Chapter 27

"By the way, Edna and Grace are here. They have already started their patronizing conversation and I may have pissed them off a tiny bit," Helen showed a small portion of space between her fingers for emphasis but she had pissed them off much more than what she showed.

"Tiny bit? It looks like they're glaring at us. You meant you totally pissed them off," Jennifer corrected Helen. She leaned against the table, resting both hands under her chin with a large grin growing on her face. "Was it wonderful? What did you even say?"

"It wasn't satisfying considering I didn't say much but I did mention the rumor about her husband running out their door," Helen recalled the situation from moments ago. It would be satisfying once she puts them in their place, releasing all that she felt about them but for now, there was just sensation from seeing the expressions on their faces.

Julie beamed with excitement almost squealing due to the fact Helen brought up the husband thing. She hated every run-in she had with Edna and Grace because they always seemed to take joy in talking so boldly about things you could be insecure about. She had to deal with this from some of her own family members, Julie didn't need to experience it from someone else.

To hell with the respect your elders bull crap, especially if the elders were rude. She wished she was upfront and center to see their faces when the rumor was brought up."Can you go back and tell them again?"

"No, please. I don't want them to get upset and then start mentioning me. I can't get over the fact they told me I looked like I grew two sizes up. I had lost a lot of weight around that time. Two freaking sizes up?" Isabelle whispered feeling the women might be able to hear her.

Edna and Grace might have elephant ears and the other unfortunate detail was, elephants never die. Would they have to endure this as long as they were friends with Helen?

"Is something bad going to happen to me if I talk about people older than me?" Julie worriedly questioned.

Patting Julie on her pat, Helen replied, "No. It's not like we're talking about someone who rescues cats or gives to the poor. And we're not wishing death on them."

"I am!"Jennifer said raising her hand slightly. She really disliked the pair. Jennifer hoped Edna and Grace's spawns break this cycle of speaking so maliciously.

"Oh my gosh Jennifer, is this what you're going to be like in the future?" Questioned Isabelle feigning surprise.

Jennifer flipped a couple of loose strands back over her shoulder. "Of course not. As a Hodge, I plan to live old, happy, and rich. Why would I spend my time being negative to people our age? That fits your future Isabelle given your lackluster romance where you'll end up grumpy and angry at women for your husband not being what you imagined after all those years."

"Quit it," Helen stated, rolling her eyes at the pair. She wouldn't say it out loud but she saw the bickering pair of Edna and Grace watching Isabelle and Jennifer argue.

They both liked to pick at the other but then there were moments where they couldn't do without each other. She didn't know what bad blood they have between them but she would like for them to put on their big girl pants and talk it out.

Helen did not have any children so why did she have to deal with these childish antics?

"Don't pick fights you can't win Bella," Jennifer taunted her friend. She knew Isabelle created this image of her being spoiled and mean, which was true but she was nothing but nice to Isabelle at least. Shouldn't she get over what ill feelings she had by now? It wasn't Jennifer's fault she was spoiled every day and if her comments weren't directed at you, why get upset?

Jennifer actually liked Isabelle when she wasn't poking at her. Sometimes it seemed like Isabelle didn't realize the underhand comments she threw at Jennifer. For someone who can't fight she sure liked to talk a lot.

"Whatever. Don't you have to go back to your boy toy? You've been away from him long enough," Isabelle told Helen changing the awkward subject she shouldn't have created in the first place. "We've been eyeing him and he's been watching your every movement. It's about time you go back up there."

"I agree. You're the boss Helen and you have these good employees. Just sit today and examine what's happening from afar. You don't see my dad mixing with too many of his customers. Hodges let their employees do what they were hired to do while we rack in the money behind the scenes. That's the reason you have a manager for the customers to talk to."

"No offense Jennifer but considering I'm not a Hodge, I'll stick to doing things my way. And if you're just trying to get me to go back to Eli, all you had to do was straight up tell me like Isabella did to go back to Eli. Never thought I'd get a business talk from you," Remarked Helen slightly surprised with Jennifer talking about how her father does business.

Was Jennifer's father teaching her about how he runs his business? Was he planning on handing a part of his business off to her just like he did with his son Jack? Jennifer did seem excited about something recently. Normally she wouldn't utter a word about her father.

"Your loss and yes I'm dying to watch you talk to Eli more. The food is good, the atmosphere is great but can you please go back up so we can watch and try to figure out what you two are saying?" Jennifer pleaded alongside Isabelle and Julie who clasped their hands together similarly to if they were praying. "The meat is juicy but your potential relationship is even juicer!"

Helen was sort of lost for words at her confession. It was getting weird in here and this wasn't the vibe she had planned. "That's really stalkerish and creepy of you to say. You guys freak me out."

"It isn't occurring to you, you're having dates with Eli freaking King, who is rich and a lot of girls are trying to grab. Now that he's on the radar because of that magazine, he has even more fans lining up but he's interested in you. The gossip is too much. I can just imagine everyone's faces when they find out he's taken," Jennifer's beamed at the thought of breaking the news to everyone in her circle but Helen quickly killed her plans.

"One, this is a lowkey kind of thing which will end in two dates. I don't need anyone other than you three knowing about this. Two, just for some guarantee, if you tell anyone about this I'll post that love message you wrote for a certain someone and I'll even tag him. Why don't we see which one would be more gossip in your circle?" Helen suggested.

"You petty bitch," Jennifer slowly spoke remembering the embarrassing message she wrote which Helen got a hold of. It would be social suicide for her if that were to get posted and Helen knew it. "Fine fine. I won't say anything but answer this one question."

"If you don't like Eli or wish to have a serious relationship, why didn't you let this count as two dates so it would be over faster?"