Pretty Revenge

by Emily Liebert

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  For my parents, Tom and Kyle Einhorn, who support me unconditionally.

  I love you.

    PROLOGUE

  Not many people can isolate the singular moment in their life when things veered off course. When suddenly their existence—which may not have been perfect, but was at least reliable—abruptly swerved into oncoming traffic. My moment could have been the day my parents died. Or when I realized I’d never had a true friend.

  But those aren’t the days I’m thinking of.

  Believe me, I know what I did was wrong. Or, at a minimum, I know it was immoral. I mean, I lied to the police. Still, my intentions were honest. Really, they were.

  In fact, I remember everything about that night—the way the streets were slick with milky fog. The way a steady breath of air whistled in my ears. The way the chill infested my body as I stopped in front of her house, with its sagging rain gutters and weedy lawn.

  I knew the house well. I had a direct view of it from my second-floor bedroom, where I’d lived for nearly all of my twelve years. I’d watched the splintered front door dangle from a pair of corroded hinges and sway in the slightest breeze. I’d mourned the three cats that were buried under crooked gravestones in the strip of a front yard. And I’d spent hours imagining what was concealed in their decrepit shed, nailed shut by an X of reticent wooden planks.

  I’d pitied the girl who lived there, with her silky red hair and tenacious blue eyes, but I’d also admired her. She was everything I wasn’t and everything I wished I could be.

  The problem was that I was so foolishly desperate for a friend, so eager to soothe the sting of loneliness, that when she showed up on my doorstep, I let her in, no questions asked.

  I just wanted someone to see me for a change. Is that so much to ask?

  I guess so.

  Because my actions that night changed our lives forever.

  And not for the better.

  1  KERRIE

  It felt like I’d been in that same spot for sixteen consecutive days, with a bottle of vodka and a large red Solo cup on the side table next to me. I’d watched three seasons of Toddlers & Tiaras, at least fifteen old episodes of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and I’d endured roughly twenty-six commercials peddling drugs that treated depression, enough to know that I didn’t have it, even though I wished there was a pill that could fix me. I’d lost my job, my purpose, and I had absolutely no idea what to do next. Just another demoralizing setback in my thirty short years.

  “How long have you been out here?” Matthew emerged from the bedroom in too-tight white boxer briefs, grinding his eyes with his fists like a toddler. To say that Matthew is my boyfriend would be an overstatement. But to say he’s my roommate wouldn’t be right either. You know, because of the sex.

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged, turning my attention back to the TV and silently praying that he wouldn’t sit too close to me. His morning breath is unforgivable. I’ve just never cared enough to tell him.

  “Do you want something to eat?” He reached his stubby fingers beneath the waistband of his underwear to claw at his ass and pick at God knows what. “One of my famous omelets?” He suggested, in a transparent attempt to lift my spirits. I might have been tempted if I didn’t know where his hand had just been.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “Okay.” He left it at that, padding his way slowly into our cube-size kitchen with its lazy lighting and tearful faucets.

  “Do you know what’s amazing?” I called after him, without diverting my attention from last week’s episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

  “What’s that?” he projected over the booming television—I prefer it loud, so Matthew doesn’t feel compelled to make small talk.

  “Kim Kardashian has no actual talent.”

  “Uh-huh.” He came back into the room and sat down next to me on our weary brown sofa.

  “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  “I think so.”

  Clearly, he didn’t.

  “My point is: she has this whole empire now. Clothing lines. Makeup. Perfume. You name it. And she got it just by being pretty and rich. I mean, obviously not as rich as she is now, but it’s not like she’s an actress or a musician. I bet she can’t even carry a tune. Right?”

  “Sure. I guess so.” He agreed as a matter of habit. That’s the nice thing about Matthew, he doesn’t demand brainpower from his companions. I don’t have to discuss current events, politics, losing my job, missing my nana, or my dead parents. I can just be. I can rot my brain streaming reality shows for twelve hours at a clip without any judgment at all. If you think about it, it’s a gift. No pressure whatsoever.

  “Maybe if I had an ass like hers . . .” I trailed off and Matthew remained silent, as he so often does. I looked at him then. He was smiling cautiously with his mouth closed. That smile made me feel sorry for him.

  “I’m gonna go make breakfast.” He headed back into the kitchen.

  When I first met Matthew, I wasn’t looking for a relationship. I’d dated only one guy before him. Skeeter, an unemployed douche bag whose motley fragrance—a blend of cigarettes, cinnamon-flavored gum, and Suave hair gel—kindled a clammy sensation between my thighs. As time went on, I realized that I might not be the only girl in Skeeter’s life, and therefore was not actually his girlfriend. So I did what anyone else would do. I nosed through his text messages while he was in the shower. And there was my answer spelled out in the form of a sext-chain with our former classmate Angelina Delorian. I was humiliated, but not altogether surprised. I thought about sneaking into Angelina’s apartment and filling her shampoo bottle with Elmer’s glue, but then I remembered what my nana always told me: “Senseless revenge will whip its neck and snap you on the bottom.” And that was the last thing I needed.

