Chapter XV: The Brazilian Bombshell
Spice Meter: 1 flame
Gentle reader, you might want to get your emotional support pet, a security blanket, a soothing cup of tea, or a fortifying drink. The events that unfurl are not for the faint of heart…! Let's pick up where we last left off, shall we? Where was it? Oh right… Shane's mouth was hanging open over the Brazilian version of Gal Gadot…
Shane cleared her throat and mentally pulled herself together. It wouldn't do to show this woman any sort of weakness.
"It's a pleasure meeting you Ms. Dos Santos. Oliver has shared how efficient you are at your job." Shane emphasized, as she shook the woman's hand, looking at her directly in the eye.
"Just trying to please Oliver as much as a I can. And call me Lydia," she said, with that ridiculously sensual voice of hers.
"That's quite the accent. If you don't mind my asking, Lydia, where are you from?" Shane decided to make polite conversation, but at the same time find out as much as she could about this woman. She quite consciously ignored the comment about pleasing her husband even though she was itching to give her a piece of her mind.
"Oh, my father's Brazilian, but my mother's side of the family is from Barcelona. I was born and raised in Rio."
"That's nice…." Shane said, trying to sound as genuine as she could, but she surely didn't feel it. "Certainly, explains the musicality of your accent."
"You're such a sweetie, Shane. It's wonderful you can pick up on this sort of thing." Was that a hint of condescension she heard in her words?
"It is, isn't it," Shane laughed half-heartedly. Oh, she didn't like this woman at all! "Oliver, can we get a move on… Rita and Norman are expecting us at the DLO shortly."
"Oh, but Oliver, I need you to look at the blueprints for the lighting installations. Surely you can stay a while longer. After all, you're the boss at the DLO." Lydia tilted her head as she directed a wide smile at Oliver.
"I'm sure we can spare a few more minutes, Shane. Rita and Norman are more than capable of holding down the fort." Oliver took a seat at the round table in the dining room. It was serving as a makeshift office space for the moment.
Shane started to feel the need for a salted caramel Godiva truffle, when the Brazilian bombshell approached Oliver and appeared to trip over a stack of books on the floor. When she supported herself by holding on to Oliver's shoulder and bicep, Shane was done. Of all the nerve! That was obviously planned!
"Oh, my goodness, Lydia, are you alright?" Oliver asked, ever the gentleman.
"Of course, Oliver, thankfully your strong arm broke my fall."
Shane almost gagged but covered any strange sounds with a cough.
"Lydia, may I suggest more sensible shoes? You seem to stumble quite a lot," Oliver pointed out.
Interesting… Shane thought. It stood to reason that she's done this before!
Interrupting Shane's thoughts Oliver said, "Please, Lydia, take a seat. I can just as easily look at the blueprints standing here."
Lydia sat down daintily, and now it was Oliver looking over her shoulder… with her ample cleavage in full view.
Alright, that was it, Shane thought. She straightened her spine, looked straight at Lydia and said, "Ms. Dos Santos, could I have a word in the kitchen? Now?"
Lydia didn't respond immediately, opting to look at Oliver without saying anything.
"Is anything amiss, Shane?" Oliver asked.
"I just want to share some of my ideas for the library portion of the museum. They are a surprise for you, darling." Shane didn't like lying to Oliver, but it was for the greater good.
"Oh! That's nice of you, my love. Sure, you and Lydia go ahead, I'll just stay here and study the blueprints." Oliver responded.
Once inside the kitchen the claws came out.
"Look Shane, I know this little exchange isn't over any ideas you might have for this project," Lydia said, raising her eyebrows, as she put her hands on her hips in a defiant stance.
"Of course, it isn't. And it's Mrs. O'Toole to you," Shane said frigidly. "This 'little exchange', as you call it, is to tell you my eye is on you, Ms. Dos Santos. You're engaging in very inappropriate behavior and taking advantage of my husband's desire to see this project through. But you have no idea the tools I have at my disposal, and I will make it my mission to find out what's behind this bombshell façade of yours."
