The Meet
Beatrice ran—gasping for air she couldn’t catch, ugly tears carving mascara trails down her cheeks, snot dripping unchecked. She didn’t dare glance back. Not at the glittering lobby she’d crashed like a queen, not at the friend whose barbed jealousy had just cracked the world open. All she craved was escape—anywhere but here, not one more heartbeat in this gilded trap. Who’d have guessed a catfight over knockoff bling could summon death itself?
Beatrice and Lydia planned to meet at a five-star Michelin hotel. A spot neither could afford, but their egos were too huge to care about their wallets. They’d starve for a week before losing even a minute to each other. They were both snakes, but they played sheep to fit in. Always side-eyeing for a chance to tear the other down. Like the saying goes—“like attracts like.” They were alike in their sneakiness and bad hearts, the worst kind of people. But to blend into society, they stuck together.
Both of them got all dressed up. Beatrice walked into the hotel with her head high. She headed to the lobby and the table they’d booked. Her high heels clicked down the corridor. She reached the table, covered in a fancy red cloth with two chairs. One was taken by her so-called friend, Lydia. Lydia was staring out the big glass window at the view. Beatrice eyed the waiter next to her and glanced at the empty chair. The waiter pulled it out, and Beatrice sat down.
Lydia caught it all from the corner of her eye and let out a fake scoff. Beatrice frowned at her and pushed her hair back. A diamond earring sparkled in the light.
Lydia stared at it, her voice thick with jealousy: “Oh, I heard rich people are tossing old jewelry at their maids now. It’s all over the news. I thought it was fake, but seeing that? Guess there’s some truth to it.” She smirked, eyes locked on the shiny earrings.
Beatrice glanced at Lydia’s necklace and said, “Oh my, that necklace—I guess that’s the only one in the whole world.” Her voice dripped sarcasm.
Lydia perked up her ears and shot back, “Yeah, I guess even you could see it.”
“Yes, it does look like the only one in the world,” Beatrice replied with a mocking grin, her lips twitching up. “Because that’s some crap no one would wear—it looks like it came from a 5-minute crafts video.” She hid her smirk behind the cheap fan she’d bought on the way.
Lydia’s face changed. She turned and called the waiter, starting to order in a fake British accent. The dish she picked sounded super classy. Beatrice thought, “Oh, she came prepared!” As Lydia finished, she smirked and smiled softly at the waiter, then pointed at Beatrice. “What do you want to order?” Lydia tilted her head, sure Beatrice couldn’t match that fancy accent.
Beatrice got the game right away. She looked at the waiter and waved him closer. As he stepped up, she held up her hand to stop him. She lowered her fan, snapped it shut, and lifted her chin to meet his eyes. “I’ll have the seared scallop carpaccio with citrus vinaigrette—light and fresh today,” she said with a cool smile.As the waiter left the place, they both were looking at each other from across the table, looking for a chance to pounce at each other.
Suddenly, a woman in her 60s walked into the place. Beatrice and Lydia couldn’t help staring at her. She fit right in—actually, the hotel looked plain next to her style. The woman spotted them, smiled softly, and headed their way. They looked confused. Beatrice turned to talk to Lydia, but the woman was already at their table.
“It’s nice to see two young women here,” she said with a smile. Both Beatrice and Lydia stood up and nodded.
“I’m glad to see you both. If you girls don’t mind, would you let this old lady pay for your stay tonight?” She looked at them. Then she went on: “I’ve never seen two friends come here alone. You remind me of my dear friend who died years ago from an autoimmune disease.”
“Looking at you both...” She took off her glasses and wiped her teary eyes with her fancy handkerchief.
This was a lucky break for the girls. They knew their own situation—even a basic meal here would hit their wallets hard. Staying overnight? No way they could swing that. They were ready to take whatever the old lady offered.
