Chapter 26 - The Confrontation (1/2)
”But wait a minute,” Claire suddenly says. ”How did you know I'm so emotionally upset right now?”
”Well, after what happened yesterday at the pool, I'm quite sure you'd have some lingering post-traumatic emotional kinks.”
It dawns on her—Gabriel isn't here because of what just happened with her and Russell. It was just a big coincidence. ”Who let you in?”
”Your roommate,” he says.
”Karen?”
”Yeah. I think that was her. And the boyfriend.”
Claire's anger returns swiftly. ”Where are they?”
Gabriel shrugs. ”I guess they're still watching TV.”
Unbelievable. Like nothing happened. ”Come on.”
She leads him back to the living room, where they find the couple watching an episode of some reality show.
”Hi Gabriel,” Karen greets him cheerfully. Too cheerful for Claire's comfort. ”I didn't know you and my good friend Claire here know each other.”
Claire couldn't hide her scowl if her life depended on it. Karen's behavior is just too disgusting. ”We not only know each other,” she says, and in the next moment instantly regrets what comes out of her mouth: ”We're engaged.”
Karen and Russell stare at them, their mouth open, as though a snake has just struck them. Then Karen laughs. ”You're really funny, Claire.” To Gabriel: ”Claire and I have been very good friends. We know each other's secrets, even the most embarrassing ones.”
”Really?” Gabriel says, bemused. ”Like, what kind of secrets?”
”Like, well, Claire has never had a boyfriend.” Karen flashes Claire the sweetest smile. ”But she has a very good sense of humor, so I appreciate the joke about you being engaged.” And to prove she really appreciates the joke, Karen actually laughs, Russell along with her.
Claire decides to stifle her anger and just play along. ”Yeah, she's right. Karen and I are very good friends.” She smiles and gazes at her roommate. ”We've lived together long enough for me to know some of her awesome skills and talent. One of her skills, for example, is her ability to reel in wealthy men—sorry, Russell, although it's you who should say sorry to me—and her talent to spend men's money and use them for her own gain. She's so good, it's wonderful to watch her work! Right, Karen, my friend?”
Russell's gaze ping-pongs from Claire's face, then to Karen, then back to Claire. He doesn't seem so sure about what to feel or do. ”Honey, what is she saying?”
”She's lying,” Karen hisses through her teeth. ”She's a big, damn liar!”
”Oh, I'm sorry,” Claire says in mockery. ”I guess it isn't true that every expensive thing Karen is wearing right now was bought for her by you, Russell, right?”
”Well, I did buy the dress, and the shoes, and the…the lingerie she's wearing…”
”And the ring, the earrings, and all the other jewelry?”
”Well, yes, I…” Russell regards his girlfriend as if in a new light.
”And the brand new iPhone, the ŀȧptop, the smart watch?” There's sharp-edged glee in Claire's voice.
”Yeah,” Russell says, realizing it all now. ”But I did give it all to her. So what's so wrong with that?”