"Is that a threat, Shane?" Lydia asked, derisively disregarding Shane's request to be called by her married name.
"You can interpret my words in any which way you please. But Lydia," she pronounced her given name contemptuously, "you should know that Oliver's a good man, and he's my husband. The institution of marriage is sacred to him, not to mention we have been madly in love with each other for the longest time. I know you have designs on him, but you're underestimating him, not to mention me."
A small, devious smile curved Lydia's lips as she walked out to the dining room area. Following her Shane said, "Oliver, we're leaving. NOW," her tone of voice higher than usual.
Oliver looked at Shane, his expression blank. There was no reaction on his part, other than smoothing the front of his suit jacket and a slight pursing of his lips.
"Don't worry, Oliver, you can go along. It does seem like the little wife is in a hurry. I will most likely need you later, so I will just give you a call," Lydia said, looking directly at Shane.
Little wife? Who does this woman think she is? Shane couldn't stand being inside the house any longer. Nodding her head towards the door, in a silent request for Oliver to follow her, she dashed out, fuming all the way to the car.
"My love," Oliver said, clearing his throat while starting the car, "I do believe your behavior was uncalled for. Don't you think you were a bit rude towards Lydia?"
Shane gasped, her eyes wide. She felt her blood running hot inside her veins. "Oliver, if anyone was rude in there, it was her! The condescension, the fake fall, the little wife comment! That… that… amazon… has designs on you!"
"Now, my love. That couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, I admit this project has limited our time together and of course I must work with her, but that's it, it's all very professional," Oliver said, trying to diffuse the situation.
"Right," Shane snorted. "As professional as her exposed cleavage." She crossed her arms over her chest, as if the gesture could contain the anger rising within her.
"I think you might be overreacting…" Oliver said, instantly regretting his words.
"I am overreacting…" Shane said, parroting Oliver, her voice frigid. "Oliver, let's pin this for now, why don't we? We have a full day of work, and I don't want to start it with a raging headache."
Shane's expression was now blank. It was as if she had shut down after his last words. Oliver gulped. He couldn't help but think it would be a long day indeed.
###
Rita and Norman were already at the DLO when Shane and Oliver arrived. They immediately noticed something was amiss. Their colleagues always came into work arm in arm, and only had eyes for each other. Today they stomped into the DLO, frowns on their faces, with a vibe reminiscent of the failed dance showcase aftermath. However, it felt undoubtedly worse for Rita.
Rita and Norman looked at each other, wondering what on earth was happening between their friends. Shane looked at Rita, her eyes beckoning, and Rita immediately understood her friend was summoning her to her side. Meanwhile Norman walked apprehensively towards Oliver, understanding his friend might need him, but knowing he could be the absolute worst at providing marital advice. He really hoped he wouldn't be called on to give Oliver any!
Oliver broke the silence, halting any intentions his colleagues might have in finding out the present circumstances between him and his wife. "Good morning… Rita… Norman…We need to work on the pearl necklace that was found in the unattached items box," he said curtly, cutting to the chase.
Immediately Norman replied, "I've already looked it over with the magnifying glass. There seems to be an engraving on the clasp. It could be the jewelry maker. Shane could run a search and see where it leads." Norman heaved a sigh of relief. He preferred to talk shop rather than wade around distress caused by affairs of the heart.
Shane immediately got to work on her computer, programming a search for their current investigation, but also another alongside it. No one was going to stop her running a background check on Lydia Dos Santos! Almost immediately, and quite eerily so, the search on Lydia yielded results. That's odd, Shane thought, as she scanned the screen. Everything was too squeaky clean for her taste. The only red flag she saw was she had worked at way too many places. Being a curator, it stood to reason she might travel the country working at different museums. Shane covered her face in her hands in obvious frustration.
"Shane, do you want to get some coffee? I think we could use a break," Rita said to her friend, her voice showing concern.
