14 The Contract

It has been a while now since Andy left the house in a rage. Kalisa tried reaching him on his phone but there was no reply. She tossed the phone on the bed with a distressful sigh, checking the clock hanging at the right corner of her room.

"Where could he be?"

Kalisa feeling very uneasy about her brother's absence hurried out of her room to find out his whereabouts from their parents.

Just as she walked out of her room, she met up with Lora, one of the house helps at her entrance

She glanced skeptically at her.

"Why are you here Lora?"

"Your mother asked me to inform you to get ready as the family is having a special dinner with Mr. Graham and his family."

"Another dinner again?"

Lora just nodded in response as she had no right to interfere in their family business.

"Okay Lora, I will go and see Mum myself," she answered and the house help strolled off.

Pamela was in the hall waiting on the sofa as she surfed through her phone when she noticed Kalisa descending the stairs in a casual outfit.

"Why are you not ready yet Kalisa? Didn't Lora relay the information to you?"

"She did mum..." she mumbled indifferently as she glided down the last stairs. "But wait a minute, why have another dinner with the Graham family again?"

"To talk about your brother's engagement with Odette of course."

"Seriously mum...? Shouldn't this be a decision to be made by the brother himself? Why are you guys taking this issue like one of those your business deals?"

"Because it is Kalisa. I don't understand why you and your brother are not looking at the great impact it will have on our partnership deals."

Kalisa rolled her eyes, raising her hand dramatically in the air. "Gosh mum..., can you guys for once put aside your business and seek after our happiness? You guys are unbelievable." she sauntered off with a hiss to her room.

"Hurry down soon dear. What we are doing is for your good as well." Pamela shouted after her daughter who had already taken the corridor to her room.

"Don't keep us waiting dear..." Kalisa heard her mother say as she closed her door with a bang.

"Business, business, business, that's all they talk about," she murmured as she walked over to her bed, picking up her phone.

She touched the screen and it displayed 3 missed calls from her brother. She tapped on the number about to call back when his call came in.

With a sigh of relief, she hastily answered.

"Where are you, Andy? I have been trying your line for a while now but it wasn't going through. I was worried sick."

"So sorry Kali, I was busied up with some personal errands. So what's up? Why were you calling?"

"Can you believe Mum and Dad are having another dinner meeting with the Graham family? They are going to talk about your engagement with Odette as if you never existed. Is social class all they know about? I'm so not going to that dinner meeting with them."

"Hey...hey...Kali, calm down first. I understand how you feel but you don't have to go against Mum and Dad. Trust me, I can handle this myself. You shouldn't involve yourself else they might send you to the States earlier than planned

and your plan of staying here for your Uni will be ruined."

Kalisa suddenly realizing what the consequence of her actions would bring, heaved a distressful sigh.

"Yeah right, guess I have to be selective of what I utter. Will go get dressed before Mum and Dad descend on me."

"Alright, dear. I will meet up with you guys."

"Okay, but I'm not liking this."

"I know dear, let's talk later."

"Okay," she muttered, hanging up. She hurriedly went over her wardrobe to find herself a suitable outfit for the occasion.

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

Andy after hanging up, strolled over to where Tiara stood beside the car in front of the boutique.

"So can you tell me why we're here?" She questioned slightly glancing at the shop as Andy neared her.

"To start your job of course, what else?"

Tiara not understanding what the job had to do with the shop chuckled, quite confused.

"Over here? What does faking to be your fiancee have to do with a boutique?"

"Enough of the talks already" he held her hand, dragging her along. "You will figure that out when we get in. We're already running late."

"Good afternoon Mr. Thompson..." the receptionist uttered as Andy and Kalisa walked into the boutique.

"Good afternoon Linda. I'm leaving this lady in your care. Fix her up."

"Alright, sir."

"I want a perfect job done." He uttered as he sauntered to the men's side.

"Sure sir..."

Tiara who found this attitude of him annoying gasped, "Hey....am I your play toy or something?"

