Page 42 of Violent Little Thing

“What’s…” Charleigh started but stopped as the video began to play.

She silently ate the rest of her fries as the video played out.

The view was of Seraphina rolling up to the country club probably right after her meeting.

She looked angry as hell as she marched to the door, likely to get drunk.

A ping came to my phone, and another and another.

We ignored them as we continued to watch the video.

Linda came to the door and blocked Seraphina’s way, her arms across her chest.

Seraphina didn’t bother to smile, went to go around her, but Linda moved into her path.

“What the hell, Linda?”

“Your membership here has been revoked,” Linda said. “We can’t assume any more liability, and you’re a liability, Ms. Vanderbilt.”

Seraphina’s mouth dropped open. “You’re joking. I’ve been a member here since I was four!”

“I don’t care,” she said. “I can’t have you here anymore. We’ve had several members sharing concern over your continued participation here, and the company has decided that the best course of action is to revoke. I’m sorry.”

Seraphina stared at Linda’s retreating back, then marched back to her car.

The phone screen went black, and I toggled out of it, only to find several more emails from Apollo.

I hit the first one to see another video.

It was the inside of her car.

It looked like the view of the camera that looked directly at her face.

She was fuming as she placed a call.

The sound of a very monotone voice answered. “What do you want, Seraphina?”

“I got kicked out of the country club!” she cried out. “Can you call them?”

“No,” the robotic voice droned. “I’m sorry, but I said that I was done, and I meant it. I’m not doing it anymore.”

The voice cut off, and the sound of silence filled the air before Seraphina screamed.

She pulled into the first convenience store that she got to and went inside.

She came back empty-handed and screamed for a second time the moment she got into the car. “What the fuck?”

The video ended and I clicked out of it and into the next email.

This one was of the convenience store.

I hit play as I shoveled more sweet potato fries into my mouth, despite only intending to eat a few.

It was because the woman could cook so well.

They were delicious, even slightly cold at this point.

The video started with Seraphina walking into the store and walking to the back. She grabbed two bottles of wine and brought them to the counter only for the clerk to say, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we can no longer serve you. You’ll have to find another store.”