CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Tendai and I headed to the dining room for supper. Ray wasn't at the table, likely avoiding Tendai. Supper was an elegant spread of Beef Wellington, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and a bottle of Pinot Noir. The meal was exquisite, each bite tender and flavorful.

"The meal was delicious, Elaine," I said, expressing my gratitude after finishing.

"Thanks," she said.

"Mom's food is the best," Tendai boasted proudly.

His mother smiled warmly. "Thanks, son," she said, clearly pleased with the compliment.

After dinner, Tendai and I took our dishes to the kitchen. As we rinsed the plates, he turned to me.

"Addie, come with me. I'm going out with Grant, Roe, and Tyler," he said, sounding hopeful.

I shook my head. "No, I don't want to hang out with them. We got off on the wrong foot."

Tendai's face fell. I could see how much it bothered him. For him, not liking his friends seemed like a dealbreaker. "Come on, Addie," he pleaded. "I promise nothing bad will happen. I won't let Roe taunt you."

"Sorry, I'm not going," I said firmly.

He sighed, clearly disappointed. "Alright," he muttered as he headed upstairs to change.

Elaine brought the remainder of the dishes to the kitchen. "Why does Tendai seem so hurt?" she asked gently. "He was happier earlier, now he is sad."

I hesitated before explaining. "It's just that I don't feel like going out, and he really wanted us to hang out together." I decided not to mention that it was because I didn't like his friends.

Elaine nodded, understanding but still concerned. "I see," she said. 

"Let me finish washing the dishes. You can go up and rest. I'll lock the door after Tendai leaves," I said, offering Elaine a small smile.

"Thank you, Addie," she replied, giving me a grateful look before heading upstairs.

I washed the dishes quietly, the running water helping to clear my thoughts. Soon after, Tendai came down, dressed and ready for the night out.

"I'm disappointed you can't come," he said, his tone a mix of resignation and care, "but I won't force you, Addie."

I nodded, appreciating his understanding, though I could see he was still let down.

"Goodnight, love," he said softly, kissing my forehead.

"Goodnight, Tendai," I replied. "Have a good night out."

I watched as he left, locking the door behind him. Then, I headed upstairs, the house feeling quieter and emptier without him.

I checked my phone once I got inside my bedroom. I had received some texts from Mom. She and Dad were still in Sierra Leone, enjoying their time there. Soon, they'd be heading to Ghana to visit her family. She sent me pictures of the house they'd recently completed for Dad's grandmother, along with photos of his extended family.

Soren also messaged me, telling me he'd made a friend in the neighborhood who was just like him. He seemed happy to have someone to pass the time with.

Eloise sent me photos from Costa Rica, where she was vacationing with her boyfriend. "He's my Costa Rican boyfriend, don't judge me," she joked in her message.

On Monday morning, Tendai mentioned that his dad's fifty first birthday was coming up on Wednesday.

"Dad has a lavish party every year," he said. "This year, he's throwing a barbecue-themed party."

"What about last year?" I asked.

"Last year, we went on a cruise," Tendai replied with a smile.

"What time is the party?" I inquired, feeling the pressure starting to build.

"It'll start at 4 p.m. and go on until midnight," he replied.

Over the next two days, I felt overwhelmed by the thought of attending Ray's party. He was a millionaire, and his parties were attended by people just like him. I felt the need to look my absolute best and behave in a way that would impress these high-profile guests. I spent hours searching online for the perfect dress and trying to learn a few things to fit in.

"Addie, calm down," Tendai told me on Tuesday. "Wealthy people can be snobs; nothing you do will ever fully satisfy them."

"Let me take you shopping to buy a nice dress," he suggested.

I agreed, and Tendai took me shopping for the party. I found a beautiful dress and shoes that made me feel more confident about the occasion.

On Wednesday morning, the events company organizing the party arrived at 10:00 a.m. to set up tents and begin marinating the meats for the barbecue. The party was going to be held in the backyard garden. By 3 p.m., the smell of smoked meat wafted into Tendai's room where I was relaxing.

