Free Blind Attraction by A.C. Warneke Page B

heels wasn’t helping very much; not that she was going to give up the added height. She was just going to have to stop comparing herself to Taylor.
    It was strange: Victoria had stopped trying to compete with Taylor way back in sixth grade when it was already apparent where the two girls stood. Taylor with her impeccable pedigree, her killer looks, was a member of the in-crowd; Victoria, with no pedigree at all, was allowed into the margins only because of Taylor. Not that Victoria really cared one way or the other; it was a group of kids to hang out with when her nose wasn’t buried in a book. The only one she kept in contact with was Taylor. Taylor, on the other hand, still lived and breathed in that world.
    The door opened and two women entered the lounge area, separated from the sinks by a thin wall. They were completely unaware of Victoria’s presence, as evidenced by their words. “I’m so glad I bumped into you, Katie; I’ve been meaning to ask: what is up with James’s date? She’s not his typical fare, is she?”
    “No, she’s not,” the second woman laughed lightly, her voice warm as she agreed. She sounded vaguely familiar, but Victoria just couldn’t place it because she had met so many people over the past year getting her store up and running. “I think she’s refreshing and she makes Jimmy happy.”
    “But her clothes are obviously off the rack,” the first woman protested, as if it were a cardinal sin to buy mass produced clothing. “What could James be thinking? I mean, she’s pretty in a plebeian sort of way but she’s so… common.”
    “You’re sounding envious,” the second woman commented in an amused voice. It was killing Victoria; she should know the woman who spoke so casually about James. She swore that it was right on the tip of her brain and she would know if her pulse wasn’t pounding so loudly in her ears.
    “Honestly, I’m just surprised James is actually with someone like that,” the first woman continued in a blasé tone. “He usually has an eye for quality.”
    “Teresa.” There was a wealth of warning in the second woman’s increasingly familiar voice. Victoria knew she heard the woman before; she just couldn’t remember where. It was recent; maybe a customer? Or maybe the bank loan manager?
    “Oh, of course!” Teresa snapped her fingers. “He’s blind; no wonder he’s with someone with her obviously inferior breeding.”
    “She’s not inferior, Teresa,” the second woman’s voice was considerably chillier. “I like Victoria; I think that she’ll be good for my boss.”
    Of course – Catherine. Victoria couldn’t seem to slow the out-of-control beating of her heart or the slight trembling in her fingers. She should really let the two women know that she was there and could hear their private conversation. With a shaky breath, she squared her shoulders and walked around the thin wall. Victoria looked at the two gorgeous women: Catherine with her sleek, pale blond hair and gleaming, blue eyes, and Teresa with paler blond hair and pale gray eyes; both strangely reminiscent of Taylor.
    “ Hi ,” Victoria said cheerfully, sitting down on the chaise next to Catherine, who smiled broadly at her arrival. Teresa looked displeased, her eyes narrowing as she glared contemptuously at Victoria. Forcing her smile to remain in place, Victoria was determined to make polite conversation. Looking at Teresa, she said, “It must be thrilling working with someone like James; he’s very inspirational.”
    Catherine covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling, as Teresa sputtered, “Do I look like I work? I’m here with my boyfriend; he’s the one that works for James.”
    Victoria glanced at Catherine, her brow furrowing; something James said coming back to her. “This is James’s company?”
    “Oh, please,” Teresa scoffed, not buying Victoria’s innocent act one bit. “Everybody knows who James Templeton is; you are so obvious.”
    “Yes,” Catherine said,