9 Deceive

They were still lost in the moment when Andy's phone rang. Drawing them back to reality. Instantly, Tiara realized that she was still in Andy's arms.

"Ugh..., let go you psycho." she shouted, struggling in his arms.

Andy stared at her with a mischievous smile on.

"Hey.., what are you thinking?" she muttered nervously.

Andy wiggled his eye brows at her, still smiling mischievously. Tiara stared quizzically at him and before she could say jack, he drop her on the floor, her ass hitting hard on the asphalt.

"Ouch...!" she muttered, glaring indignantly at him. "What was that for?"

"Oh, I thought you said I should let go. Didn't you think of the outcome, dump head? he chuckled, reaching out for her hand when he heard the ring of his phone again.

"Sorry, I have to pick this up." he winced, gliding some few steps away as he pulled out his phone from his pocket, answering the call.

Tiara glanced at him, making a face.

"Crazy douchebag." she cursed underneath her breathe as she rose up from the floor, brushing the dust off her hands. "He is such a jackass." she snorted.

Andy swiftly turned glancing at her whiles on the phone and chuckled at the expression on her face.

"Hello Andy, are you listening?" cried a voice from the phone.

"Yes mum..." he replied, turning back. "what time I'm I suppose to be home for it?"

"You should be setting off now. You know your Dad, he wants us all to leave home together. You also know how time conscious he is."

"I get it mum..., I will be home soon."

"Okay dear, hanging up now."

"Okay mum..., love you." he answered and hanged up the call. Just as he was about to return the phone back in his pocket, it rang again. He checked the caller ID and it was Kalisa. He slightly smiled, picking up the call.

"What's up pumpkin?"

Tiara slightly made a funny face from where she stood a few distance away from him and snorted at his words.

"So cheesy, blur." she mumbled to herself,slightly sticking out her tongue.

"Has mum called you? I heard Dad talking about an invite to a welcome party this evening but it's not just a mere welcome party. You know Dad, he always likes to take advantage of everything. You know I hate those fancy stuffs."

"Hmm..., there you go again. What is it this time? What are you driving at?"

"Don't tell anyone I told you. This is just a gist I'm giving to my lovely brother."

"Okay, shoot at it."

"Well, here is the deal. I heard Dad telling mum over the table that he wants to introduce to you Odette, one Mr. Graham's daughter. He wants to use it as an advantage in fasten his partnership process with the company.

"What?" he loud whispered, slightly glancing over to Tiara to see if she heard him and she winced.

He smiled back, returning to his call.

"You should get over here now. Trust me, you wouldn't want to be late else Dad will give you a earful."

"Okay Kalisa, I will be home soon."

"Okay, I've got to go. Bye...." she muttered and hanged up.

Andy stared at the screen of the phone thoughtfully for a while and returned it back to his pocket. He sauntered back to where Tiara stood waiting for him.

"Change of plans, can I invite you to a welcome party of a friend rather?" he uttered as he neared.

"Um...well..., okay but I need to get home first to maybe change and also let my parents know."

"Okay then, get in. I will drive you." he muttered as he glided to the driver's side of the car.

"O...kay.." She uttered skeptically as she watched him take his seat. She stood thoughtfully for a while, puzzled.

"Do I need to carry you into the car or something?" queried Andy, starring at her from the car.

"Jackass." she muttered, strolling over to the door to the front seat. She pulled it opened and slammed herself into the seat. "Get going."

Andy glanced at her for a short while and smiled, shaking his head as he sped off. After about an hour drive and a few directives from Tiara, Andy pulled up in front of her cottage.

"Is that your house?" he queried, starring at the house in front of him.

"Yeah..." she replied with a smile. "Why looking so surprised?" she queried, slightly chuckling.

"Hmm.., nothing."

"Let's go in then." she said as she got out of the car. Andy also unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the car. Tiara sauntered towards the house gleefully but paused when she noticed Andy walking in slow paces, his eyes scanning around the environment.

"Are you coming?"

"Yeah..." he muttered, sending his attention back to Tiara.

"Okay, then hurry. I guess you don't want to be late for your friend's party."

"Yeah right." he replied doubling his steps.

Tyra and Andrew were working on their assignments when the door slowly pushed opened drawing their attention.

"Tiara....." they both exclaimed as they rushed over to her. They hugged her almost pushing her down.

"Hey...careful guys."

Tyra and Andrew were both giggling when they noticed Andy behind her. He smiled and waved at them as their smiles slightly diminished from their faces.

"Who is that?" queried Tyra.

At that moment, their mother also walked in.

"Oh Tee, you're home so early. What's going on?" she queried but then, saw Andy. "And who do we have here?"

"Oh sorry, this is Andy a new friend I collided into whiles rushing off to walk. The details is seriously not something to write home about." she uttered wittily. "And Andy, this is my mother and younger siblings, Tyra and Andrew."

