the bureau’s top drawer a medium-sized black-velvet box.

  “What have you done?” I asked.

  He narrowed his eyes at me with a sense of mischief.

  “Maybe you should open your present,” he said.

  “But this isn’t fair,” I said. “I don’t have a gift for you right now—they’re all under the tree.”

  “Then I’ll be happy to open them tomorrow morning. And the good news? After Helga leaves, it will be just you, Aiden, and me opening presents in the morning. What could be better than that?”

  “Pretty much nothing,” I said.

  He handed me the box, which felt heavy in my hands.

  “Open it,” he said.

  I looked at him for a long moment before I opened the box—and when I did, I gasped. Inside wasn’t just a watch. It was a diamond-encrusted watch by Chanel. From the band to the face, it was covered in diamonds. Too many diamonds to count. The entire watch appeared to be made of diamonds.

  “Alex,” I said as I looked up at him.

  “It’s the J12 Flying Tourbillon Watch by Chanel,” he said. “A few weeks ago, I went to Chanel with Blackwell and looked at several watches. But when I saw this, I thought it was so beautiful—and so timeless in so many ways—that I knew that you should have it.”

  “It’s literally covered with diamonds...”

  “As it should be. Because don’t you see—you’re my diamond, Jennifer.”

  Speechless, I just looked at the watch while Alex kissed me.

  “Come on,” he said. “Try it on.”

  “I can’t,” I said. “My hands are shaking.”

  “How about if we take off the watch you’re wearing first, and then I’ll put this one on you?”

  In a haze, I did as I was told. And when I did, Alex affixed the watch to my wrist, and then I admired it as he did the same.

  “It’s amazing,” I said. “Look at how it sparkles in the light...”

  “Do you like it?”

  “Are you serious? I love it.”

  “And I love you,” he said. “So how about if we go and greet our guests?”

  I marveled at the watch. “What guests...?”

  “Our guests. You remember, the ones who are coming to the party. I believe that they’re about to arrive. Now come on. Plenty of time to look at the watch later. Let’s go and throw our friends the best Christmas eve party ever.”

  AFTER CHECKING IN WITH the kitchen staff and taking a few moments to talk with the waiters who’d be serving the canapés and cocktails, I heard our private elevator ding and knew that our first guests had arrived.

  Let the fun begin, I thought.

  And then I heard Daniella’s voice—and thought otherwise.

  “I told you, I didn’t want to come,” I heard her say in the distance. “It has nothing to do with Uncle Alex or Jennifer. It’s just me. I’d rather be alone in my own apartment, eating a big bag of Doritos and drinking a bottle of cheap vodka. You know? The rot-gut kind, since apparently I don’t have a soul that it could eat through!”

  “Daniella,” I heard Blackwell say. “I heard enough of this on the way over here and especially in the elevator on the way up. You either need to get yourself in line now, girl, or I will send you home. And if I do that and Cutter does decide to show up? Well, I guess you will have blown it again.”

  Oh, dear...

  “Do you even know whether he’s coming?” Daniella asked.

  “How many times do I have to answer that?”

  “Not enough for my tastes, because I need to know.”

  “You already know that I don’t know. All I know is that he didn’t rule it out. And that’s the truth.”

  “I should have just confronted him like Jennifer suggested, but I was too much of a coward. I never found the courage to do so.”

  “That’s on you.”

  “Hi!” I said as I left the kitchen and joined Alex to greet Daniella, Alexa and Blackwell in the foyer. “We’re so glad you’re here!”

  “Look at how well she lies,” Blackwell said.

  “I’m not lying,” I said. “We are glad you’re here!”

  Alexa shot me a look and then coughed once into her fist. “You might feel otherwise in a few moments, Jennifer,” she said. “Because a whole lot of drama just walked into your house.”

  “As if you wouldn’t be upset if you were in my shoes, Alexa,” Daniella said.

  “That’s the thing, Daniella—I wouldn’t be in your shoes.”

