Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Then before I can say anything, he knocks heavily on the front door. A few moments of silence ensue, but then there’s a shuffling sound and the door opens, revealing Ursula in rare form. Usually, the middle-aged woman is immaculately groomed with perfect hair and make-up. She’s not exactly pretty per se, but she’s one of those ladies who can make herself attractive with the help of the right cosmetics and flattering clothing. Ursula’s got a trademark look, is how I’d describe it.
But tonight, the older woman looks absolutely terrible. She’s dressed in a worn black robe and slippers that should be retired given their frayed edges. Her hair is snarled and her face almost featureless without its usual warpaint. Even more telling, there are faint white lines beneath her ears and at her temples, which are obviously plastic surgery scars. Holy shit, she’s had a lot of work done.
“Mr. Michaelson? Roberta? What are you two doing here so late at night?” she asks with a puzzled look. “What’s going on?”
Logan pulls an envelope from inside his jacket pocket and hands it to her.
“What is this?” Ursula asks, her eyes wide.
“Ms. Keen, you’ve been terminated from the Circle,” he growls. “Effective immediately.”
Ursula looks confused.
“You’re a member of the Circle?”
My lover smiles and it’s positively scary how he bares his teeth.
“Yep. Sayonara, lady.”
Ursula takes a deep breath and straightens her shoulders. “Says who?”
“The High Table,” he drawls. “They’re done with you.”
But Ursula shakes her head.
“No, no, no, no, no,” she states, eyes wide. “I’m a former Miss Millbrook! You can’t kick me out.”
Logan rolls his eyes.
“You were a Miss Millbrook winner twenty years ago,” he drawls. “It’s time to move on. But yeah, it’s not even that, to be honest. You’re just a fucking bitch, which is why the High Table has decided to terminate your membership.”
Ursula sputters. “But I haven’t done anything wrong! This is uncalled for!”
I shoot her a dirty look.
“Really? You don’t think you’ve done anything wrong?”
Ursula’s eyes go wide then.
“I swear I haven’t done anything. Any of your accusations are unfounded.”
Logan steps in then.
“You’ve violated a founding principle of the Circle, Ursula. You know that what happens in the Circle, stays in the Circle. Instead, you threatened to expose Roberta for her participation in the event on Colombo. That violates our core precepts, and you have been expelled.”
Ursula begins to cry then, and I almost feel sorry for her. Not quite, but almost.
“I did nothing of the sort! I don’t know what this lying, conniving little whore told you, but… well, she disrespected the pageant! Did I tell you what she did with the pageant scepter? It was in her ass! She was using it for anal sex! Who does that?”
Logan rolls his eyes once more.
“I know because I was the man with her, Ms. Keen. I invited Rocky to Colombo, and I was the one running that staff in and out of her bottom. A very beautiful bottom, may I add,” he says in an amused voice. But then his expression goes serious. “Bullying another woman is unacceptable, Ms. Keen, and will not be tolerated by either the Circle nor the Miss Millbrook competition. Oh, by the way, did I tell you that you’ve officially been relieved of your pageant duties as well?” Then, my lover pulls out a second envelope, this one pink with the Millbrook Pageant logo printed on it and hands it to Ursula. “Effectively immediately, you’re fired, Ms. Keen. Your services are no longer required. Enjoy your unemployment.”
Ursula nearly falls to the floor in shock. She’s gone ghost-white and her entire body is trembling. I wonder if we should have emergency services on speed dial just in case she goes into cardiac arrest.
“You can’t do this,” she whispers in a hoarse voice. “I haven’t done anything wrong. It was all Rocky. It was her, I swear!”
I speak up for myself then.
“No, it wasn’t me. It was you,” I say in a forceful tone. “You’re the one who made threats, bullied, and even tried your hand at underhanded blackmail. What, did you think it would work? You’re the one who’s a disgrace to the Miss Millbrook title.”
Ursula genuinely begins to cry then, and I have to say she’s a sorry sight. Tears trail down her sunken cheeks as she stands in the doorway, trembling like a leaf.
“But I have no income now!” she pleads. “How will I survive? Please, don’t do this!”
“Too bad, so sad, bitch,” Logan says in an almost jovial tone. “Sour grapes won’t cure anything.”
But Ursula’s in a panic now, and begins to babble in an effort to keep her job.
“I’ve been organizing this pageant for years, and I’ve never had a single complaint. I push the girls to be their best. It’s nothing more than that. It’s just some constructive criticism, and the girls become better contestants because of it. I want to put together a special event, and it doesn’t come without a fair share of blood, sweat, and tears! I was Miss Millbrook once upon a time, so I know!”