The Second Meet Up

They all settled behind the table with Tiara sitting beside Andy and Odette opposite him. With everyone settled, Mrs. Graham served the meals.

"Shall we dig in?" she said, settling down after serving the last plate.

They slightly cocked their heads in response with Mr. Graham smiling slightly at her daughter.

"So..Tiara, what's your level of education?" asked Mr. Graham.

"Well..., I'm still a university student."

"Really..?" Pamela mumbled indifferently, "So what faculty are you in...?"

"Hmm..., Faculty of Arts and Culture," she added, glancing swiftly at Andy.

"How about your family? Where do you live and which business tycoon is your Dad? Probably we might have come across each in the business world."

"Hmm...." Tiara mumbled, starting to feel very uncomfortable with the questions, she began fidgeting with her meal.

Andy who noticed her discomfort, hastily chipped in. "Are we here to do a background check? Can we at least have this meal in silence?"

Tiara noticing the anger in his voice, secretly patted his thigh, making him glance swiftly at her.

"Sorry if we sounded offensive, we just wanted to know your friend more and make her feel at home," replied Odette with a devilish smile dancing on her lips.

Andy glared at her, knowing well what her true intentions were but Odette just ignored him, focusing on her bait.

"So Tiara, how long have you known Andy?"

"Hmm..." she mumbled, glancing at Andy with a look that said, "Save me over here, will you?"

"I think we should focus on our meals Odette," he remarked and she nodded indifferently. Kalisa didn't like this attitude of Odette but she just kept quiet, watching her pick on Tiara throughout the meals.

In about 45minutes time, dinner was over. Mrs. Graham had her maids clear the table as they strolled to the sitting room.

Tiara felt very uncomfortable being around all these rich people bombarding her with questions upon questions but she had already accepted the contract and had to fulfill its demands.

Moving to the hall, Andy was called into a meeting with the parents. He stroked Tiara's arm before tailing after them, leaving her with Kalisa and Odette.

She settled on the sofa, quite nervous, hearing her heartbeat in her ears, especially with Odette around. Kalisa noticed, drawing closer to her.

"Hey..., are you okay?" she smiled at her.

Tiara who feared talking at that moment would expose her nervousness just nodded with a smile.

"I guess we've not met. I'm Kalisa, Andy's younger sister." she stretched out a hand towards Tiara for a handshake.

Feeling a bit relaxed, she grinned reaching for Kalisa's hand.

"I'm Tiara." they shook hands for some seconds before breaking from the handshake.

"Such a beautiful name you have there...I remember my brother brought you to Odette's party the other time but I had no chance of meeting you back then.

"Oh that, I...." A ring from her phone cut her off. She rummaged through her bag, reaching for it. "Excuse me." she glanced briefly at the screen as she stood up to leave for the terrace.

"Sure," murmured Kalisa and Tiara walked out of the hall.

"Hello Fabulous..." she heard her say as she glided out of the hall to the terrace, leaving her with Odette.

With a smile, she turned to her, "I will take a walk around the house."

"Need me to take you around?" inquired Odette with an expressionless smile.

"Never mind." she stood up, "I will be okay." sauntering out of the hall, she took the path to the garden.

Odette stared at Kalisa as her back faded into the dark. Glancing back at Tiara who was standing on the terrace with her back facing her, she smirked.

"Can't you find any excuse to give to her? I promise I will make it up to you when I get back," uttered Tiara.

"Where the hell are you in the first place?" whispered Fabulous on the other side of the phone.

"Where I am is not important now. I will tell you when I get back, just keep me covered."

"Okay, okay, I will do my best but remember you've got some explanations to make. Anyway, I have to go now."

Before Tiara could reply, she laughed.

Tiara sighed, drawing the phone back from her ears as she glanced at the screen for some seconds. She turned to leave but stopped in her tracks when she saw Odette approaching her with a mischievous smile on her face.

"Odette...?" she mumbled.

"How long have you planned on deceiving Andy's parents?" she queried as she neared her.

"What.., what are you talking about?"

"Oh please...Tiara, don't pretend you know not what I'm talking about. You act so well, you know..."

Tiara being disinterested in what she was blabbing about headed to the hall, walking past her.

She chuckled softly biting on her lips as she turned, glancing at Tiara who was walking away.

"How about I tell the whole house about your little secret"

On hearing this, Tiara instinctively stopped halfway to the hall, stunned.

"Oh..., guess you didn't expect that," said Odette, walking up to her.

Tiara deftly turned to face Odette who was by now standing behind her.

"Surprised..? You shouldn't dear, little things like this can't be kept a secret."

"What do you want from me?" was the only question that came out of Tiara's mouth upon finding her tongue.

She had no intentions of betraying Andy and was not willing to have someone else doing that to him too. Moreover, she kind of felt secure whenever she was around him.

Odette chuckled at her naiveness, "What do I want? Oh my God Tiara, what can a low-class girl like you possibly give me?" she walked passed her in slow paces as Tiara turned with her eyes following her. "You should probably be getting what I am after by now."

Tiara stared at her quiet puzzled when a sudden realization hit up her mind's conscience.

"Are you....."

"Of course." Odette hastily caught her off, leaving her surprised.

"Oh..., I see now," replied Tiara with a chuckle. "I never understood why Andy would have me do something like that but I think I get it now. Why don't you just give up Odette... You should understand by now that money can't buy everything. He just doesn't want you. If you had gotten that into your head we might probably not be here wasting all this precious time."

Odette's eyes were now glittering with so much rage.

"How dare you talk back at me you little slu..." she raised a hand to slap Tiara but she held it back midway.

"Not so fast." she shoved it away. "I didn't come here for you." she continued her walk to the hall.

Odette felt bitter, scanning around for something or a way to make Tiara pay when a sudden thought filled her mind leaving an evil smirk on her face.

"Ahh....." a blood-curdling scream filled the room, making Tiara turn to see Odette on the floor with her hand on her cheeks.

Before she could say anything, Andy, his parents, and Mr. Graham came rushing in.

"Oh, mine..." Pamela rushed to Odette's side, helping her up as she threw daggering eyes at Tiara. "What happened here?"

"She slapped me." she cried, sharing fake tears.

"What..? How could you?" she glanced from Odette to Tiara who was by now wearing a horrified look on her face.

"I..." mumbled Tiara about to defend herself but before she could even end her statement, a heavy hit landed on her cheeks– turning them red.

"Mum..." exuded Andy, coming in between his mother and Tiara.

"How dare you lay your filthy hands on her you lolow-lifeirl."

Tiara felt hurt, trembling as tears streaked down her cheeks. She has never felt this much disgrace in her life. She rushed out, breaking into uncontrollable tears.

"Tiara...! Wait..." Andy went after her.

Odette smiled satisfied with herself, feeling well impressed with her actions.

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

Retiring into the chair after the long day's work, Eugenia glanced for the first time at the clock hanging on the wall and noticing how late it was panicked, glancing at the door expectantly.

"This late....? Why is Tiara not yet back?"

Just then, the sight of Tyra strolling towards the kitchen caught her attention.

"Tyra...." she called, making her turn instinctively to her direction. "Have you heard from your sister?"

She bluntly shook her head, continuing on her walk to the kitchen. "She might be caught up in something. Anyway, Dad called to say he might be late or sleepover at the ranch."

"Alright dear..." she responded subconsciously, quite worried about her daughter's whereabouts. She reached out for her phone which was in her apron and dialed her number. It went through but she didn't answer.

"Where could she be...?"