"The meat they're smoking smells amazing. I can't wait to taste it," I remarked, my mouth watering.

"I forgot to mention, the menu includes crocodile, antelope, buffalo, goat, lamb, camel, kangaroo and many more meats," Tendai informed me with a grin. "Have you ever tasted any exotic meats?"

"No! I thought they'd be barbecuing only beef and chicken!" I exclaimed.

"That's too boring," Tendai teased. "Dad and his friends are well-traveled. They've tasted all kinds of meats during their travels."

"You heard him talk about Kobe beef," Tendai added. "Only the rich can afford that."

"I think I'll stick with what I'm used to—beef and chicken," I said, feeling a bit out of my depth.

"You need to allow yourself to experience new things, Addie," Tendai urged. "Come on, go to your room and get dressed for the party. I'm going to be your guide out there and make sure you try all the meats."

I joined Tendai thirty minutes later in the backyard, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.

"You look lovely," he complimented me.

"Thanks!" I replied, blushing slightly.

The backyard was bustling with activity as chefs manned various grills, each sizzling with different cuts of meat. Tendai led me to one chef stationed under a banner that read "Kobe Beef."

"Could we try some of that?" I asked, recalling what Ray had told me about Kobe beef being the best in the world.

"Sure," the chef said with a smile, serving us both.

Just as we were about to take a bite, the event planner appeared out of nowhere. "Mr. Moyo Dube, come with me," she said, grabbing Tendai by the arm and pulling him away before he could protest. He handed me his plate.

I watched him go, feeling a little disappointed but then turned my attention to the plate in front of me. The beef looked too good to resist.

I took a bite of the Kobe beef, and my eyes widened as the rich, buttery flavors melted in my mouth. "This tastes amazing," I said aloud, savoring every bit. "Best beef I've ever eaten."

Tendai was out of earshot; if he had heard me, he would have been upset that I agreed with his dad.

"From Wagyu cattle in Japan," the chef explained with a grin.

I smiled. "Ray was right, this is the best in the world," I thought to myself. 

Tendai returned and found me licking my fingers, a grin spreading across his face. "I can see you've enjoyed yourself," he noted with amusement.

I chuckled, feeling a bit caught. He shrugged, "Don't feel guilty. I know Kobe beef is the best."

I let out a relieved sigh, happy that he wasn't upset about me liking something his dad had praised. I handed him his plate of beef. "Here, eat, it's getting cold."

We both started eating, enjoying the rich flavor.

"What did the event planner want?" I asked between bites.

"She was telling me about some journalists who wanted to be let in," Tendai said, his words slightly muffled as he chewed.

"And what did you say?" I asked.

"I told her not to let them in," he replied, still talking between bites. "The only media allowed are the professional photographers hired to cover the event."

The atmosphere shifted as the guests began arriving. Luxury cars lined the block, each more extravagant than the last. Ray and Elaine stood at the entrance, greeting everyone with warm smiles, while security discreetly ushered gifts into the house.

Tendai wiped his hands on a napkin and excused himself. "I need to join my parents to greet the guests," he said. "I'll come back to continue our barbeque journey soon."

I distracted myself by Googling the net worth of the guests. I saw some familiar faces—celebrities and influential figures I'd only ever seen online. It hit me that the combined wealth in this place could easily surpass a billion dollars.

Tendai returned half an hour later.

"Roe, Grant, and Tyler texted that they will be here at 7 p.m.," he informed.

"Oh no!" I thought. His friends were going to ruin the party for me.

"Let's move to the crocodile meat," he said. "I'm serious about making you taste different types of meat."

He led me to the stall that had crocodile meat. Many guests had queued up for it. The chef served us some when we reached the front of the line. Tendai put some in his mouth.

"Try some, Addie," he encouraged, with his mouth full.

