Chapter Seven: Rag Doll

"Livy!"

"Vincent, I'm serious; he grabbed my-"

"Livy, I didn't ask you to cook this dinner so that you can pick apart my coworkers. This night is important for me. If I get this promotion, we can move to a bigger house and go on fancier dates."

"I don't need-"

"There you two are! Slithered away, have you?"

Vincent's hand snakes around my waist as the newly retired general manager of Vincent’s company swaggers in the kitchen where Vincent and I are having a private discussion. He doesn’t seem to care that he is interrupting us, but that could be because his cheeks are flushed from the alcohol I served.

"Yes, I am just giving my wife a few notes on the hors d'oeuvres she has served."

Vincent defends as if we have no right to be in our kitchen.

"Mrs James, you have done a fantastic job. Thank you for hosting my retirement party."

Vincent’s former boss says.

I didn't want to host the party; he has a wife who can do this for him!

"Ah, it's nothing, Mr Harris."

Vincent answers on