Chapter 7: True Friend Or Foe?

Mira entered her bedroom and closed the door behind her. Slumping her blazer and purse on the couch, she flopped onto the couch. Closing her eyes, she pressed her temples. These two days were very exhausting for her. She had been sacrificing her sleep and worked very hard on the project. But in the end, she lost to her step brother. 

A bitter reality!!

A soft furry hand placed on Mira's lap. A soothing sensation washed over Mira's tired body. She opened her eyes to see her cat, Whisker, staring at her with worried eyes. Mira smiled at him lovingly as she patted his head, he purred loudly in delight.

"Whisker, this world is really cruel!"  Mira complained as she hugged the Whisker close to her chest. Her cat let out an inquisitive mew as he licked Mira's cheek. She laughed as she kissed Whisker's head.

Just then, Mira's cell phone rang. She immediately pulled it out of her blazer and checked the caller id. It was a video call from her girl squad. She accepted the video call and held the video camera in front of her face.

"Hey Mira, help me with selecting a dress for tomorrow's party," Lianna pleaded. Her room was filled with her clothes. Her bags and shoes were lying all over the floor. 

"Leave her Mira, I have heard you lost the project to your step brother," Helia asked as she ran on the treadmill.

"Bad news spread faster than I thought,"  Mira responded dejectedly as she looked at her friends on her phone screen.

Helia Ellis and Lianna Marley were her best friends since her high school days. Their squad was popular amongst the boys and girls of her school because the three of them were beautiful with brains. 

"Don't be sad Mira, we are here with you," Lianna offered Mira some consoling words as she sat on her bed.

"Am I that easy to be defeated?"  Mira sighed as she dropped her head on top of the pillows.

"Of course not, if someone ever dared to defeat you, you will beat them up," Helia stated confidently as she finished her exercise.

"By the way, what was the Zion reaction?"   Lianna asked curiously as she sat back up straight on her bed.

"Don't even call his names. Hearing his name makes my blood boil," Mira snapped as the image of Zion's face flashed back from her eyes. 

"Hahaha," Helia laughed after seeing the expression on Mira's face as she continued "Just imagine if fate binds you two in a marriage together. What will happen to you guys?"

"I should rather eat poison than marry Zion. I would rather die," Mira groaned as she rolled around in her bed, hugging her pillow tightly.

"Just imagine 'a bossy CEO is bound in an unwanted marriage with her feisty wife' ," Lianna laughed evilly. Mira just gritted her teeth angrily, but no word came out of her mouth. While Helia and Lianna talked and laughed together in front of Mira. 

"I am hanging up,"  Mira said in a serious tone. But Lianna stopped her "Come on Mira we were just kidding." 

"Are you guys coming to tomorrow's birthday party?" Mira asked as she changed her topic.

"Of course," both of them replied simultaneously.

This is the 80th birthday of Harold Marston, the grandpa of Zion. All the business enterprises were invited. He is respected by everyone and has a huge network of business partners. He is a person everyone envies and respects. 

"I already bought my dress and accessories for tomorrow's event," Helia said proudly as she glanced at Lianna.

"What about you Lianna?" Mira asked as she turned to look at Lianna.

"I am still selecting," Lianna responded as she showed the mess of her clothes on the bed.

"What are you wearing, Mira?" Helia asked as she raised her brows at Mira.

"Umm...." Mira was about to reply when she heard a knock on the door. 

"Guys, I am hanging up," Mira hung up on the call. Placing her phone on the side table of her bed.

"Who is it?" Mira called as she sat up on her bed.

"It's me dear,"  Grandma spoke as she opened the door and walked into her room.

"Why aren't you sleeping grandma?" Mira asked as she held Grandma's hand and made her sit on her bed.

"I brought you some dinner. You were starving but didn't even eat properly," Grandma replied as she signaled the maid to bring food over here.

"Grandma," Mira hugged her grandmother tightly. Her emotions welled up within her. 

She is the only person who cares about Mira. She checks if her granddaughter has eaten it. If her granddaughter needs anything or not. If her granddaughter is bullied or not.

She wasn't only her grandmother. For her she was everything; her mother, her father. 

"Dear, winning and losing a battle is both a part of life. If you will not fall, how will you know who is your true friend or foe?" her grandmother spoke softly to her granddaughter.

In response to her grandma's comforting words, Mira nodded her head as she gave her a bright smile.

She wasn't sad about losing the project but there was something in her heart that didn't feel right. It's just that she feels something bad is going to happen soon.

"Grandma, do you think your granddaughter is easily defeated or do you think I will cry on just losing a project?"  Mira said jokingly to make her grandmother smile.

Grandma's face softened at Mira's question. She looked intently at Mira before reaching out and ruffling her daughter's head.

"My sweet child, you were too young when your mother...." she stopped in the middle of her sentence when she noticed Mira's expression turn gloomy. 

"Grandma, I am exhausted from the long day. Let's continue our discussion another time," Mira interrupted before giving her grandmother a pleading look.

She didn't want to talk about her mother. She hated talking about her.

"Alright, darling. Just remember I am always here to support you,"  Grandma said in an understanding tone as she smiled at her granddaughter.