"You're a lifesaver, Rita. I think I might need just that."
And thus, Shane poured her heart out to her best friend, and Oliver found himself doing the same with Norman. While the two ladies were appalled over the Brazilian bombshell and Rita agreed with everything Shane said and felt, the two men were simply bewildered and commiserated about how they'd never understand women.
Later that evening, as they got ready for bed, Norman and Rita talked about their conversations with Shane and Oliver. They decided to take matters into their own hands and investigate Lydia Dos Santos. Better to be safe than sorry, and nothing was more important than their friends' happiness.
"I'm so glad you agreed to this, Norman," Rita said gratefully.
"Of course. Let Operation Copacabana commence," Norman said with a half-smile. He thought the name was rather clever.
###
The ride back home was as frigid as the ride to work that morning.
"Shane, my love, please talk to me." Oliver looked at his wife, smiling one of his gentle lopsided smiles she loved.
Apparently, Shane was immune to his smile that evening. Her eyes were still ice-cold, and he detested seeing her this way. "Oliver, can't you see that woman has designated you as her prey?"
"What? You can't be serious!" He was honestly bewildered.
"How can you be so oblivious! She almost served up her breasts on a platter for you, in front of me!"
Oliver tried to form words, but he couldn't. After a couple of minutes of heavy silence inside the Jag, he said, "Don't you trust me, Shane?" His eyes were suddenly sad, and Shane could almost kick herself.
"I trust you, darling. It's that woman I don't trust," she replied firmly.
"I recognize Lydia can be a bit too much. I don't particularly care for the constant calling and texting, but I really want to make the museum the best it can be. It's just part of the territory for the time being."
"Oliver, you need to find someone else for the job," Shane insisted.
"Don't you think this might be just a whim?" Oliver asked, and immediately regretted the words that came out of his mouth.
"A whim? Ok, Oliver, that's it. Drop me off at the house. Go with Norman, with your dad, with Ramon for all I care. You need to think this through and realize that I never do or say things on a whim!"
"Shane, you can't be serious!" Oliver couldn't believe the turn this conversation had taken!
"Please. Let me be for now, Oliver. I just can't shake off that woman treating you as if you were her property and belittling me while you stood there and did nothing."
"Shane…."
"Let's cool off… we can talk later." She laid her hand on his for a second and looked down, deciding against a kiss. She might lose her resolve and she needed to have a minute to herself. Shane then got out of the car, and Oliver found himself staring at her retreating form, but this time she was a blur through the tears welling up in his eyes.
###
Oliver called Joe, and immediately his dad told him to come over to his house. Joe was making dinner for Vivianne and told his son he was more than welcome. There was certainly more than enough food. He shared a concerned glance with Vivianne, but he knew whatever was up with his children couldn't be more than a hiccup. For goodness sakes, they were Shane and Oliver! He had never seen a love so pure, profound, so deeply felt.
When Joe saw Oliver's stricken face, he felt his heart collapsing. "Son, please, come in. What's going on?"
"Dad, everything's a mess, and I don't even understand why." Oliver sat down at the kitchen table and rubbed a hand over his face. "Vivianne, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your dinner."
"Oliver, please. Children always come first. It doesn't matter their age or stage in life. You need Joseph and I would never come between the two of you." Vivianne laid a hand on Oliver's shoulder. She could tell whatever was going on was really affecting him. "Joseph, I could go back to Moonrise, and just postpone until tomorrow."
"No, please stay. I might benefit from another woman's point of view." Oliver said, his eyes far away. Vivianne felt for him.
"Whatever you want, son. Now, please, tell us what happened," Joe said, his words heartfelt.
Oliver laid his hands on the table, lacing his fingers together. He kept his gaze on his hands as he told Joe and Vivianne how events had transpired, emphasizing his frustration with Shane. Couldn't she see he only had eyes for her? How could she even entertain the thought he could treat Lydia other than an employee?
