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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: DEVIL IN THE DETAILS ( trigger warning: mentions of violence and death )
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HELEN DIDN’T KNOW WHAT to make of the Shelbys and their rise to riches. She had always known what they were capable of. The infamous weight their name carried, the damage their hands -- or even better, just one command and somebody else’s work-worn fingers -- could cause, but this… The Shelby Foundation Charity dinner that Grace had spoken of was something out of a fucking Hollywood film. Helen couldn’t believe it. Everybody who was present in the foyer was someone of importance. Not necessarily to Helen, but she could tell with just one look at the men’s tailored suits, the women’s glittering dresses and jewels, the way their money was wound effortlessly into their general presence that each and every one of them played a role in boosting the Shelbys to the top.
Helen was a nobody around them. No one would’ve spared her a second glance was it not for James perched on her hip.
“Mama, where’s Karl?” he asked, already impatient as he boredly looked around the room.
“I’m sure he’s here somewhere, Jamie,” she answered, though in truth she was more focused on the waiters who stood on either side of the intricate mahogany doors.
Each had their own tray of various beverages -- there was whiskey for the men, champagne for the women, and the likes -- that she made a beeline for; she’d need more than just alcohol to make it through the night, she knew that much. If not for appearance purposes, then for her own peace of mind, it gave her something to cling to as she turned around and made eye contact with Ada.
“Nel,” the Shelby sister smiled. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
She was wearing a beautiful black dress that was not unlike Helen’s own. James gasped at the sight of it, his little fingers reaching for the glimmering crystals on Ada’s neckline. “Pretty,” he commented as the two women laughed.
“Why thank you, sweetheart,” Ada said, her tone soft and similar to how she’d speak to her own son. “Linda’s upstairs watching over the children, Helen, if you wanted her to watch James too.”
“Oh,” Helen hesitated. “I couldn’t ask her to do that.”
“Nonsense. She'd be more than happy to do it,” Ada muttered. Helen pretended not to notice the bitter edge in her voice or the way her brows furrowed at the thought of her sister-in-law. “Whatever gets her away from these frivolities.”
“She sounds… charming,” Helen commented, subconsciously following Ada as she began to lead the way through the crowd.
