THE SORTING

THE CONFRONTATION

"Well, well, well. We finally meet," the voice says menacingly. My breathing quickens and I have a hard time slowing it down. My head flies to Hunter, her eyes rolling in response. Hunter crosses her arms and looks to the voice annoyed in its existence. I turn towards her gaze's direction and see a manicured hand outstretched towards me.

"I'm Sarah, and you must be Vivienne. I've heard so much about you," she smiles, not exactly emanating warmth. If I was honest, she looked like she wanted to kill me, rip my face off and dance over my dead body. I smiled and grabbed her hand, not saying anything. Sarah was a higher "rank" than me and I didn't want to start any drama. I wanted to fit in more than anything. She squeezed my hand a little too tight, causing me to whimper. Her smile turned up on one end and she snickered, proud that she overpowered me. I didn't say anything though. I didn't entertain her. I wasn't going to stoop to her level. Being on my own, or without my family at least, caused me to really grow up. I didn't want any drama. So, as our hands broke apart, I just smiled. I was going to be the bigger person. Hunter, however, had no trouble opening her mouth.

"Hey Sarah, don't you have something to do, like being a bitch?"

"Why, I can just do that here," Sara retorted with a sly grin, plopping herself down on a stool by the island. They stared at each other for a while, Hunter looking annoyed and Sarah with an attitude on her face. I looked back and forth from them, feeling the tension almost suffocate me. Hunter rolled her eyes and turned away, pouring the cake batter into a baking pan. My gaze shifted to my hands in my lap. Sarah was the first to end the silence.

"So, Vivienne, you're Dominic's mate, right?" Sarah asked, sounding innocent.

I tensed at the sound of her mention him. I didn't like how his name left her mouth. Like she knew something I didn't. Like she wanted to flaunt her relationship with him in my face. I took a deep breath, calming myself so I could answer her without starting anything. I moved my head to make eye contact with Sarah.

"Yes, I am," I spoke with strength. Well, fabricated strength. I wanted her to think she didn't bother me. That her past with Dom didn't bother me. In reality, it didn't so much. My brain knew that Dom had a life before he met me, and he was entitled to do whatever he wanted then. But someone should tell my heart that. Because physically, it did bother me. It made my stomach drop knowing how important she used to be to him. I just had to remind myself that right now, I am important to him. I just hoped it was more than her. It had to be. Right?

"Good for you! I mean, I of all people know how lucky you are to be with Dominic. He's very," Sarah paused, trying to find the right words it seemed, "generous, in all aspects, if you know what I mean."

I did know what she meant. And I hated it. My gaze dropped to the floor. She was bragging about being with Dom, in more ways than one. My chest got tight and I got unreasonably angry. I had to control my breathing if I was going to keep my cool. I wanted this conversation to end as quickly as it started. Hunter scoffed at her words before she offered some of her own.

"Please, Sarah. I don't think you can talk when half of the guys here know how "generous" you can be", Hunter countered. Sarah's smile was erased, and an angry scowl had replaced it.

"Funny Hunter. Does Mom know that you're skipping out on work?" Sarah accused. Mom?

"Mom gave me the day off because I wasn't needed. But, of course, you would know that if you spent any time at home instead of at, who was it this time, Jason's?" Hunter spit out. Sarah glared at Hunter while my brain wrapped my head around the fact that they were related. They looked a little similar but not enough for me to have guessed.

Before the conversation could continue, Dom walked in confidently. His steps slowed at the sight of my company, his apprehensive eyes moving around the room from me to Sarah and then back to me again. He turned all of his attention to me after a second, but before he could say anything, that voice interrupted. Again.

"Hey Dominic. Haven't seen you around for a little while. How are you?" Sarah cooed, pushing her chest up and out. Her eyes held a flirty glint and seeing her openly talking to Dom like that in front of me made my stomach hurt.

"I'm good," Dom said bluntly, not moving to address her formally. He stayed facing me while my head dropped again. He helped me off the stool so that I was standing next to him. It looked like he was trying to gage how I was feeling. That didn't discourage her though. Sarah continued.

"That's good! Hey, I learned some new defensive moves while I was gone, and I was wondering if you wanted to spar later so I could show you. It could be fun!" My head raised to catch her batting her eyes at Dom. I knew what she meant by "fun". Everyone knew what she meant by "fun". Hunter rolled her eyes and crossed her arms and Dom clenched his jaw, his eyes never leaving me. We made eye contact for a second before he smirked at me and spoke.

"Actually, I was going to ask my favorite girl here if she wanted to spend the day with me. What do you say, little one? Want to have some fun?", he finished, using the same cadence as Sarah did a few minutes ago. He extended his arm in my direction, waiting for me to take it. A blush burned my cheeks and my eyes widened. He seemed please with himself that he embarrassed me. Sarah huffed and I'm not sure what she did after that because Dom had all my attention. I couldn't stop myself from smiling back. His smirk had turned into a full grin when I took his hand. He led me out of the kitchen, towards the front door. I snuck a look at Hunter. She had a big smile on her face as she moved her eyebrows up and down suggestively as she put the cake in the oven. I gave her a stern embarrassed look back and she laughed. We walked hand in hand out the door to who knows where. I was tempted to ask Dom where we were going but I already knew the answer.

A surprise.