I looked at her and couldn’t help but say, “I noticed you’re really good at eating.”
She said, “Of course. When I was in college, I had eaten in every alley and fancy restaurant up and down City P. I rarely go to restaurants around here, not because it’s expensive, but because the area is mostly populated by rich ladies from City P. When they are free, they will come here to have afternoon tea. They all like to compare with each other, which is particularly annoying, so I seldom come here.”
I smiled, “The cost of living around here is really high. But most rich ladies have little to do except come here to show off their husbands and children, and their jewelries and bags and so on.
We chatted for a while and there was an argument outside. That sounded familiar to me. So, I hesitated, looked at Folly and said, “Why does that sound a little like Karina?”
She started up from her seat and walked a few steps out.
Sure enough, several women in the corridor got into an argument and blocked Karina’s way.
Looking at the woman who was scolding Karina, I felt a little familiar and could not help frowning. Was she Jessica?
When I got closer and saw the person, I was sure it was Jessica.
It had been a long time and the girl had changed a lot.
“The clothes on her body are the new style of Versace this year, and VIP custom style, about $100, 000. And that bag she’s carrying is a new Prada, at least half a million dollars. The shoes were made in four days, about 50 grand. It’s an accessory and outfit that’s hard to customize even if you can afford it. That little Bulgari bracelet on her wrist is a little modest, which is about $50, 000 and affordable for everyone. Looks like she met someone rich.”
Folly leaned into my ear and analyzed. After a pause, she said, “This girl got something. She’s with the rich ladies of City P.”
When I saw several women pushing and pulling around Karina, I felt a little angry, so I quickened my pace and pushed them away.
I said coolly, “You guys are so well dressed, no matter what happens, you can’t be that rude, can you?”
At the sight of me and Folly Lewis, Karina paused and whispered in my ear, “I walked so fast that I bumped Jessica’s watch into the ground. I think it’s broken.”
Then I caught a glimpse of Jessica’s watch in her hand. It looked like Hermes. It looked expensive. With this million-dollar watch, this girl had enough on her to buy a house.
“What did you say? Obviously, she ran into someone else first, so, how can it be other people’s fault? She doesn’t even apologize, and she’s standing up like that. What, you’re so poor, and you still think you’re so important, huh?”
Said a rich lady next to Jessica, who looked like an upstart.
The others did not say anything. While she was speaking, someone had touched her in secret as a sign for her to be quiet.
The circle of rich ladies wasn’t that big, and some of them probably knew Folly Lewis.
She looked at Jessica. For a girl not yet thirty, there was something incongruous in her ostentatious appearance.
Seeing me looking at her, she immediately smiled and said, “Miss Kennedy, what a coincidence. I didn’t expect you to be here.”
I didn’t answer her. I just gave her my hand. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Mr. Kennedy gave it to me the other day, and I’ve always liked it. Today when she knocked it off, I felt sorry, but I didn’t mean to embarrass her.”
The woman knew what to say in a particular situation, and her ambition was visible.
I nodded and said, “May I have a look at this watch?”
She didn’t want to, but she still gave me the watch in her hand. I looked at it carefully. I didn’t really know much about luxuries.
But Folly said, “Good for Leo! This is a million-dollar watch! Plus, it’s a premium edition!”
Karina lowered her head slightly and clenched her hands to cover the sadness in her eyes.
I didn’t say much. I just reached for my phone and called Leo.
When the other end of the line was connected, he said softly, “Clara, what’s up?”
I looked at Jessica’s nervous face and smiled, “Last time you said you were going to give me a birthday present, you said it was a custom watch. Do you still have it?”
Leo said yes, “I left it at home. I’ll bring it to you sometime.”
I shook my head, “No. I don’t like used things, so next time you give me something, be careful.”
He paused, probably stunned, “I’ve kept that watch at home, unused, Clara, what are you talking about?”
I shrugged, “Last time you took a picture of it for me, and I saw it on Miss Jessica’s hand at the golf villa today. Leo, next time don’t give me something that other people had used. I think it’s dirty.”
There was silence on the other end of the line. Jessica’s face went pale. Even a fool would have understood what the conversation between me and Leo meant.
The rich ladies around Jessica looked at her and their faces changed.
There was a cold voice on the other end of the line, “If that thing is dirty, just take it that I had thrown it away. I promise it won’t happen again.”
I hung up the phone, looked at Jessica, smiled, and gave her the watch back, “Miss Jessica, not to mention the fact that the Kennedys already have a daughter-in-law, but even if they don’t, you won’t get into the Kennedy house with your background. When Leo and I helped you, it was out of sympathy, nothing more. Leo does like to have fun sometimes, but he hates it when women behave like this.”
I took Karina and smiled as I looked at the rich ladies, “Well, excuse me.”
Then, without looking at Jessica, I dragged Karina directly into the private room.
Folly looked at me as we entered the private room, “Wow, Clara! You can fight! I thought you were just a gentle housewife!”
I curled my mouth and looked at her, “How about the next time something happens to you, I sit it out?”
She smiled and shook her head, “No, after all, the fire burns high when everybody adds wood to it.”
After a pause, she looked at Karina and said, “You don’t have to keep everything to yourself. I’m sure you’re going to meet a lot of girls like Jessica, and you’re just going to let them bully you like that?”
Karina laughed at herself, “Leo has her in his heart. It doesn’t matter how much I say.”
Folly frowned, “Leo must be blind! How could he like that kind of women?”
“Leo is a neat freak and rarely brings women back to his villa. The fact that he took Jessica home shows that he cares about her in some way.” Karina’s eyes dimmed as she said this. Her faint smile made people feel particularly distressed.
I frowned and wanted to say something, but I couldn’t find any words to comfort her.
So, I had to push the dessert toward her and say, “This dessert is delicious. Try it.”