Normally she would just wrap herself in one of her many silk kimonos, slip on the matching house slippers and give her short curls a quick brush. But this was one of those occasions. He needed another little nudge to do the right thing, so she had to be immaculate. She had to remind him who they were.
As she walked into the library, the first thing she noticed was the strong scent of cigar. He had picked up that habit again then.
He turned around to greet her, a slick smile on his young, handsome face.
You must tell her the old woman said after the usual pleasantries. She deserves to know.
Her smoker's voice was one the young man knew all too well. It had taught him all he knew and more.
Thus, he nodded unenthusiastically and lit another cigar. His lips curled and deigned him an air of superiority, an air that had come with his inheritance.
The old woman touched the ruby at her neck. Usually she would drape herself in diamonds, but this was not one of those occasions. He needed a stern warning.
If you're going to drop her, she needs to know straight away. She needs to plan her next move and get away from here as soon as it is possible for her. The scandal won't wait. She did not avert her eyes from him, while his were glued to the cigar.
She watched him linger out the moments before he had to give a proper answer. He had her brother's long, elegant nose and her sister-in-law's smile. The eyes were her father's. Cold as ice and full of malice. The kind of malice that attracts and destroys. And he would destroy his latest prey before the evening was out. Everyone would know and she would die inside. He would live again, refreshed, like a vampire after having fed on virgin's blood. Beautiful as ever.
No one in the family must know. They would demand a marriage of you. They know of her wealth and they would not allow you to let this opportunity fall at your feet and be kicked away, she croaked.
Yes dear aunt. He raised his champagne glass and toasted to his ingenious plan, of which his beloved aunt would know nothing until he had executed it. He would keep the wealth and leave the woman. No one who had ever attempted such a thing lived to tell the tale.
He noticed her long, silky skirt and her white, cold blouse. The only thing that was breathing life into her was the ruby. A strange choice for an afternoon spent at home, with family.