  After that, I conditioned myself to be content with whatever circumstances life dealt me. That’s why, when I came upon Matthew in front of the deli counter at the unsavory mini-mart next door to my old office, where most of the meat was an insipid shade of gray, I allowed him to strike up a conversation with me.

  He’d been rocking from toe-to-heel and humming a tune I couldn’t quite make out as he studied the chalkboard of that day’s specials. What struck me immediately about Matthew was how nice he was. To everyone. Even Vito, the petulant busboy who limped around wiping down tables and muttering expletives under his breath.

  I just stood there watching Matthew and his niceness, until he turned to me and said, “I like the way you ordered. Methodically.” Then—just as my gaze fixed on the mortadella and its constellation of yellowing fat—he smiled genuinely and asked, “Would you like to have lunch with me?”

  “Uh, okay,” I replied, even though there was nothing sexy about the request.

  I needed a man who wanted to pursue me. A man who was reliably in my corner. A man who—just by loving me—validated me to the rest of the world. And I hoped that Matthew would be that man.

  Unfortunately, he never exactly lived up to that ideal.

  “Do you want to maybe do something today?” He reappeared with a plate full of soggy eggs and a thinning cord of American cheese glued to his chin.

  “Like what?” I asked, somewhat defensively.

  “I
don’t know. Like go outside?” he offered. “I know you’re super bummed about losing your job, but you can’t just watch TV forever.” He was right, of course. So I ignored him.

  I wish I could say that my relationship is fueled by thrill and passion. I wish I was waiting on pins and needles for him to call. I wish I had a chafing itch to analyze his every thought. The problem is, Matthew has nothing to withhold. What you see is what you get. We exist in each other’s worlds, which has been fine until now. Maybe losing my job forced me to examine what else is left in my life.

  There’s nothing wrong with my relationship. We never fight. We never even bicker.

  For this reason, I’m sure that what happened next on that run-of-the-mill Sunday morning just as I’d switched the channel to Access New York came as an unwelcome intermission in Matthew’s humdrum existence.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. My skin must have blanched, because he actually noticed that something wasn’t right. “Do you want to watch something else? A movie, maybe?” he offered, as he placed a timid hand on my forearm.

  “No.” I shook my head frantically as I raised the volume and positioned myself on the edge of the couch, angling my body toward the screen. I’d gone completely numb the second I heard her voice. I never would have recognized her otherwise; nothing about her appearance made sense. Her vibrant red hair had been dimmed to a hushed shade of blond. Her once ivory complexion had adopted a golden hue. And while her eyes were still the same, wide set and blue—just like my mother’s—there was an unmistakable reserve behind them.

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He wasn’t far off. Still, he had no idea. To him, she was just another attractive face. To me, she was everything. Some switch inside me flicked on.

  Host: Now that you’ve shared your tips for looking and feeling your best on your big day, Jordana, tell us a little more about Jordana Pierson Wedding Concierge.

  TBWRML (or as I call her, That Bitch Who Ruined My Life): Think of us as Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous marries New York City’s chicest brides and grooms. Our job is to source the best of the best of everything. If you can dream it, we can make it happen. No request is too outrageous. I assure you, we’ve handled some major wish lists and have never disappointed.

  Host: So, you’re kind of like the fairy godmother of weddings!

  TBWRML: Exactly.

  Host: Rumor has it you landed the wedding of the year, maybe even the decade. Can you fill us in? Our viewers are dying to know every last detail!

  TBWRML: The rumor is true. My clients Tatiana Doonan and William Blunt will have The Wedding of the Century. And no one could deserve it more. Unfortunately, that’s all I can divulge for now. As you can imagine, everything else is top secret.

  Host: Can’t you give our viewers just a little hint?

  TBWRML: Sorry, Amanda, you know my lips are sealed.

  Host: Right. But is it fair to say that an event of this magnitude could make or break a career?

  TBWRML: It certainly is.

  Host: That must be very stressful.

  TBWRML: I love what I do, so I prefer to think of it as a challenge. I have every confidence we’ll rise to the occasion.

  Host: And you do this all by yourself?

  TBWRML: To this point, I have. Although the phone has been ringing off the hook, so I’m currently looking for an assistant.

  Host: Ooh! Now there’s an amazing job opportunity. Line up, ladies and gentlemen! Before we cut to a commercial break, tell us—who is the ideal candidate to work with Jordana Pierson on The Wedding of the Century?

  TBWRML: Well, let’s see. They’d have to be smart. And think fast on their feet. Of course, a strong work ethic is crucial too.

  “I have a strong work ethic.”

  “What’s that?” Matthew regarded me oddly. I didn’t realize I’d spoken aloud, or that he was still right next to me.

  “And she owes me.”

  “Huh?” he asked, justifiably confused.

  Because, why wouldn’t he be? Matthew had no idea that Jordana—I guess that’s what she’s calling herself these days—took everything from me. My faith. My goodwill. I tried to help her, but she helped herself instead. At my expense. And at my nana’s expense.