Joe and Vivianne looked at each other. Both knew Shane wasn't capricious. If she felt the infamous Ms. Dos Santos was up to something, she might be right.
"Oliver, couldn't you give Shane the benefit of the doubt? She's not frivolous and never acts on whims," Joe said, wanting to ease some of his son's pain.
"I find women's intuition tends to be spot on. Shane could be seeing something you don't, Oliver," Vivianne added.
"I guess you might be right. But there's really no reason with enough weight that would warrant me replacing Lydia as museum curator. Not to mention her references were the best and I really want this project to take off," Oliver fretted. His phone started dinging and Oliver exhaled in frustration. "That's Lydia again. Dad, I must go and approve the blueprints I didn't check off this morning."
Vivianne nudged Joe, silently encouraging him to accompany Oliver. Joe caught on fast and asked his son if he was agreeable to some company.
"That would be wonderful, Dad. I'd actually prefer it if you could go with me," Oliver said, relief evident in his voice.
Vivianne urged them out the door and insisted she'd be fine finishing dinner. She knew Oliver needed his father. If anyone could help in this situation, it was her Joseph.
Oliver and Joe arrived at the ancestral house relatively quickly. Joe stayed back, claiming he wanted to talk to Vivianne for a second, but he really wanted to catch Lydia off-guard. He wanted to see her overall body language as he stepped into the house and saw them taking care of business.
Oh dear… that was all Joe could think as he took in the scene unfolding before him. There was a set of blueprints on the table, but there was also a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses. Lydia was sitting alongside Oliver, her shoes on the floor, her skirt hiked up over her thighs. His son was trying to put some distance between himself and the infamous Ms. Dos Santos, but she had a firm grip on his forearm, supposedly trying to show him something on the blueprints. Joe couldn't quite catch what they were talking about, but the musical trill of the woman's laughter had him widening his eyes. Shane was right, alright. This lady had her eye on his son, and he needed to get his act together! Fast!
In the meantime, Shane was home, feeling dejected, with a hollow pain in her chest. She made herself a cup of herbal tea and went to the bedroom. She didn't have dinner and completely bypassed the serious chocolate drawer. Not even Godiva truffles could take care of the dull ache she felt. Putting on her rattiest pair of yoga pants and a Flashdance style sweatshirt that bared her shoulder, she sat in the middle of the bed, missing Oliver horribly. Flynn and Valentino knew their mom was sad. The kitty landed on the bed with one fluid jump, circling Shane, until he finally settled on her lap. He proceeded to knead her thighs with his claws, something Shane didn't particularly like, but knew Flynn did it out of affection. Valentino landed on the bed with a thump. He was not as graceful as the cat! He immediately plopped himself against her leg, propping his head on Shane's knee. At least Flynn and Valentino's displays of affection made her feel a little bit better. Shane sighed and prayed… she asked God for Oliver to understand her point of view, or maybe work a little miracle and have Lydia Dos Santos return to Brazil!
Shane's thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ring of her phone. She needed to change that ringtone, for crying out loud. That could give anyone a heart attack! She saw the caller ID and could scarcely believe it.
"Oh, my goodness, Mom!" Shane bawled as she answered the phone.
"Shaney, my darling, Joe called me. Tell me what hurts."
Don't know about you, dear reader, but This Author loathes this Lydia woman. How could she come between my babies! Even though I trust they will come out stronger because of all of this, it pains my heart to see my dearest Shane and Oliver suffering. This Author can't wait for the Brazilian vixen to get her just desserts. Norman! You simply must expedite Operation Copacabana!
A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my dear friend Veronica. Happy birthday querida! Thank you SO MUCH for your friendship, the SSD camaraderie, and the big part you've played in the development of Sentimental Moods. You have kept the muse fed, rejoiced with me in the creation of Joe and Vivianne's relationship, and we have birthed together Ms. Lydia Dos Santos. (Among so many other things!) Knowing you has been such a joy... Today I celebrate the wonderfulness that is you! Have an absolutely brilliant and grand day!