  “Please—as if your enormous feet could even fit into my shoes.”

  “Daniella,” Blackwell warned. “Stop it. We’re not doing this again this year. I’m not going to allow you to sabotage yet another party.”

  “And neither am I,” Alex said firmly. “Jennifer and I have gone through a lot of trouble to pull off this evening for our family and friends, and as much as I love you, Daniella, I’m not going to let you ruin it.”

  “Well, gee, Uncle Alex—tell me how you really feel.”

  “I’m just being straight with you,” he said. “All of us are sorry about what happened between you and Cutter, but whatever you two are going through ended the moment you stepped out of that elevator. If you want to go home and sulk, I’ll have a car brought around to take you. If you’d like to stay and enjoy Christmas eve with the rest of us, we’d be happy to have you. At this stage in your life, you are old enough to know that the world doesn’t revolve around you. You also need to know that many of us here are tired of your tantrums. So choose. You can either stay with us and be pleasant company or you can go home and be any angry pill there.”

  “I can’t leave,” she said to him. “What if Cutter decides to come?”

  “And what if he doesn’t?” Alex said.

  “Then I’ll be devastated,” she said as tears filled her eyes.

  And when Daniella said that, Alex’s face softened, and he held out his arms to her.

  “Come here,” he said.

  When she did, she fell into his arms and held tight to him.

  “Look at me,” she said. “Five minutes and I’ve already ruined the party...”

  “That’s the thing,” Alex said. “No one is here but you and your family. So technically, you haven’t ruined anything yet.”

  “She’s already ruined it for me,” Alexa said.

  “Alexa,” Blackwell said.

  “Right,” she said. “I’ll stay out of this—promise.”

  “You’d better.”

  “I’ve been going through a lot over the past few weeks,” Daniella said. “I’ve never loved anyone the way I love Cutter. I’m hurting more than I think anyone knows.”

  Alex kissed the top of her head.

  “Actually, I’m pretty sure that everyone has a good idea of how you’re feeling, but what you need to know is that we’re here to support you—if that’s what you want. So which is better? Staying here with people who love you or going home alone and drinking shit vodka?”

  A moment passed before she spoke, but when she did, I saw her shoulders relax a little, I saw her take a deep breath, and then I watched her look up at the man she had long considered her uncle. “What kind of vodka do you have?”

  “Your favorite. And if you want something other than Belvedere, the bar is well stocked.”

  “Then I’m staying,” she said as she gave him her best effort at a smile.

  “And not just because of the booze.”

  “I love you,” he said as he gave her another hug. “You’ve never been easy, that’s for sure, but you’ve always been worth the effort.”

  “I apologize,” she said. “I’ll get it together—I’m just upset, that’s all. Let’s see what the night brings. Maybe he’ll come. Maybe he won’t. Either way, a drink would help.”

  “Then let’s get you one,” I said as I glanced at Blackwell and Alexa, who were looking at Daniella with a mix of irritation and concern. They loved her, but whatever symp
athy they had for Daniella was nevertheless wearing thin.

  “First let me take your coats,” Alex said.

  When he did, I put my arm around Daniella and said, “Regardless of how upset you are, you look lovely tonight.”

  She was wearing a black sequined dress that came just to her knees and showed off her trim figure. Her dark hair curled around her shoulders, and she was wearing a pair of black Louboutin shoes and a diamond necklace.

  “I dressed for him,” she said as we walked into the living room where the tree glimmered and twinkled. “I wanted him to see me looking better than he’s ever seen me—assuming that he even shows up.”

  “None of us knows if he will,” I said to her. “But listen to me now, because I really want you to hear this. I’m disappointed that you didn’t confront him as I suggested, but that was your choice—and I respect it. But here’s the thing, Daniella. What you need to understand about yourself is that you are a bright, funny, and lovely young woman. You literally have the world at your fingertips. So let’s say that Cutter doesn’t come tonight. Are you really going to let that destroy you? I think you’re stronger than that. I also think you need to have a good, long look at your own self-worth, because I can tell you this—no man is worth the stress that you’re going through right now. Not even Cutter.”