I took a bite. The meat was tender and tasted like chicken. To me, I would give it a 7/10 score.

Next, we went to the goat meat stall. Goat meat was like beef but with a strong smell, 6/10. Buffalo meat tasted like beef but drier, 6/10. Antelope was soft and very sweet, 9/10. Lamb was fatty but flavorful; I give it an 8/10.

I couldn't try any more meats because I was full, but Tendai hadn't had his fill yet. He continued on his barbecue journey, sampling everything he could. I sat under the tent with some of the guests. The speeches began. 

I listened to Elaine and some of Ray's friends give short speeches about the birthday boy which made many of the guests laugh. Finally, the birthday boy himself gave a speech. 

I had been so absorbed in listening to the speeches that I hadn't noticed Isla Walker was seated at the front of the tent.

Tendai was at the stall for camel meat, so I stood up and walked over to him.

"Tendai, Isla Walker is here," I whispered to him, nudging his arm.

"She's here to solicit money for her campaign," he explained casually. "Where else can you find rich people gathered in one place?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Does everyone here support her?"

"No," he shrugged. "The deal is when she wins, she'll support the rich by creating policies that favor them."

"Last time you told me your dad had nothing to do with the Roman Bekele Freemason rumors."

Tendai gave me a pointed look. "Addie, the whistleblower is a student, remember? Dad owns the gossip site, but he doesn't manage it."

I started to relax. Tendai was right—it was a strategic friendship, built on the unspoken agreement of mutual benefit.

"Taste it," Tendai said, offering me a piece of camel meat.

"No, I've had my fill. I'll head to the salad bar; that's all I can manage," I replied.

As I glanced around, I noticed Ray approaching Tendai and me, accompanied by Isla Walker. My nerves began to fray.

"Isla, you remember my son, Teddy?" Ray said, smiling proudly.

"Yes, he's grown so much in under two years," Isla responded warmly before turning to me. "And who's this beautiful girl standing beside him?"

"This is Adessa," Tendai introduced me.

"You and Teddy make a lovely couple," Isla remarked, as her assistant nearby took photos of us. Isla and Ray moved on to greet other guests. I felt a wave of calm wash over me.

Not long after, Tendai's friends arrived earlier than expected. I was eating salads at the salad bar. Tendai was chatting with his mom's relatives.

The unexpected arrival of his friends brought me discomfort—I really didn't like them.

I felt overwhelmed and didn't want to interact with them, so I decided to head towards the house to avoid any interactions.

"Addie, Addie!" Tendai's voice called out to me.

I tried to use the loud music as an excuse to ignore him, but a few guests pointed out that he was calling my name. Reluctantly, I had no choice but to make my way back to him. His friends had joined him.

"The music's too loud. I couldn't hear you," I lied, trying to mask my frustration.

"Why are you leaving?" Tendai asked, his brows furrowed in concern.

"I'm just tired. I need a break," I said, avoiding his gaze.

"Don't leave yet," he pleaded. "Come hang out with us."

"Addie, you look gorgeous," Grant chimed in with a smile.

"You look lovely, mi lady," Tyler added, trying to charm me.

"Thanks," I muttered, holding myself together.

"Adessa, you look good, but you've got some greens stuck in your teeth," Roe said with a smirk, her voice dripping with fake concern.

My heart sank as I quickly swiped at my teeth in panic. The damage was already done, though—I was mortified. Without thinking, I turned and walked away, tears pricking the corners of my eyes.

"You didn't have to embarrass her like that," I overheard Grant scold Roe. "How could you even notice that?"

Roe shrugged, completely unfazed. "Just trying to help," she replied nonchalantly, though the amusement in her tone was unmistakable.

I felt so embarrassed. I had been eating salads and hadn't realized that it was stuck on my teeth. 

Tendai caught up with me. "Addie, don't go," he called, blocking my path. "I'm sorry about what Roe said. She didn't mean it in a bad way—she just doesn't know how to say things."

