Suzan froze, a sudden sense of dread creeping over her.


    She nced toward Effie, lips pressed together, putting on her best innocentmb look.


    Effie sometimes wondered how Suzan managed to look so convincingly


    aggrieved. Anyone who didn''t know her would probably believe she was genuinely hard done by.


    "Effie, I know life''s not easy for you," Suzan said, her voice soft and sharine. "You''re trying to save face, gritting your teeth just toe up with that two hundred thousand. If you''re in trouble, you can always tell me. I''ll help you. I promise."


    Effie looked at Suzan, a cold smile tugging at her lips. "Suzan, your acting''s getting a bit much."


    Suzan bit her lip. "I''m not acting."


    Effie patted Suzan''s shoulder in a mock-friendly gesture, letting her hand linger there a moment. "Rx," she said coolly. "I really don''t need that two hundred thousand."


    Suzan''s lips twitched. Of course Effie could act so casual-she''dnded Lyman, after all, and with his money backing her, a little cash wasn''t hard toe by.


    But it wouldn''tst. Lyman would tire of Effie soon enough.


    Suzan smirked to herself. What would Lyman think if he knew Effie had blown two hundred thousand just to open a premium ount? The thought alone was amusing.


    "Because Mitchell gave me forty million."


    "What?!"


    Suzan couldn''t contain herself any longer. She jerked Effie''s hand off her shoulder and spat, "Why would he give you forty million?!"


    Effie''s voice had been low-meant only for the two of them. But Suzan''s outburst was loud enough to draw every eye in the room.


    People were now openly staring, curiosity written on their faces.


    Effie''s tone was light, almost breezy. "Oh, he didn''t mention it to you? You''ll have to ask him yourself."


    Before Suzan could recover, Effie turned on her heel and strolled away.


    Shirley hurried after her, eyes wide with gossip. “Effie, what''s going on? Forty million? Are you serious?"


    Shirley had only ever seen that many zeroes in math ss-she lived paycheck to paycheck, and even having four hundred to her name was a stretch.


    "Can you show me what forty million even looks like?"


    Effie, never one to hold back, handed over her phone and pulled up her banking app.


    Shirley squinted at the screen, counting under her breath, "Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands... millions..."


    She sucked in a sharp breath. "Holy moly, it really is forty million!"


    Shirley''s eyes sparkled as she grinned at Effie. "Rich Lady Effie, take me under your wing, will you?"


    Effie burst outughing. Shirley was a riot-work was so much more fun with her around.


    "Order as much bubble tea as you like," Effie said, still smiling. “Extra toppings, your call."


    Shirley was easy to please. Her joking plea for a sugar mama was just that—a joke. But Effie''s offer of unlimited toppings made her day.


    When Shirley ced her order, she added nearly every topping the bubble tea ce had—so many, in fact, that the shop called to make sure she hadn''t made a mistake.


    When the tea arrived, Effie couldn''t help butugh. "Is this bubble tea or some kind of dessert soup?" she teased.


    But that was all just background noise.


    Meanwhile, Randell was already seated in the audience, ready to watch Effie and Suzan''s little drama unfold.


    Two women at each other''s throats-now this was entertainment.


    Just then, someone hurried over. "Mr. Hoffman, there''s trouble! The Bagnold sisters are fighting."


    Randell shot to his feet, worry shing across his face. "Damn it, they started without telling me?"