  “He hasn’t returned one call,” she said. “Not one text.”

  “Then you need to consider whether you’re willing to put up with that kind of dismissal. This isn’t all on you, you know? Yes, you started it by pushing too hard, but you’ve also apologized many times for it. You need to think about that. You need to think of how rude he’s being to you right now.”

  “Actually, I hadn’t thought about it that way...”

  “Then maybe you should start thinking about it that way.”

  “Jesus,” she said. “I’ve been feeling sorry for myself all this time, when I should have started feeling pissed off.”

  “Just don’t start that now,” I said. “I don’t think that Alex will have it.”

  “I’m not going to start. In fact, I think you just got through to me. Yes, I love Cutter and I’d like to be with him. But at this point? I’ve apologized to him so many times, I can’t even count. I’m beginning to think that he’s the one who owes me an apology. I mean, Christ, he’s treating me as if I cheated on him or something, when all I did was ask him to move in together. Fine, maybe I pushed too hard. I know how I can be, and I get it, but whatever. I’m done beating myself up over this shit.”

  “Good. Now, can I get you a drink? Martini, right? Three olives?”

  “Please. And thank you, Jennifer. You mean the world to me.”

  “As you do to me.” I gave her a look. “You know, sometimes it just takes another perspective...”

  “In fact, now I do know!”

  I smiled when she said that, and then I turned to one of the waiters and beckoned her over. “This young lady would like a Belvedere martini, straight up, with three olives. And the same for me, but without the olives and just a twist.”

  “Of course, Mrs. Wenn.”

  “Would you mind taking everyone’s orders?”

  “Not at all,” the young woman said.

  When I turned to watch her go, I saw Blackwell—replete in a red Chanel suit —standing alone near one of the sofas. I caught her eye, and knew that she’d been watching me speak with her daughter. I smiled at her then, and with gratitude in her eyes, Blackwell simply gave me a hint of a smile before she raised her hand and blew me a kiss.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  “WELL,” BLACKWELL SAID to me when everyone had left the living room for the library to enjoy some food and conversation. “Whatever you said to my daughter put her in a better mood—I could see the transformation while you were talking with her. And by the way—what exactly did you say to her?”

  I told her what I’d said.

  “As usual, right on point. Because after so many weeks of having been silent, Cutter not only has skin in this game, but he also has some explaining to do. Not to mention an apology for my daughter. Either he’s in this relationship, or he isn’t. It’s time for him to make a decision, I’d say.”

  “I agree. But enough of that. I want tonight to be light and free for everyone here. So how about this? What do you think of the tree?”

  With her martini in hand, I watched Blackwell walk around the tree with her head held just a bit too high before she turned to face me with an arched eyebrow. “If you were thinking ‘drag queen’ when you had it decorated, then let’s just say you succeeded spectacularly.”

  “Drag queen?” I said. “The tree doesn’t look like a drag queen.”

  “Really?” she said. “Is that so? Then tell me, Jennifer. Why is it that each time I look at it, I want to call it Orna Mint...?”

  “Hilarious,” I said.

  “Well, it’s true.”

  “You know, you should just take that one right out on the road with the rest of your one-liners,” I said. “Because I have a feeling that you’ve been waiting all night to deliver that line to me.”

  “So what if I have? As you know, I’ve been given the gift of wit...”

  “Then by all means, share it with the world.”

  “And what if I did? You know, I can see it now,” she said as she arced her hand across her face. “Think of it—my own bus and truck tour throughout the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe, such as Berlin and Paris, where they’d understand me. Imagine my name in twinkling lights—BLACKWELL—just ‘Blackwell,’ because like ‘Cher’ and ‘Madonna,’ I only need one name. Think of the people flocking to hear my je ne sais quoi. Think of the people coming from far and wide to see what I might say and or what I might wear next. As for refreshments, naturally ice would be offered at a nominal fee...”

