34
<b>Chapter </b><b>34 </b>
Some days earlier..
1 sat on the balcony with a ss of wine in my hand. By my side was lydia, the was seated on the chair in front of me. Har glis untouched.
“Have you thought about what I told you?” I asked.
She adjusted on the chair, her hair flying in the evening wind. She had just put tiam and Mnie to sleep
“Mom, I know you want to help me, but I don’t really think this is a good idea
“It is a good idea,” I paused and gauged her expression. thail told her about my intention to help her
The first day I told her
her about it she had vehemently <b>refused</b>. But since that day I had kept the idea fresh in my mind, waiting for the perfect opport bring it up again
She reached for her drink, I watched her closely, her brows were slightly curled, and it hurt my heart to think this was a difficult decision for her
“If this is about the twins, then you shouldn’t worry, their nanny is doing a good job; Tve been watching her,” said
Lydia shook <b>her </b><b>head</b>, tucking some strands of hair behind her ear, “It’s not about the twins,” she said, settling her ss on the table.
She returned <b>her </b>gaze to the city which was in front of us. The city was brightened by the light from cars and headlights standing on each side of the road, creating a perfect sight on nights like this.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt. You know what Victoria and Mason are capable of doing, Inodded.
“Of course I know, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to help a small <b>smile </b>began to find its way to my lips.
“In fact, I’ve thought of the perfect way,” I said
She raised a brow, curiosity seeping into those orbs.
Till share them with <b>you </b>if you agree that I’ll help you,” she moved back into her seat, contemting
“Let’s <b>hear </b>it first,” I was tired of going back and forth with her, so I agreed to tell her.
“Yesterday, aher Mrs Naomi took the children out for a stroll, I felt bored and decided to go relieve myself, it <b>has</b>, after all, been very long”
<b>Lydia </b>listened <b>with </b>raspe attention as I <b>spoke</b>.
“I met Mrs. Everett.”
“How did <b>you </b>
u know her? Lydia asked, surprised
“I am your mother; I have my <b>ways</b>. I know more than you think,” I said with a sense of pride.
“It was really easy to be acquainted with her. She seemed so taken by my dress, you know, the one you got for me from Paris thest time she visited. “I didn’t know the worth of that dress until <b>I </b>met her.
<b>I </b><b>can </b>still remember the look of admiration in her eyes as she spoke to me. Telling me how she had been trying to get her hands on the dress, but the list had been sold
“It is <b>a </b>very rare collection, one dress for each design, and the designer is well known, <b>he </b>only makes clothes once
“Irted her words to Lydia
Chapter34
I had no idea, biti simply yed along.
She asked to meet frequently, saying that she had just returned to New York and had very few friends
“Out of what benefit would being fiends with her bring it would only lead to you spending so mark money on <b>chipping</b><b>.</b>”
She wasn’t getting it, “You know she is close friends with Victoria, Lydia nodded, finally getting!
“Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer
<b>“</b><b>Yes</b>,” I smiled
“What do you <b>say</b>? I make friends with both women, keep an eye on them, get good, and use info on them that you can easily use against them, what in more, we can still put their mind and attention towards anywhere we want it to“:
“I didn’t think of that, but you’ll have to be careful, Victoria can be very smart.”
And that’s how I ended up here.
I wore a designer dress and essories with a diamond ne, earrings, and bracelet. From the moment Victoria stepped into the mall, her eyes pinned on me.
The woman Mrs. Everett hade with. I held my head high, loving every beat of her curiosity
“You are finally here,” Mrs. Everett <b>said</b>. She <b>and </b><b>Victoria </b>hugged, a brief awkward hug
when they pulled apart, she said, “Was <b>around </b>and thought it would be a good time to spend together.” Mrs Everett said before introducing me,
“Meet my friend, Gloria<b>.</b><b>” </b>
As Victoria and I exchanged pleasantries, all I could think was that they used the term friends a bit too loosely.
I <b>was </b>not her friend, and I think it was very stupid to introduce me as her friend when this was the second time that we were meeting
But I yed along, keeping just enough smile to look harmless
We walked around the mall together<b>, </b>picking things that may be of no use <b>to </b><b>us</b>.
They may not be the most intelligent people I’ve walked with, but I could say that they had a good fashion sense
But what do <b>you </b>expect from women who did nothing other than spend the money that was earned and presented to them on a tter of golf?
From what I’ve learnt about them, Mrs. Everett had no position in her husband’spany. Her husband runs thepany and he seems to be a very generous man. So her ount never went dry.
“I think that will look good for you,” Victoria said behind me as I traced my finger through a silver ne.
“You think so?” Lasked, although I didn’t like it, it was hot like my usual style.
“Yes,” Victoria replied readily.
“Mam, would you love to try it on?” the sales girl, who was walking beside us, <b>asked</b>.
Yes,
I ended up buying the ne.
We spent over two hours in the mall.
By the end, Victoria had warmed up to me and no longer threw me thots and sale inus made
“Julia doesn’t like it when I tuy things for her, but it gives me joy, Leouldst help it be shot beets, Mrs Everett said as are walkerd is our cars
Some sales people were in front of os, taking our hogs that were filled, to the cars,
“Oh, she sounds just like Zoe
They both looked at me, I realized I had to say something
“My daughter likes it when I try things for Isee. She would wear them all through my voice grew sad, “Maybe it was because i didn’t grow by m you know we were reunited recently.”
“OH, I’m sorry to hear that.“Mrs Everett said.
I smiled sadly, this part wasn’t faked. “Thank you.”
If only I had been with Lydia from the begoning, then Victoria wouldn’t have had the opportunity to treat her dirty.
“How about lunch together?” Victoria asked.
“That sounds fine to me.” I was first to speak, and Mrs Everett nodded.
We went in our different <b>cars</b>.
Victoria must have made a reservation on our way <b>here </b>because immediately we stepped into the restaurant, we were received by a water who wore a ck shirt and trousers.
“theard the food here is great.”
“This is where Julia and Mason came to have lunch.”
“How did you know?” We walked past some people
“You know how Julia <b>can </b>be; whenever she is excited about something, she doesn’t shut up about it.”
We were shown our table. She must really like Mason a lot, then,” Ichirped in.
“You bet.” Victoria <b>said </b>with a smile, “On the outside, this marriage between them is just business, but who know they would fall in love with each other?” Victoriaughed, and Mrs Everett <b>joined </b>in.
“I still remember their first date. Julia wouldn’t shut up about him. I believe it was love at first sight.”
At <b>that </b>moment, a waiter came in. I was grateful he took their attention for the time being.
He handed us a copy of the menu. When they left, we picked up and continued the conversation.
“It’s so nice to see young ones in love. Especially when it’s their first love.” It would be strange if I didn’t engage in the conversation.
I tried to match their level of enthusiasm.
“I never got to experience that, I’m grateful my daughter did, although it’s sadly not the same for Mason,”
1 Bur
The waiter returned with a
“Is <b>Julia </b>not
orders and set them on the table. The conversation halted and continued when <b>he </b>left
Mason’s first love!” <b>Easked</b>, sounding as curious as I could be.
“Mason was once <b>married</b>,”
“Oh!” I pressed my lips together in a thin line. “Did he divorce? Or a widower?” I covered my mouth with my hands, “sorry, I’m prying too much. You have to answer that.”
“It’s fine.” She stated. “He is divorced, although it would have been better if he were widower. I’d have preferred that.”
Mrs. Everett ced her hand over Victoria’s.
“I understand how you feel,” She <b>gave </b>it a light squeeze.
I clenched my fist under the table.
This bitch!