Bedmates Soulmates
CHAPTER 427

Kira pitched forward and almost fell.

The mixologist standing nearby shot out an arm in time to steady her.

The sound of tearing fabric caused heads to turn.

Well-dressed party attendees converged and rubbernecked.

Alissa quickly pulled back.

She gave an apologetic shrug. 'Oops, sorry. I'm such a klutz. Miss, are you all right?'

'She would have made a good actress,' Kira thought.

Kira regained her balance and thanked the kind mixologist.

She turned her head to look down at the torn hem.

Then she smiled. 'I'm fine. It was an accident.'

Alissa smirked.

Cinderella's Ew! Stepsisters

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She found it impossible that Georgina would have let such a wuss walk all over her.

'I'm glad you are okay. I hope there are no hard feelings. Anyway, I should probably go and mingle. Excuse us.'

Alissa linked arms with Georgina.

They exchanged a smug look and a triumphant smile.

Georgina would have liked to do more than just embarrass the bitch, but people were looking at them and it was hard to do anything else.

So she decided to quit while she was ahead.

'Who said you can leave?' Kira crossed her arms.

Georgina stopped.

She turned around slowly. 'What? You've got something else to say?"

'Of course.' Kira raised her chin. 'While I forgive your clumsy friend there-she probably has Parkinson's, seeing as how she can't control both her hands and her legs-you can't just walk away without paying for the damage. Subdued laughter rippled through the crowd.

More people gathered, eager for a front-row seat to the circus.

A catfight was probably in the making.

Georgina stared at Kira, her mouth agape with incredulity.

What did her pushover of a sister just say?

Alissa blanched visibly.

She knew how much the dress cost.

She was the one who poured the drink and stepped on the hem.

If the girl demanded compensation, Alissa was on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars while Georgina would get away scot-free.

Alissa tightened her grip on Georgina's arm.

If she was going down, she was taking Georgina with her.

Mean Girls Have To Pay

The crowd was now three deep.

The commotion attracted Austyn's attention.

He looked over but couldn't see Kira.

Kai appeared by his side. 'Boss, Young Madam seems to be in trouble.'

'What's going on?'

'Georgina Vaughn and another woman who appears to be her friend have waylaid Young Madam.'

"Georgina Vaughn? What's she doing here?'

'I haven't found that out yet, but I guess she must still be holding a grudge after that encounter in the hospital.

Austyn set down his champagne flute and marched towards the crowd.

Kai was close on his heels.

A man in the crowd whipped around when he felt a shove at his shoulders.

His mouth was open, ready with an insult, but he closed it when he saw the M Group's president.

Onlookers parted like the Red Sea, making way for Austyn who pushed through the crowd with a face like thunder.

What was the Vaughn woman doing here?

Was she going to hurt Kira?

If she dared lay a finger on Kira...

Austyn clenched his jaw.

He should not have let Kira out of his sight.

The woman was like a magnet for trouble.

He pulled up short when he took in the scene.

Kai almost bumped into his back. 'Boss?'

They were still in the crowd.

'Are we not going out there to rescue Young Madam?

'Seems like there's no need to.' Austyn joined the group of rubbernecks.

From his vantage point, he could see the faces of all three women.

It was one against two, but Kira seemed to have the upper hand.

She had a smile on her face and a confident air about her.

Gone was the helpless girl with scratch marks on her face and tears in her eyes back at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Georgina and whatshername looked like a couple of cats on a hot tin roof,

'The wine ruined my dress,' Kira said. 'Then your friend here stepped on it. The hem is ripped and impossible to repair. What do you plan to do about it?'

Georgina gritted her teeth.

Her face was flushed.

She was mortified to find herself thrown into the spotlight.

She craved attention, but this was the wrong kind.

'My friend already apologised. What more do you want?'

'A half-hearted "I'm sorry" is not going to cut it.' Kira sneered. 'Didn't your mom teach you that if you break it, you're gonna have to buy it? Even little kids know this. You're both adults; I presume. Do I really need to teach you what to do?' Vigh Guns Have to Pay

Alissa glowered at Kira. 'You'

'I what?' Kira shot back.

She turned a half circle and lifted the hem of her dress, its silk fabric shimmering under the brilliant white light.

Once she made sure the audience got a good look, she said, 'I'm sure those with a discerning eye can tell this is an Atelier Versace. It's hand-made haute couture and there are only six of them in the world. If you refuse to offer compensation for such a valuable item, I'm afraid I'll have to see you in court.

Kira hoped no one noticed the slight tremor in her voice.

She had no idea how much the dress cost.

She prayed that none of the audience members worked in the fashion industry.

All that stuff she said just now,

she'd heard from one of the stylists.

'Mr McCarthy must have some powerful connections,' the stylist had said. 'There's only one of this dress in Stamford and five in the rest of the world. I heard rumours that Kayleigh Woods-you know, the actress with a pretty face and nothing between the ears-tried and failed to get her hands on the dress.'

The stylist had run her fingers gingerly and lovingly over the silk fabric, with the same kind of look that Kira had when she saw butterscotch ice cream.

Kira had felt uneasy.

She wanted to change into something that didn't cost more than an apartment, but the stylist wouldn't hear of it.

At the buffet table just now, she took tiny bites of her food and stayed away from anything that was a potential splash hazard.

But the dress got ruined anyway.

Kira kept the smile on her face. 'So? Ladies, have you decided on who's going to pay? I take both cash and cheque, but not IOU slips.' The audience burst into laughter.