Leaving Sardina

Chapter 13: Seasick

Sardina



"Fish girl! Right on time." A stunning woman with short blond hair flashed a smile at Renesmee the moment we walked into the back door of Esmeralda's Wild and Mythical.

A long burgundy silk dress adorned the elder woman's hour glass body, the color matching her full lips. Her feet covered in golden heels, a white shawl over her bare shoulders, and a long slit on her dress, one that exposed enough of her milky thighs to make you feel you were intruding something.

Her expression shifted into something I couldn't name once she noticed me tugging along Renesmee, hands entwined.

I didn't need to be introduced. I could tell who she was just by looking — Lady Esmeralda. The queen of the building and also Roxanne's legendary mother. Renesmee had filled me in a little about her before we got here.

"Oh my god," the elder woman's eyes fixed on me as we approached the middle of the room where she stood leaning over an armrest of a leather couch. "Where in the grounds of heaven did you get this gorgeous angel from, Renesmee? The audience would love her!"

If anybody was gorgeous, it was Esmeralda.

My best friend rolled her eyes before responding, "Good morning to you too, boss."

Lady Esmeralda shamelessly skimmed me up and down in slow motion and I suddenly felt too self conscious in my black t-shirt, jean jacket, cargo shorts, and sneakers. My curls were brushed down, courtesy of my best friend. I preferred to wear a dress, but it turned out Renesmee didn't own any, so yeah, here I was. For a few seconds there, I caught Lady Esmeralda's eyes looking at mine and Renesmee's neck back and forth, noticing the matching necklaces but not saying anything about it.

I was a hundred percent sure I wasn't that much of a sight to see, so why was this woman staring? Not to mention how everyone around us eagle-eyed me in a way that made want to jump right back into the sea and crawl under Skylla's rock with her. But all I could do was try to hide myself behind Renesmee's body. I had never been so glad of the fact that she was slightly taller until now. These people seriously needed to get a grip. But I guess a new face brought new attention? I doubted that case, though.

Noticing the way her boss openly scrutinized me, Renesmee spoke again.

"Not every beautiful creature belongs to your collection, Lady Esmeralda." She marked, reminding me of something she told me on our way here, something about Esmeralda being too greedy for new goodies.

Blood coated my cheeks, and it had nothing to do with anything but Renesmee's choice of words. Beautiful. Renesmee thought I was beautiful.

"Hello there, precious." The boss lady finally greeted me.

The nickname took me aback, but I didn't show it.

"Uh – Hi," I cleared my throat and struggled to swallow back my social anxiety that decided suddenly to kick in. "I'm Sardina. Renesmee's best friend."

"Call me Esmeralda." She held out her hand for me to shake. "Do you need a job, precious? Because I got plenty of–"

"Empty slots? No, she doesn't. Sorry." Renesmee cut her boss off a little too quickly, almost making me laugh at the way she had her arms crossed and wore an annoyed expression.

I shook the woman's hand briefly, letting go before she could sense my diffidence.

"Possessive much, fish girl?" Esmeralda laughed, looking at Renesmee, and my cheeks betrayed me again by heating up.