The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over, and Tendai gently pulled me into a hug. "It's okay, Addie," he whispered, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. "Don't let it get to you."

"Why are you crying?" Elaine's voice suddenly interrupted the moment. She must've noticed the commotion.

"Nothing serious," I lied, hastily wiping my face.

Elaine didn't look convinced, but she didn't press. Instead, she smiled gently and took my hand. "Come hang with me and my friends," she offered.

I glanced back at Tendai. He stood there, watching me leave, his eyes filled with regret as his friends caught up with him and pulled him back into their circle. 

Elaine guided me toward her friends who were seated under the tent. I settled in with them and immediately felt comfortable. 

"Here, drink this," she said, offering me lemonade.

"Addie, what really happened back there?" she asked quietly.

"Tendai's friends don't like me," I admitted. "Roe made a comment to embarrass me, and I just... I couldn't take it."

Elaine sighed sympathetically. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that. Roe can be quite cold; I know this about her. Don't let her get under your skin."

"Thanks," I said softly, sipping from the drink she had handed me. The cool liquid helped calm my nerves, and I smiled at her gratefully. 

I tried to shake off the lingering humiliation. Elaine's friends were friendly and engaged in light conversation, and soon, I found myself laughing along with them. It was a relief to be in a space where no one was criticizing me.

I couldn't forget about Tendai entirely. I kept searching for him in the crowd but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Where could he be?" I wondered quietly to myself.

He appeared under the tent just as one of Elaine's friends was sharing a story about her trip to Thailand. His gentle touch on my shoulder brought me out of the conversation, and I turned to face him.

"Hey," he said softly. "I'm really sorry about earlier. Are you feeling better?"

I nodded, offering a small smile. "Yeah, I'm okay now."

His face softened with relief. "I am sorry for what she told you. I know Roe can be... insensitive a lot of the time."

"I had greens stuck in my teeth, and while what she said was technically helpful, she could have conveyed it in a much kinder way," I said.

"I agree with you. I'll have a word with her about being more considerate. It's clear she's being unkind to you, especially since this is only your second interaction. No wonder you haven't bonded with them yet."

"Where are your friends?" I asked, noticing they were nowhere in sight.

"They're still on their barbecue journey. I've had enough, though. I left because I'm full," he admitted with a laugh.

We spent the next hour mingling with his mom's friends, dancing to the music that played from the speakers, and sharing quiet moments. The earlier embarrassment faded away as the evening continued. 

Eventually, I started feeling tired. "Tendai, you can go back and join your friends," I said, not wanting to monopolize his time.

"Are you sure? I don't want you going back inside still feeling upset over what Roe said," he asked, his concern still evident in his voice.

I gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, really. I've had a good time, and I won't let her comment ruin my night."

His expression softened, and he returned my smile. "That's the attitude I love to see." 

He leaned in and gave me a quick peck. "Goodnight, Addie," he said before turning to rejoin his friends.

I turned to Elaine and her friends with a smile. They were deep in conversation, laughing and sipping their drinks. "Goodnight, everyone."

Elaine tilted her head, raising a brow. "Heading out already?"

"Yeah, I'm feeling a bit tired," I replied. "I've had a great time, but I think I need to call it a night."

"Alright, don't push yourself. Goodnight, Addie!" she said warmly.

"Goodnight, take care," one of her friends added, and the others chimed in with their goodbyes.

"Goodnight, everyone," I said again, grateful for the brief but comforting interaction.

I slipped back into the house and climbed the stairs to the top. I found Ray coming out of his bedroom.

He raised an eyebrow as he spotted me. "You're retiring already?"

"Yeah, I'm tired," I replied.

Ray smiled. "That's okay. It's your first time at one of these. Next year, you'll be used to it and stay longer."

"Maybe," I responded with a grin.

"Addie, you're such a lovely girl," he complimented. "My son is a loser; he has nothing to offer you. If you say yes to me, I will make your dreams come true. I have the money and power to do so."

