From the black to the pink
All up in it, make it lit, like
"Yeah, we some bitches you can't manage"
Finish off what you can't handle
We as pretty as we are savage
We some prеtty harmful savage

The look he shot me was all ice and venom, like he hadn't expected me to answer, let alone insult him. I had been a limp bitch when I had been a human, and that ship didn't sail twice.

I rubbed my stare up and down his body again, mocking this time, smirking. I could see him fluff up like he was a preening peacock despite his low estimation of me. His velvety voice was smug as he said, "Like what you see?"

"Oh yes, everything's coming into focus now. I guess that's why they call you handsome. You definitely look like you're down with some five on one." My tone was laced with sarcasm.

Kylie choked on her drink, some snorting out her nose as she hacked and wheezed. "Oh my God Bells, fucking chill!"

Blythe was howling in laughter, and Corin was trying to pretend like I hadn't just cut him off at the knees by insinuating the only action he got was from masturbation.

If it were possible, I'm sure his face would've been a fetching shade of crimson. "As I said, I'm interested in sophisticated ladies. Not bar crawling new money trash." He sneered, but there was a tenseness underneath, so I knew I'd got to him. He was just too practiced to let it show outside of the hard set of his eyes. But we were cut from the same cloth, him and I, and immortals had their tells.

Calling me new money trash was beyond hilarious, all things considered. Chigaco was nowhere near high society. He was so far removed from being even remotely in touch, the ignorance was just sad. That being said, I didn't bother to correct him. Any vampire that knew my name was either dead or family, and I preferred to keep it that way.

He continued to stand there, anger and expectancy playing across his features. Probably waiting for me to apologize, but there was no way in hell. I waved my hand at him dismissively, pulling out my phone to check my flawless reflection in my front-facing camera. "Scamper along now. If you fish hard enough I'm sure you can still catch one with reasonable levels of VD."

I had the girls rolling in fits of hysterics again, but I tuned them out as I inspected his face. The emotions flickering through his eyes were shrouded, hard to decipher. Anger, humiliation, embarrassment, but most strange was the briefest shock of something that looked like he was impressed. His dark gold eyes set hard, he turned and stalked away and disappeared down the stairs.

If I had cared more about money or my reputation, maybe I could've put on a plastic Barbie face and let his slights go. Could've even maybe, possibly, got lucky for the first time since 1770. But no lay was worth the disrespect. Not anymore. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and hat to prove it.

Le Bain was a complete bust for me after that, plus the Harry and Meghan tip had been fake news. As I made to leave, Corin swore she didn't mind coming along, but I knew she wanted to keep an eye on the two little mortals we were so fond of. I brushed her off, trying to be nice, and promised I'd call a cab when I knew Blythe and Kylie were listening.

The sun was well and truly set by then, the lights from the skyscrapers and boats on the Hudson twinkling like stars. I slipped around the side of the building between the river and W 14th. The Meatpacking district below was just turning on for the night.

Another quick glance over my shoulder to make sure no one was watching, and then I was Spider-Man. I flew between the tallest of buildings, too high and too fast for human eyes to notice, feeling a little bit King Kong every time I grappled onto a radio antenna. I made my way from Midtown to Manhattan feeling like a superhero, just for those few fleeting moments.

I slithered nimbly down the bricks of an alley once I got nearer to the 57th penthouse I called my home and walked the rest of the way. Garrett, the doorman, held the door open for me and booked it across the lobby to call our elevator.

My hands made to dig in my purse for my key when I realized I'd left it sitting at the club. I sighed in comical fashion, knowing Garrett would let me up. He shook his head, probably thinking I was wasted since I stank of champagne, but obligingly used his staff key to shoot me 1,416 feet skyward.

I had just stepped into the main foyer and was kicking off the Dior heels onto the chevron pattern wood floors when I noticed Carlisle in the observatory directly across the hall. Weird. Usually he gave me pretty free reign, so the fact he was clearly waiting for me the second I got home sent alarm bells screaming.

I made to cross the hall when I saw another figure, seated on the ottoman facing the easterly windows. My greeting of "Carlisle," was succinct, wary. I didn't recognize the other person's scent other than they were also a vampire, so I was feeling pretty sketched out.

My father smiled at me warmly, making the shrieking bells in my head even louder. He was up to something, secrets dancing behind his eyes.

Gesturing to the man whose face I couldn't see but still looked somewhat familiar, he said, "Bella, I want to introduce you to someone. This is Edward Masen."

"Oh, hell no." I hadn't meant to say it out loud. It was like word vomit, spewing out unbidden. But I meant it, with every fiber of my being.

I would not be attached to a man that looked at me like all I was could be seen written on my skin. Which is exactly what Carlisle had in mind - a mate, just for me.

He turned to look at me, shocked. Truthfully the outburst was more of my persona than it was the real me, the Bella he knew, and he hadn't expected it. "I just hate to see you lonely, Bella."

My teeth clicked together, furious he was talking about me in front of this arrogant asshole. "Yeah, listen, can we discuss this later? I'd like a shower, and maybe a shot of phenobarbital."

Carlisle leveled a hard stare at me, not appreciating my sarcasm. Before he could chastise me, Edward stood and turned towards us. He took my hand and kissed it, leaving me too stunned to even rip it from his grasp.

"Isabella Swan-Cullen. I've heard a great many things about you." It was there in his eyes, hiding behind the polite formalities. He was asking - no, begging - me not to out him.

He had acted like a massive prick with absolutely no provocation, yet he had the audacity to seek my confidences just to save face. Not fucking happening. I opened my mouth to spill the tea, but immediately snapped it shut as a thought occurred to me: this was leverage. I could use it.

I shifted smoothly into a small curtsy, letting a genteel smile play across my lips. "The pleasure is mine. But please, excuse me, I really must freshen up."

Spinning on my heel, I stalked away to leave them to their batshit crazy schemes. All I could think was, Not today, Satan, not today.