"If I had known that girl could be worth this much, I would have suggested selling her or marrying her off a long time ago," Katherine, Eva's mother, said with a sigh of deep satisfaction as she leaned into the comforting hands of her husband. They were nestled together on a plush cushion in the sun-drenched morning room of their mansion.
"Exactly my thoughts," Raymond agreed, his fingers working through hair in a soothing motion. "I have never been more excited than I was when the Andersons' butler took her away last night. It felt like a weight had been lifted from this entire household."
A serene smile graced Katherine's lips. "We have had so many rough and embarrassing moments because of her, and now we can truly be the Macmillians we always wanted to be, the family people admire without reservation."
"The perfect Macmillians," Raymond affirmed, his voice a low, proud rumble. "I don't regret supporting your every choice and decision, my love."
Katherine tilted her head back, her eyes meeting his. "And that's why I have always loved you," she murmured, leaning in to kiss him softly on the lips.
They were deep in their sweet, romantic moment, the servants having discreetly melted away to give them privacy, when the moment was suddenly shattered by Zora, who appeared at the doorway, dressed in a fiery red autumn wear that clung to her frame. Her face was painted with her usual loud makeup, but it was holding the sad expression she always used to get everything she wanted.
"Dad," she called out, her voice cutting through their intimacy, and they broke away. She strode into the room without a second thought about the privacy she was invading. Her parents, however, didn't show a flicker of annoyance at the disturbance.
"Yes, princess?" Raymond answered immediately, his attention fully shifting to his favored daughter.
"Can you give me your Maybach?" Zora asked, her tone implying it was a foregone conclusion. "My Ferrari is too outdated to be presented at the Gems meeting today. I can't be seen in something so last season."
"Of course, princess," Raymond replied casually, as if she had asked for a glass of water. He didn't even hesitate, reaching into his pocket and tossing her the keys to the six-figure vehicle.
She smiled brightly, the sad expression vanishing like a vapor. "Thanks, Dad!" she chirped, blowing him an air kiss before turning on her heel and hurrying out, her mission accomplished.
Katherine watched her go, a slight, begrudging pout on her lips. "She's such a daddy's girl," she mumbled under her breath. "She couldn't even acknowledge I was in the room."
Raymond chuckled, pulling his wife closer. "At least I acknowledge you," he whispered, his breath warm against her ear. He murmured something incoherent to her, and Katherine laughed, her minor irritation forgotten as they fell back into their lovey-dovey bubble.
Zora, meanwhile, marched outside, the morning sun reflecting on the car's beautiful silver skin, but just as she was about to slide into the driver's seat, a familiar hum of a Porsche engine made her look up, and immediately a smile, genuine this time, spread across her face as she sighted the familiar car. She hurried away from the Maybach as the Porsche pulled to a stop and Richard stepped out, looking handsome and polished to Zora, and she practically dived into his arms.
"Baby! You actually remembered!" she exclaimed, beaming up at him. "You remembered my big day!"
He hugged her back, but his smile was strained, his body stiff beneath her embrace. Despite having paid Eva a thousand dollars to keep quiet, a restless anxiety still churned in his gut. Eva was a fool, but she was a loudmouth, and if he dared to fall out with Zora, his life and his family's finances, which depended heavily on the Macmillian empire, would crash and burn.
"Big day?" he asked in confusion as he pulled away, trying to sound as casual as he could because he had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.
"Yes! My meeting with The Gems!" Zora said, her excitement making her oblivious to his tension. "I told you I was going to finalize playing the piano on the opening day of their national convention! It's a huge deal!"
Richard's mind raced. He forced a wider, more charming smile onto his face. "Of course I remember, darling," he lied smoothly. "I came here mainly to be your personal chauffeur for the day. You shouldn't have to drive yourself to such an important event."
Zora's eyes softened. "That's why I love you, baby," she cooed, completely disarmed.
He played the part perfectly, opening the passenger door for her like a true gentleman and she got in forgetting the Mayback. She didn't seem to have heard anything about his infidelity, and he was relieved, but the worry still gnawed at him. As soon as he got into the driver's seat and pulled away from the mansion, he decided to test the waters.
"So," he began, keeping his tone light, "Eva isn't coming to support you today?"
Zora's mood switched instantaneously from blissful to disgusted. "Why would you mention that 'thing' now?" she snapped, her face contorting in irritation. "My father married her off to the 6th Anderson last night. She's no longer a part of this family. Good riddance."
This information hit Richard like a physical blow. He slammed his foot on the brake, the Porsche lurching to a violent halt that nearly threw Zora against the dashboard.
"So you didn't go shopping with her this morning?" he demanded, his composure cracking.
"No! Why would I? And why did you suddenly hit the brakes like a maniac?" Zora yelled, her anger flaring at both the sudden stop and the strange line of questioning.
Richard took a sharp breath, forcing himself to calm down. He ran a hand through his hair, feigning a tired, stressed expression. "No, no, it's nothing. I'm sorry, honey. I haven't been myself lately. A lot of family business pressure, you know?"
He continued driving, his hands gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles were white. But internally, his mind was raging. Eva had lied to him. She had played him. That little fool had outsmarted him and taken a thousand dollars right out of his pocket. The humiliation and anger burned hotter than the engine of the car he was driving.
Zora, meanwhile, sat in stony silence, staring at his profile. She had expected more than just a flimsy apology for scaring her half to death, but he just kept driving, lost in his own furious thoughts. With a sigh of resignation, she turned to look out the window, the magnificent streets of Denna Hills blurring past. She just had to keep convincing herself, as she always did, that he was simply slow and distracted when it came to the do's of relationships. It was the only way to explain away his constant detachments.