9 Miss E

"Two guests under Miss. Crisóstomo."

"Table 41." the restaurant receptionist promptly said, after giving Ellise a discreet look over, for she's wearing an ensemble of clothing that is questionable for the place she's at, her chosen outfit for today consists of black velvet slip dress that barely covers her buttock, ripped black stocking, and wear on a muddy black 1460 8-eye boot Doc Martens. She knew her choice of attire makes her look like a homeless soliciting in broad daylight, and with Ting standing behind her in his impeccable Italian cut black suit, they are indeed a questionable pair of patrons in this member only, five Michelin restaurant.

She quickens her steps to the farthest table of the room, and for a moment enjoy the 360-degree view of the bay, presented and framed in glass windows, that even in the glaring high noon sun, still reflects a soft shadow, giving it such a comfortably intimate ambiance. She contemplates on its amazing glass engineering before seating herself down.

Meanwhile, a group of dining women besides their table is openly giving Ellise a condescending look, and a slow go over of her improper attire.

"My clothes mustn't be worthy of this restaurant." a tad amount of sarcasm escapes her mouth.

"Well, what can they do, they already swipe my card, besides I might or might not own some shares in this hotel.", her aunt Joy said, with a small smile on her lips. "You look thinner. Are you conforming to the standard of thin for Chinese girls?" she said with a sneer.

"Would you believe me if I tell you it's just the clothes?" she sneered back.

Joy's eyes danced in silent laughter. Then turn her attention to Ting that sits across from them. "Have you lost weight or sleep running after this little girl?" she asked.

Ting's keep his silence, put food on his plate, and eat without giving them an answer.

"With Ting's silence, you must be having a good time Ms. E." Joy said as she put shrimp taco bites appetizer on her plate. "Let's try to tone down our fun, shall we?"

Ellise rolled her eyes and just eats the hors d'oeuvre on her plate, biting the sarcasm that is about to come out of her mouth, for in this lifetime she knows she will never win with her aunt Joy in being sarcastic, especially since she was already called Ms. E. The pet name, that was given as a warning that she's been caught creating troubles, again.

"Moderating my fun requires a mandatory answer," she said, testing how far she can push her aunt.

Joy looked up from her plate and said, "Ting, enjoy your food while Ellise and I acquit ourselves in the private suite that I booked in advance for this auspicious occasion.", then she stood up gracefully from the table in her Ellie Saab dress from the latest collection.

Ellise feels her feet turn numb as cold air washes over her that make all of the hair in her body stand up upon hearing the tone of her aunt's voice. This situation is something scarier than any horror movies ever made and will be made.

Ting for the first time, raised his head from his plate to give Ellise a look of sympathy.

She threw him a silent cry for help, which Ting ignored and just continued eating like he didn't see her plea.

"I need you to tell me the reason why you are here in Shanghai.", is the first thing Joy asked as soon as they entered the suite.

"I like the weather," she answered, scornfully.

"Hmm, you must like it very much then sweetheart, since you've been here for months and no sign of returning home.'', unfazed with the sarcastic answer she gets from Ellise, Joy opens a bottle of Conti, pours herself a glass, and sits down on a settee, and takes a sip of her wine while watching Ellise standing with a defensive stance like she's about to get physically attacked.

A sigh escapes from her lips, as she tries to pick a word carefully, one that would not trigger an emotional meltdown with this young girl. She's been with Ellise for a long time, to know that sugar-coated words don't work.

"This kind of rebellious act won't take you anywhere, sweetheart. How about we try a different approach, like, for example, telling me the truth of why you're here," she said.

"I haven't eaten, if that's all you want to know, let's just go back to the restaurant. I prefer the atmosphere there." Ellise smugly replied.

"After you fight with your mother, no one expects you to be here in Shanghai. Your Old People are relieved to the point of not caring how you're wasting their money. Except for your mother, she is, for the first time, actually anxious about you." she said as she observed Ellise under the rim of her wine glass.

"Oh, Is she? Does her husband know about it?" she said with a sarcastic tone ready for a tantrum.

"Probably not. Your step-father cares only about himself," she answered. "It's about time that you care about yourself too, don't you agree E?" she gently asked.

Ellise kept her silence because this situation isn't the usual banter she has with her aunt Joy, top up with DT's press release later in the evening, she can't help herself being antsy.

With the dead air in the room, Joy makes a big deep sigh, that makes Ellise look up at her aunt's face and see the worries that cross her pretty face. It makes her more scared of what's the reason for this unannounced visit.

Will she be shipped back to Norway now? A tingling sensation starts to build up at the base of her nape, and from past experience, Ellise knows it only means one thing.

She is in trouble!