"Just look at Quinn. She's now Reina Thingz, a very talented musician. She wouldn't be where she is without me," he confessed.

Ray was shameless!

"Ray, I love Tendai. I can't cheat on him with you, his father," I said, my voice trembling.

"I am a better lover; I have more experience than him," he asserted.

"No, I can never do that!" I walked away before he could say anything else. When I got inside my room, I locked the door just in case he decided to follow me.

What kind of father hits on his son's girlfriend? It was beyond strange.

I changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed. Despite the music from the party blaring outside, I found it didn't deter me.

I checked my WhatsApp for messages and found a few from Eloise. 

Eloise: Hey girl, the party you're at is lit 🔥

Eloise: I've seen the photos of it all over social media. I wish I was there. Your party looks way more fun than being here!

Eloise: But I don't know how Jensen will feel about you taking photos with his dad's biggest opponent. 😬

Eloise: 2 photos attached 📸

Addie: Hey! It was Ray's 51st birthday. It was so nice, I had so much fun. I even tried crocodile, antelope, lamb, and buffalo meat! 🐊🦌🐑🦬

Addie: I didn't even talk to her. She just greeted me and Tendai, then her assistant took photos of us, and she walked away.

Addie: What a bummer 😕

Jensen had updated his status with a cryptic message "Our enemies are not far, be careful." Mae's status was equally mysterious: "Judas has a face, her face is noir." Eloise sent me screenshots of Kemi's status: "Watch out, they will be jealous of your life and will steal it if given the chance."

Kemi's jealousy was obvious; Tendai had introduced me to his parents and close friends—something he had never done when they were together. 

Maybe it was all the food I had eaten that made me so sleepy. My eyelids grew heavy, and soon I found myself drifting off. My last thoughts were of Jensen, feeling a pang of sadness. He believed I had betrayed him, and now, with everything that had happened, he had even more reason to think so.

The next morning, Ray greeted me with a casual, "Good morning, Addie. How was last night?" His composure suggested he either didn't remember or was pretending to forget what he had said to me the night before.

"Good morning, Ray," I responded, deciding to play along and not bring it up.

"I didn't expect Isla Walker to be at your birthday party," I remarked.

"I want her to be Mayor, so I'm helping her get donations from my friends," he explained. 

"What about Roman Bekele? Why don't you support him?" I inquired.

"Roman and I are acquaintances," he revealed. "We studied together at Eldridge University—he was doing a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations while I studied a Bachelor of Science in Management."

"Then why allow NoirNectar to post lies about him?" I asked, my voice sharp with frustration.

"Addie, it was going to come out. If not from us, then someone else," he justified. "While I was at university, I was approached to join a secret society and refused. I didn't know Roman had accepted the offer until recently. I understand his reasons—he was a scholarship student. Joining the Freemasons offered him a chance to get ahead, which wouldn't have happened otherwise."

Ray's tone shifted as he continued, "I'm a businessman, Addie. I need someone who has my back. Roman is for the people; Isla is for the wealthy, like me."

"But Roman has made many positive changes for the city. Isn't that enough to back him?" I pressed.

"It's a cruel world, Addie. I need a Mayor who is for me," Ray said firmly.

Elaine then joined us, greeting us both. Ray looked like he had said more than he intended, and Elaine's presence seemed to stop him from revealing more.

"I know Roman will win the election, even though you and your friends are giving Isla billions in funding," I declared.

Ray responded with a cryptic remark: "Sometimes those who believe they control the chessboard forget that the pawns can tip the balance."

"What does that mean?" I asked, confused.

"Ray's trying to tell you not to be overconfident," Elaine clarified.

"Let's go to the living room; I want to open my presents," Ray said, trying to change the subject.

"Let's have breakfast first," Elaine interjected.

They walked ahead, leaving me with more questions than answers. It was clear that Ray had almost revealed something significant, but Elaine's timely arrival had cut the conversation short.