  Just seeing her churned my insides. But it also inspired me. To finally do something for myself, rather than sit back idly waiting for the pitfalls of life to rain in my lap.

  This was my chance to finally set myself on the right track. To straighten out all my wrong turns.

  “I’m moving to New York,” I said, my eyes still focused on her face, so familiar yet so foreign at the same time.

  Matthew nodded, unaware that I actually meant it.

  And unaware that he wasn’t coming with me.

  2  JORDANA

  “Jordana!” Amanda McCormick, the host of Access New York, bolted toward me, her crispy blond hair cast into a helmet, framing her reedy nose and hollow cheekbones. “You were fabulous! A natural talent!” She winked.

  I find winking to be the most genuine way to convey insincerity.

  “Thank you,” I said, nodding and smiling graciously at Amanda. I do a lot of that. It’s part of the job of being me. I’ve spent days sharpening that affectation. Authenticity isn’t easy to contrive. But I’ve had no choice. Not if I want to keep my secrets safe and sound.

  “Most people aren’t comfortable in front of the camera.” She hesitated for a second, expecting an answer, even though it wasn’t a question. It’s taken me two decades to figure out that the less you say, the fewer lies you have to sustain. But I am here to promote my business.

  “You’re too kind, really.”

  “Believe me, I know. I do it almost every day.” Another short pause. “It’s not easy.”

  “I’m sure,” I said with a smile I hoped was compassionate enough.

  “All right, then.” She took three deliberate steps backward, disappointed but undeterred by my reluctance to chitchat. “Well, we’d love to have you on the show again. Maybe you can bring some of those gorgeous white dresses with you, and I can model them! Here comes the bride,” she cooed. “Wouldn’t that be so much fun?”

  So much. “That sounds fantastic, thank you.” I looked down at my phone, which was exploding with text messages and emails.

  “Oh, no need to thank me,” Amanda purred, and pressed her hand to her chest.

  “I truly appreciate it,” I acknowledged again, then added, “You’re a pro.” Even though I despise small talk, I do respect success and ambition.

  And it’s important to make people feel significant. In fact, I spend most of my time pretending to like people. I feign interest in their superficial charitable organizations, their paltry children, and their entitlement to plastic surgery. I send flowers post procedure, because it would be a crime against humanity for a nose job or an eye lift to go unsung. I offer containers of chicken soup, even though I know they’ll never be consumed. It’s called self-preservation.

  Kind of ironic, then, that my chosen career path is an industry steeped in pleasing people, isn’t it? Presumably happy people. That’s the thing, though. Very few of them are actually happy. Like the brides who alter their gowns up to a dozen times, frantic in their pursuit to decipher why nothing “feels right.” It’s not the dress, sweetheart. It’s your fiancé. He’ll still be screwing your maid of honor no matter how much lace you’re shrouded in. And the ones who lose thirty pounds, whittling themselves into prepubescence by their final fitting, refusing a glass of water, because they didn’t read the calorie count on the bottle it came from. Denying their body is the swiftest way to deny their doom. In a calculated offense, I’ve been known to torture some of those bitches with an open box of sticky buns from Levain Bakery. Oops, how did those get here?

  “That’s what I tell myself.” Amanda rolled her eyes and lowered her voice. “As a woman, I have to work twice as hard as the men around here. And I make half of what my male cohosts do. You know what I mean?”
<
br />   “I hear you,” I replied in an attempt to convey solidarity. And also because she’s right.

  “I love meeting strong chicks like you, who are kicking ass and taking names. Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re obviously very good at it. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

  “I won’t.”

  “Great.” She waved at me before leaving.

  I waved back as I thought about what Amanda said. I am kicking ass and taking names. And I do have an innate knack for my line of work. I suppose because I’m not preoccupied by the romance of it. I see my clients for who they really are and I know how to get them to trust me. They admire my refined taste. And my ability to turn glitter into gold. They think I’m one of them.

  Still, my job is the one thing I have that allows me to maintain my sense of self. It’s a hiding place. Right out in the open. Where everyone can see the me I want them to see. My personal safety net, in more ways than one. For now.

  Because every girl needs an escape plan.

  Trust me, I know.

  3  JORDANA

  When I arrived at my showroom—despite the cold weather—Tatiana Doonan and her mother, Caroline, were already idling outside in front of the Doonan family Range Rover, with its tinted windows and aftermarket Hella lights.

  “Jordana,” Caroline reprimanded, stroking the fur on her mink coat. She pronounces my name JorDONNA, I assume because it sounds less pedestrian. “You’re late.” She tapped a polished red talon on the face of her diamond bezel watch. It was thirty seconds past our scheduled appointment. I probably should have taken a cab, but sometimes I prefer the rebellion of riding the subway. My husband, John, has warned me against it at least a dozen times. To him, the subway system is the large intestine of New York City, where feces are stored before defecation. If only he knew there was a bum living at the Eighty-Sixth Street station who freely excretes right there on the platform. Good for him.