Bill shifted by the poolside bar. "Are you sure she's coming?

Cynthia took a long, cool sip of champagne, then smiled calmly. "You should have seen the look on her face when I invited her. No problem. She'll be here."

"Well, we'll just keep the other guests at bay. You know what sharks they can be when they smell new money." He grinned his plan in motion grin that gave Cynthia chills. "We can't have her falling prey to any of those types now, can we? What kind of friends would we be if we allowed that?"

Cynthia chuckled as the tingling excitement from Bill's thrilling look captivated her.

"You just concentrate on her." He poked Steve in the chest emphasizing each word before turning back to Cynthia. "Are you sure she won't invite Richard herself?"

Cynthia nodded with certainty. "They weren't speaking. I told her you'd invite him."

"Well, just in case, if by some chance she does bring him along, you'll have to distract him, and Stevie here will just have to work harder."

Steven sneered at Bill's comment, but nodded in agreement anyway. "I hate when you call me that. I'm not ten anymore."

Bill shrugged and walked away leaving Cynthia and Steve by themselves as he worked the crowd by the pool.

****

The sleek Cadillac rolled through traffic with regal ease. Marie stared out the windshield through dark sunglasses meant more to hide her embattled emotions than shield the sun. Her coiffed was hair held in place by a scarf that fluttered in the breeze. A thin diamond necklace, and matching earring studs reflected the sunlight like blinding beacons emanating from the front seat. Her perfectly manicured nails drummed an angry rhythm on the steering wheel.