The Beautiful Guardian: Vengence

Chapter Ten: Strained Friendship

"Maxine I didn't hear you come in." Chloe flusters as she attempts to rise off her couch in her office.

Darla rises from Chloe's body and resumes to sit at the end of the loveseat nearest to the end table where her drink is waiting. She adjusts her clothing while looking away from Maxine's disapproving glare. She reluctantly makes eye contact with the new visitor only after she finishes the small glass of liquor.

Chloe manages to get on her feet as she leaves Darla's side and fixes her clothes concealing her small frame once more from the two women in the room. She adjusts her hair some as she makes her way to the bar at the other end of the office. She keeps her eyes facing downward avoiding eye contact with Maxine who still stands in the doorway.

Maxine stands in the doorway with a look of unsettled disbelief to what she walked into. She crosses her arms and slowly enters Chloe's office, never taking her eyes off of Chloe.

"Well?" Maxine asks.

"Well, what?" Chloe responds with a question of her own.

"Well, what's going on here? Why were you just making out with Darla?" Maxine demanded.

Chloe turns from the bar to face Maxine, both hands holding a glass freshly refilled with liquor, "Well, Darla came over and one thing led to another, and here we are."

"You going to have to do better than that Chloe," scowled Maxine.

Chloe puts down her glass hard on the bar, her face suddenly flushed with anger, "Excuse me? No, I don't, The last time I checked this is my office, in my building, and I will do whatever I damn well please in it."

"Like fucking the woman who hurt Jackie, helped kidnap Ivanova, fucked up your shop, and put a sword in your shoulder?" Maxine counters.

Chloe puts her hands on her hips as she slowly walks closer to Maxine, getting almost face to face.

"If that's what I want to do then yes."

Maxine looks over at Darla who is sitting on the loveseat still, seemingly uninterested in the argument between the two women. Maxine then looks back at Chloe shaking her head.

"This isn't a good idea Chloe, you and her, there is too much already between you two for this to be-"

"You are the last person to give relationship advice Maxine," Interrupts Chloe.

Maxine gets stunned into silence, she puts her hands on her hips as she leans closer to the defiant Chloe. She then snaps out of whatever spell she was under with a quick shake of her head.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Maxine menacingly inquired.

"Oh please! I get you the contact to protect a Boss's wife and what happened huh? You two end up in bed together. And because you couldn't keep your hands off each other, we get into more shit. You put everybody aside who made you what you are for who? Some blonde with- with perfect tits and ass that's who!" Chloe steams toward Maxine.

Maxine's face turns sour in reaction to Chloe's rant, "Watch what you say about Ivanova, Chloe! Your treading on thin ice now!"

Chloe raises her hands in mock horror, "Oh no let's not talk about you precious Ivanova! Not miss perfect! Let's face it, Maxine, you were nothing but a convenience for her, someone to get her out of a shitty marriage, and now she has the perfect bodyguard, and the perfect fucktoy it would seem as well. So why don't you just get outta here and run back to her! Back to your.."

"Better stop Chloe, I mean it!" Maxine warns Chloe trying to talk over her rant.

"WHORE!"

Maxie's face grimaces as she slaps Chloe. The slap was more of a hard blow than a simple slap out of anger. Chloe lets out a loud painful yelp as her body turns. Chloe manages to catch herself on the bar with her hands, her legs almost giving out. Darla's eyes widen with surprise at the new development. Maxine put both hands to her mouth in response to the horror of what she had just done.

"Oh God Chloe I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"Get out," Chloe whispers.

"Chloe please, I'm sorry," Maxine says as she slowly approaches.

"I SAID GET THE FUCK OUT!" Chloe roars as she turns around, revealing a light red handprint on the pale skin of her face.

Maxine stands stunned at the sight that she caused. Chloe grabs a nearby glass and tosses it toward Maxine, causing her to duck away.

"GET OUT!"

Maxine angrily leaves the office and quickly leaves the building, going toward a waiting car with Ivanova leaning on it. The statuesque blonde rises from the car upon seeing Maxine's demeanor.

"What's wrong? What happened? Did you get the info you wanted?" Ivanova inquires.

"No, let's just go," Maxine quickly says as she rushes past her.

"Maxine please wait for a moment!" came a voice.

Maxine turns toward the source of the voice, Darla. She stands on the sidewalk with her hands clasping in front of her.

"What do you want?" Maxine scowls.

Ivanova has a look of surprise upon seeing Darla, she lets go of the door handle of the car.

"I came here with the purpose to kill Chloe because I thought she was responsible for the death of my sister, Jillian."

"Jillian Krane is dead?" Ivanova asks in a shocked tone.

Darla continues despite Ivanova's question.

"What happened between us wasn't planned, It was something that happened in the spur of the moment, you understand?" Darla explains.

"Well.." Maxine starts.

"Yes we understand all too well, Don't we Maxine?" Ivanova intercedes.

Darla looks at Ivanova as if she was acknowledging her for the first time, then she shifts her gaze back to Maxine.

"Jillian and I do not have family, at least any who would acknowledge our existence, So it would be an appreciated gesture if you could attend her funeral since you are the only resemblance we have for a family."

Maxine begins to refuse only to be intercepted by Ivanova, "We would be honored, Darla."

Darla nods and slowly turns toward her waiting vehicle parked by the curb she pauses momentarily and looks back at the pair,

"For whatever it is worth, I am sorry for the trouble we caused you."