  “Are you finished?” I asked.

  “Of course I am,” she said. “After the wrecking ball known as my daughter, I was just trying to have a bit of fun. As for the tree—it’s big and it’s bold and it’s fabulous. Thank you for having us tonight. And even if you did hire help, I know that pulling this together for your friends couldn’t have been easy on Alex and you. Not with Aiden so new to your lives.”

  “Let’s just call all of this a necessary distraction,” I said. “Because sometimes? When Aiden really gets on a roll? A distraction is needed.”

  “He’s not sleeping?”

  “He sleeps whenever Alex or I hold him, which we love because that’s when we get to hold him the closest. As for the rest of the time—it’s spotty at best.”

  “Then I’m impressed,” she said.

  “With what?”

  “You’re not sleeping well, and yet you show up looking like this—stunning. It’s as if Bernie had his way with you. I don’t want to know how much concealer you’re wearing under your eyes, Jennifer, but you look terrific. Way to go, my love. Now, before everyone else arrives and while I have you here alone, let me ask you—how are you feeling after your mother’s theatrics?”

  “You mean after her abject betrayal of me?”

  “Yes—that.”

  “I’m OK,” I said. “She’s been paid off—Alex saw to that. And thanks to Wenn legal, Ava had to sign a document to keep her mouth shut about every rotten thing she threatened me with unless she wanted to face a lawsuit. And she did sign it,” I said. “And when she signed it, she also signed the back of the check. What’s done is done.”

  “And so it is,” Blackwell said. “I’m happy that’s behind you.”

  “As am I.” I lifted my drink to her and we touched glasses. “But thank you for asking. And if you don’t mind me saying so again, thanks for being the mother I never had.”

  “You know, there’s also something in this for me. I think that you might be the most well-behaved daughter I have...”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “Alexa could give me a run for the money.”

  “In a few years, she might. But not quite yet.”

&
nbsp; “You’re being kind. Alexa has never put you through the kind of hell that I’ve put you through.”

  “But that’s to be expected, isn’t it? Alexa isn’t married to a billionaire fraught with his share of enemies. You are.”

  And so I was, not that I’d change it for the world. Alex was my life. He was my lover and my best friend.

  And just days ago, he’d become the father to our first child. I loved them both so much, sometimes it overwhelmed me.

  “I’m surprised Marcus isn’t here,” I said, wanting to change the subject. “I thought that he’d come with you and the girls.”

  “He should be here soon,” she said dismissively. “Work and all that.”

  “On Christmas Eve?”

  “Darling, this is what you deal with when you date a man of his caliber.”

  “But Alex always makes time for me,” I said. “And certainly Marcus is no busier than Alex.”

  “Let’s not talk about this,” she said.

  “So there is something to talk about,” I said. “I knew it. A few weeks ago, when I was in your office and talking about the holidays, I asked you about Marcus, and you brushed him aside like he was an afterthought. You said that we’d discuss him later, which we never did. So what’s going on between you two? Should I be concerned?”

  She took a sip of her martini before she said, “I’m not sure.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Do I really need to go there?” she asked. “Do you really expect me to bare my soul to you?”

  “I believe I did with you when it came to my parents. That said, you should only ever share with me what you want to share with me.”

  “Then, to hell with it,” she said. “For the past year, my relationship with Marcus has been touch and go at best—and by that, I mean less touch than go. And not because of me. I’ve gone out of my way to make myself available to him. What’s holding me back from breaking the whole thing off is that when we do have the chance to see each other, it’s fabulous. It’s as if he’s the one. And then suddenly he’s gone again, traveling around the world and sending me guilty bouquets of flowers. We only talk on the phone only once or twice a week. I’m beginning to feel that none of it is enough.” She tilted her head at me. “What if I were to tell you that we’ve only seen each other eight times in person since we first met?”