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𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧: tense brunch

Soft elevator music overflows through the upscale cafe while the unbelievably wonderful scent of smoked salmon follows quickly behind. Anastasia's long dark hair falls off of her shoulder, while her facial expressions become brighter due to the excitement she feels as her meal approaches. She looks so young here. She doesn't have to pretend for an hour like she's a high society businesswoman trying to maintain a proper image, she doesn't have to worry about not making it clear what she wants or needs from a conversation. Here, she could just be herself and be happy. Mercedes runs a hand through her freshly dyed copper hair. She takes one last bite of her salad before setting her fork down with a content smile on her face.  This is her favorite place in all of New York City, and it had been her idea to come in today at this particular time. It would only make sense to do something special. Olivia is tired. She and Jesse have been attending some many media conferences that all she wants to to fall into a bed and sleep for a damn year but she's been waiting to meet up with the girls and have brunch so here she is. And Vanessa, she's just happy to not have to be on a runway. She's been practicing for so many upcoming fashion shows that's it taking a lot of of her.

All of them are in New York for the Hildebrand Foundation charity gala being held tonight at the Four Seasons Hotel. Anastasia is excited because they get to be in a room surrounded by successful entrepreneurs that they look up to. The theme for this year is the Roaring Twenties. The author is very excited to write this. Am I breaking the fourth wall? Yes. Anyways. The ladies are planning on getting ready together.

Typically, society functions like galas and balls were booked months in advance, held in large buildings specifically designed to host such events. Convention centers, hotel ballrooms, concert halls, and amphitheaters all served as traditional venues depending on the theme and entertainment chosen. Caterers prepared their wares in advance and bussed the food themselves, only adding their finishing touches when they had arrived and settled in. The waitstaff, either provided by the venue or outsourced by the hosts, were chaperoned by their chosen overseer, who only answered to the host or hosts that had paid for their services. All in all, it was a grand profusion of plotting that seemed simple on paper but was a monster to implement in practice.

"Oh my goodness. How's wedding planning going Mercedes?" Olivia asks, still staring at the girl's engagement ring. She's salty that Jesse hasn't popped the question yet. She's dropping hints that he just isn't picking up.

Mercedes smiles at this. She know Olivia is jealous of her ring. She can see it in the girl's face. "Wedding planning is fabulous. Going to go look at dresses next week. I need my girls there with me."

"I'll be there of course. Drink some champagne and watch you try on some gorgeous dresses." Olivia sighs dreamily. "And I think we need to find a suitor for Vanessa too. We're going to have lots of fun with this." She looks up at the ceiling wistfully, imagining what the future holds for her. "Maybe Jesse will propose before the end of the month."

Deep down, Vanessa hopes he does propose because it's all Olivia can talk about.  The younger girl keeps talking about how much she looks forward to having Jesse as a fiancé, how they'll live out the rest of their lives happily married. And of course, she doesn't forget to bring up the topic of Jesse asking her to marry him whenever they're alone, like right now. She loves his attention, the fact that he cares enough to ask and take her seriously. But she also knows Jesse's attention isn't just solely aimed at Olivia, so it's nice that he thinks she deserves to be treated equally.

"Let's hope he does."

"I don't see why you're jealous of me," Olivia finally responds to the other blonde. She sets down her glass and sits back, crossing her arms and tapping her feet.  "Jesse loves me more than any woman alive and you know it."

Vanessa raises her eyebrows. That's interesting.
"Really? Do you honestly believe that? Because I think you may be misreading Jesse's intentions... He seems really fond of you, but he'd never say that unless he was serious about proposing to you. And since he hasn't, I'm afraid it's safe to assume that he's not. Maybe you two should have that talk soon so you can both work out where your feelings lie. You'll get over that if you just talk things through..." She says this while leaning closer, resting her chin atop her intertwined hands.

Uh-oh, this brunch is going left.

"Well, Vanessa, I think you're jealous of us because we're in relationships and you're not." Olivia says in a petty manner.

Vanessa wants to laugh. She is perfectly fine being single. Besides, she just wants to focus on herself and her career. "Hahaha. I have nothing to be jealous of Olivia. I have a job that I love doing. What is your job aside from being Jesse's little lap warmer? Nothing."

"You're done. You're done." Olivia throws her water in Vanessa's face. "Never speak to me again bitch."

Vanessa moves her now wet hair out of her face. "You're dismissed you fucking slut."

Olivia picks up her Valentino bag and storms out of the cafe.

'All that shit was uncalled for and they both know it. This tension isn't get for me or the baby.' Surprise!! Anastasia is three months pregnant. She and Cameron are keeping it under wraps for now.

"I'll see y'all tonight. I have some business to take care of." With her rose gold Birkin in hand, Vanessa is out of the door.

"We're here for a good cause, Stassi, and all this drama isn't cute anymore. It's actually ridiculous at this point."

Oh boy. Oh boy. Tonight is about to be a hot ass mess. They can already tell.

Hours later, Anastasia and Mercedes are getting ready for the gala. They're getting their hair makeup done. Vanessa comes in and takes a seat, noticing that Olivia isn't there. "Where's the other one at? Somewhere still hoping Jesse's going to propose to her?" There's something that y'all don't know. Vanessa has been having affair with Jesse for months now. She can't help but feel superior in this moment.

What a messy situation this is. Mercedes tells her that Olivia is getting ready in her own room.

"Well, good, she doesn't need to be here anyway." Vanessa, bitch, you're a wild one. Truth is, your affair is bound to get revealed tonight. Better hope it doesn't. "Anyways, enough about that, what's new ladies?"

"Nothing really." Yes it is, but it'll be revealed at a later date.