All that glitters

Cierra's POV

"Mom, you have to be kidding me..."

I stood in the middle of my bedroom, staring down at my phone like it had personally betrayed me. Mom was on FaceTime, newly applied bridal makeup still perfect despite the chaos she was dealing with in court.

"I am not kidding. It's just for an hour," she insisted, voice too calm for the madness she was asking for.

I scoffed. "What if George comes in?"

"George doesn't need to know," she said. "Cierra, can't you do one tiny thing for your mother?"

"It's not tiny," I muttered. "He's going to know."

"There's no way he will. We both work out, same body shape..." she waved her hand casually.

"My boobs are fuller," I cut in.

She laughed. "That is why I love you, my baby."

"Mom, don't fucking try to bribe me with love."

"Oh, I wasn't talking about love," she said, smirking. "I was going to bribe you with something better."

I narrowed my eyes. "Get the vibrator after your court case."

"Cierra Monroe! What the hell?"

"That's the only bribe my soul recognizes."

We both burst into laughter, the kind that made my chest tighten from the knowledge that none of this was actually funny.

"Thank you so much, sweetie," she said genuinely.

"Thank goodness veil removal is optional. He'll just see the... mini you," I teased.

She snorted. "Exactly. The perfect decoy bride."

I sobered and looked at her carefully. "Mom... you will win this case, right?"

She hesitated for half a second... too long.

"I always win. Trust your mother."

"I do. But why would they withhold your flight ticket if the situation isn't serious?"

She sighed. "Well, your mom is a..."

My doorbell rang loudly, cutting her off.

"Duty calls," I said with a groan.

"Sure," she said. "But remember..."

"I know, I know. A secret between a mother and daughter stays between a mother and daughter."

"That's my girl." She blew a kiss and the call cut.

I dropped the phone on my bed. "Oh, fuck. This week is going to be a crazy-ass week."

I opened the door...and froze.

My boyfriend.

No, not my boyfriend.

My ex.

George Don.

Looking like he'd forgotten how to breathe, let alone speak.

"Um... hello?" I forced out.

"Cierra..." he breathed, like my name still belonged on his tongue.

I stepped aside. "Come in."

The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I grabbed the nearest cigarette and lit it. His eyes followed every move, hunger dripping from his stare.

"So... why are you here?" I asked, exhaling smoke toward him.

"Call me an obsessed ex," he said with a half-smirk.