They Touched What Was Mine

My first day back home and my husband's secretary was already flexing her muscles, trying to grab my antique right out of my hands. Before I could get a word out, she smacked me across the face. Twice. She sneered at me with a look that could freeze fire.

"This piece caught my eye, and I'm being nice to you. Better apologize and thank me, pronto!"

I moved to confront her, but before I knew it, her bodyguard had me pinned to the ground. She looked down at me like I was nothing.

"Trying to challenge me? I'm Mrs. Collins of the Collins family here in Riverton City. You're nothing! One word from my husband and you're out of here!"

Passersby started chiming in: "Aren't you going to bow down and beg? She's the apple of Mr. Collins' eye."

"Play your cards right, and maybe you'll still be scrubbing toilets in Riverton City."

I was ready to set things straight when her title hit me like a ton of bricks.

The Collins family of Riverton City? When did Eric get another wife?

I dialed Eric's number and laughed calmly. "Eric, since when did you secretly marry someone behind my back?"

I had not even ended the call when she grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked it back.

My phone crashed to the ground, and she stomped on it, her stiletto heel cracking the screen.

"You think you can call for backup, you wretch? I'll make sure you're groveling before I'm through with you, or my name is not Alora."

"Enough!"

My best friend had returned to her car and, seeing the scene, flung her bag right at the woman's face.

"Is this how the Collins family acts? Stealing and striking in broad daylight?"

The woman clutched her cheek, flushed a bright red from Lilian Stewart's slap, and let out a wicked grin.

"Rules? Here in Riverton City, Collins Group makes the rules! And nobody–I mean nobody–talks back to me.

"That medieval chalice is mine! And who are you to challenge me for it?"

I could not help but smirk at Alora. "Wow, Collins Group must be slacking. They didn't teach you 'stealing is wrong' in training, huh?"

Alora let out a mocking laugh and slammed her high heel down right in front of me.

"On my turf, wanting something I've got my eye on is like winning the lottery. People line up to give me stuff, and I don't even bother looking their way."

'Some lottery,' I mused.

Over 20 years in Riverton City, and that was a first, someone having the guts to talk to me, Nancy Yates, like that.

I shot a look at Lilian, who was fuming and stamping her foot.

The Stewart family princess there probably never had to swallow such disrespect in her life.

Alora snorted and snapped her fingers.

"Just so you know, in Riverton City, my word is law. No one's ever crossed me.

"Grab these two clueless twits!"

In a