"Nice to meet Andy." chorused Tyra and Andrew with smiles.

"Nice to meet you too. You guys are looking cute."

"Thanks." they replied and run off.

"That's so much like them." uttered Mrs. Eugenia. "Anyway, nice to meet you Andy and welcome to our humble home. You can have a seat. Tiara, take him to sit over there." she added pointing to the sofa in the living room. I will be right back." she said before leaving to the terrace.

Tiara walked Andy to the living room and had him sit on the sofa.

"Let me change and come down."

"Sure." he answered with a smile.

*************

It was almost 3pm and Andy wasn't yet back. Pamela sat in the hall glancing expectantly at the door but there was no sign of him.

"What could be keeping him?" she muttered.

She took her phone to call him when Mr. Thompson joined her. "Is he not yet back?"

"No dear, I'll give him a call. He might be stuck somewhere."

"Okay, okay, I'm waiting in the car. Join me when you ladies are done."

"Sure." she replied and he left.

Pamela was about to call her son when Kalisa descended the stairs to join her. "If you're calling Andy then don't. He called me asking us to take the lead. He will join us over there."

"But why...?"

"Well..., he said he's caught up in something."

"Okay, okay, we're already late. Let's get going. Your Dad is already waiting in the car. I will scold Andy later."

"Okay mum.." said Kalisa leading the way, followed by her mother. Thompson stared quizzically at his wife as she took her seat beside him.

"Where is he?" he questioned.

"He is caught up in something so he'll join us over there."

"Okay." he replied. "Drive on." he uttered to the driver and he sped off.

THE GARDENER'S COTTAGE

Tiara strolled over to her mother on the terrace and informed her about Andy inviting him out before leaving to her room.

After about 30mins, she glided out of her room in a simple gown white like dress and met Andy looking down at his feet.

"Can we go?" she inquired.

He raised his head and was marvelled at the sight before his eyes. He stared at her for a while lost in her beauty.

"Hmm..., do I have something on my face?" she queried, examining her face.

"Let's go." he muttered sheepishly and strolled out towards the door."

"What was that?" she queried quizzically to herself and shrugged before following after him.

"We're leaving now mum..." she called to her mother from the terrace behind the kitchen.

"Okay dear." she replied as she glided back to the room where they stood. "Please do take care of Tiara for me. She is not use to these gatherings." she requested from Andy.

"I sure will." he answered.

"And you Tiara, don't keep to long. It's dangerous outside at night."

"Okay mum...Is Tyra and Andrew in the fields?"

"Yes, they went over to help your Dad. He might be having a earful of them now."

"I'm feeling sorry for Papa now. Anyway, I'll be back soon."

"Okay dear, enjoy yourself."

"I will." she muttered, pecking her mother on the cheeks before gliding together with Andy out of the door.

"Thank you Mrs. Gardener, I will be sure to bring her back early." uttered Andy before they strolled over to the car and sat in. "Your mother is really a nice person." he uttered as he drove off.

************

Andy glanced down on his wrist watch whiles driving and it was already 5pm. He already missed the dinner.

"I guess they'll be having the party by now. I'm really going to get a earful from mum." he muttered to himself.

"Did you say something?" she questioned.

"No, hope you're okay."

"Yeah, just a bit kind of nervous. I have not engaged in an event like this."

"Don't worry, you're going to be fine. I promise."

She stared at him with a smile and nodded. "He has got this side of him too? Oh my God, he is so cute." she thought to herself.

They rest of the journey continued with few talks.

Soon, Andy pulled up at the events grounds. The party had already started when they got there. The entire place was crowded with prominent men.

"We're here."

"Wow..., such a huge occasion. What connection do you have with this prominent people?"

"Well, I work in the Richardson Company. Have you forgotten already?" he questioned with a smile and glided out of the car.

Tiara snorted at his words and also got down. Mr. and Mrs Richardson were standing together with Mr. Graham and his daughter when Andy walked into the party.

"Oh, he is finally here." said Mr. Thompson on noticing his son. He smiled and gestured him over. Andy sauntered towards them, followed by Tiara. His dad glanced quizzically at him at the sight of Tiara but said nothing about it.

"Sorry I'm late. I was caught up in something."

"No problem." he uttered, his gaze travelling to Mr. Graham with a smile.

"Well, Mr Graham, you have already met my daughter. And here is my son, Andy. The one I talked to you about."

"Nice to meet you sir," uttered Andy as he shook hands with Mr. Graham slightly bowing his head. They shook hands for a few seconds and he let go.

"And this is...?" questioned Mr. Graham, his gaze and Mr and Mrs. Richardson on Tiara.

"Oh, this is Tiara, my girlfriend."

Tiara's eyes quickly flew wide open, swiftly gazing at him.