Andy just walked on indifferently with a chuckle, slightly raising his hand dramatically in the air as he rounded the corner of the unisex boutique to the men's side.

Tiara hissed, pissed by his arrogance.

"Who does he think he is? I'm just doing him a favor if you should ask me."

"Can we go now." said the receptionist, interrupting her thoughts.

She swiftly glanced at her, forcing a smile on her face.

"Sure." she nodded.

"Please follow me," she added, leading the way.

Tiara who had no other choice than to do as she was told just followed after her to the women's side. They walked over some shelves, picking up some outfits suitable for Tiara.

After about four to Five picks, they went over to the changing room for Tiara to try them out to be able to make a choice.

She first tried the wine sleeveless straight dress but found it not suitable for his complexion. After about two or three tries, she went in for the white gown-like straight dress. When she was done with the outfits, Linda took her to the saloon section of the boutique to have her hair and nails done.

In about an hour or two, Tiara was all ready and set to go. Andy was also done and in the waiting hall for Tiara, surfing his phone when he heard footsteps approaching him. He slowly raised his eyes and was astonished by the beauty before him.

Tiara feeling uncomfortable by his gaze snorted.

"Why staring at me like that?"

"Nothing, shall we...?" he rose from his seat slightly gesturing to the exit.

"Sure." she took the lead, followed by Andy.

When they got to the car, Andy opened the door for her. She took a surprised glance at him before taking her seat.

When Tiara had settled in, Andy sauntered over to the driver's side of the car and took his seat behind the wheels.

"Why being nice all of a sudden?"

"Because I want to." He grinned, turning on the car.

"Jerk" she muttered underneath her breath.

Andy glanced at her with a chuckle, slightly shaking his head as he sped off.

"So will you do me the favor of telling me where we are going all dressed up?"

"You will know when we get there. Just play your role well and you are good to go."

Tiara gazing at Andy for a second wished she had not accepted the offer but it seemed too late to decline.

"Alright, let's do this." she faked a smile.

"Are you okay...?"

"Yes," she nodded but deep down inside, she knew she was panicking.

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

It was around 3 pm when Kalisa and her parents got to the Graham Mansion. They were met at the entrance by Odette.

"Welcome Mr and Mrs Thompson."

"Thanks, dear." they chorused.

She looked over at Kalisa whose expression showed that she wasn't really happy to be in the Graham's house once again.

"Hey Kali..."

"Hey.." she answered indifferently. Odette noticed her indifference but looked on, glancing expectantly over Kalisa's shoulders. Mrs. Richardson on noticing who Odette was looking for, smiled.

"Don't worry Odette, he will be here soon."

Odette who didn't know her actions were so obvious smiled sheepishly.

"Okay," she giggled, "Did I look obvious?" she joked.

Kalisa was outside waiting when her brother's car pulled over. "Come in, Dad has been waiting for you," she announced the moment they glided out.

They nodded and followed her into the house. Mr. Graham welcomed them as they got to the hall. They sat on the sofa chatting for a while as Mrs. Graham and Odette made dinner ready. After a while, they were called to the dining table. They rose from their seats about to walk over to the table when Andy sauntered in followed by Tiara.

Odette's face brightened with a smile when she first saw Andy but instinctively faded away at the sight of Tiara.

"Sorry for keeping you guys waiting."

"It's alright dear. We were just about to move to the dinner table anyway," replied Mr. Graham.

"Thank you." he slightly nodded and Mr Graham, Odette, and Mr. Richardson took the lead.

"Why did you bring her?" Pamela whispered to her son as she neared him.

Kalisa finding the whole event amusing just smiled and strolled off after the others.

Andy just glanced at his mother for some seconds without uttering a word before sauntering off to the dining table. Tiara instinctively knew from the expression of Andy's parents that something was wrong but she couldn't seem to place a hand on it. She slightly bowed with a smile and hurried after Andy to escape any interrogations. Pamela stood staring at them for a while before shuffling after them.