EMPIRE HIGH***
“What!! You sprained your ankle? Are you all right? Should I come over?” Paige asked worriedly.
“Don’t worry about me bestie. I’m ok”
“If you didn’t want me to worry, you shouldn’t have told me you sprained your ankle. You should’ve cook up a lie” Paige said.
“I didn’t want to lie to you. But trust me I’m fine, and I’ll be back in school tomorrow”.
Paige sighs.
“But your all alone Desiree, you can’t walk with a painful ankle”.
“I’m not alone Paige. Bryan is at home with me, he didn’t go to school today” Desiree said and Paige smiles.
“I can’t see you right now, but I can feel how excited you are”.
Desiree laughs.
“See I was right. Where’s the Desiree girl, who always say love isn’t her thing?”.
“Stop making jest of me Paige” Desiree said and Paige chuckles.
“I have come to a conclusion Paige”
“Which is?” Paige asked.
“I won’t try to run away from my feelings anymore. I will confess my feelings to him”.
“That’s the spirit girl. Like you always say, no dull moment on our side”.
“What if he doesn’t love me back Paige? I’ve always been an annoying brat”.
“I’ve no doubt that Bryan loves you too, I guess he just too shy to express how he feels”.
“You think so?”
“I know so. Beside there’s nothing not to like about you. Your beautiful and smart, unlike me who only have her beauty and crazy swag to boast about” Paige said.
Desiree smiles and she hears the footsteps of Bryan coming towards her room.
“I have to go now Paige. Bryan is back”.
“Alright bestie. I’ll come to your house after school” Paige said and ends the call.
“I’m happy for my best friend” Paige muttered and smiles.
She came out from the restroom and bumped into Nadine.
“Watch were you going!!” Nadine yells.
“Oh, your still alive” Paige said sarcastically.
Ever since Carding locked Nadine up in the basement containing Teargas, She and Nadine haven’t seen each other.
“You must be overwhelmed with joy because Carding is your boyfriend. But enjoy it when you still can Paige, because sooner or later, you won’t have him to yourself anymore… Carding won’t remain a pauper forever, cuz he’s the son of one of the top richest men in Chicago”.
“Were your ears not working when I said I don’t care about that stupid man that calls himself Vince?” Paige said.
Nadine chuckles.
“You won’t be able to handle it Paige, trust me. Carding’s Dad doesn’t back out whenever he needs something. And since he’s just laying low for now, without doing anything to you or your family, I guess his preparing it in a bigger way”.
“He doesn’t scare me Nadine” Paige said tightening her fist.
“We will see about that Paige. For now, I’m going to let you have him to yourself, enjoy him while you still can, cuz at the end of the day, uncle Vince will always want me for his son, not a pauper like you”.
“Thanks for entertaining me Nadine” Paige said and leaves.
Nadine folds her hands tightly.
*****
WASHINGTON DC=A RESORT***
“It was nice doing business with you Mr. Wendell” Mr. Wilson said.
Vince smiles, drinking from the glass of champagne he was holding.
“I told you before, right? I’m a man of my word. I don’t go back to my puke, and when I set my mind on something, I always strive to get it” Vince said.
Mr. Wilson smiles.
“Our business together was a huge success. It won’t be bad if we become family, right?”
“Meaning?”
“I heard you have a son. He goes by the name Carding. Smart in his studies and good looking too” Mr. Wilson said.
“Where’re you driving at?” Vince asked.
“I have a daughter too. Same age as Carding. She’s currently in Switzerland, but will be back in Chicago soon. It won’t be bad if we merged them together, right?”.
Vince looks at Mr. Wilson and smiles.
******
CHICAGO=THE CROMWELL’S MANSION***
“Never knew landscape painting was this hard” Dylan said tearing off the white paper from the drawing board.
“I know right, we can’t even come up with a proper painting” Stacey said.
Both were in his house, trying to come with a definite landscape painting to present on the auspicious day, but it seems it was futile.
“We should take a break” Dylan said dropping the paint brush.
And Stacey nods.
“Dylan. How long have you known Angelo?”
“Since elementary school. Let’s say I’ve known Carding and Angelo for a decade and half”.
Stacey nods.
“That’s means you know him so well, right?”
“Yes I do. Why do you ask?”
“Because I’m just curious to know more about him”.
“Do you love him that much?” Dylan asked looking at her.
Stacey’s jaw dropped.
“How did you know?”.
“I’ve caught you countless of times looking at him Stacey. You even used him as your wallpaper” Dylan said looking at Stacey’s phone, that just chimed a notification.
Stacey took her phone and threw inside her handbag, looking somewhere else.
“Angelo is not slow witted, so he already knows you have feelings for him” Dylan said and Stacey looks at him.
“He does?”
“It was so obvious you love him Stacey. The only person who can’t figure it out is Carding and Paige since they are too engrossed in their relationship”.
“What did he say?”
“I might have my own problems, but I always put my two best friends first before anything, that’s how I always get to know everything about them. I know it’ll break your heart, but Angelo doesn’t love you, not even one bit” Dylan said
Stacey takes in her lips, as tears falls down her eyes.
“Is high time you get over him Stacey. Angelo has always look at only one girl. She’s not that beautifull, but to him, she’s a beauty goddess”.
Stacey broke into tears.
“I’m telling you this, so you won’t get your hopes up. Cry all you want now and forget about Angelo”.
“Who’s She? Who’s the girl he likes so much?” Stacey asked feeling so heartbroken.
“Is Sabrina. And he has been the one secretly helping her out financially”
Stacey’s eyes widened in shock.
******
SAME NIGHT=THE MCDONALD’S MANSION***
Nadia came out from her room and she quietly went to her mom’s room.
She opens the door slightly and sees her Mom, talking to someone on the phone probably about the upcoming TV show, her entertainment company will be producing.
She closed the door, without making it sound. She went to Nadine’s room and she was catwalking around her room in the bikini she was wearing.
Nadia went back to her room.
She placed her big teddy bear on the bed and used the duvet to cover the teddy bear.
She was about leaving the room, but went back to the mirror.
“He always likes it when my hair is down” Nadia muttered and loose her hair from it’s ponytail.
Her dark brown hair fells down to her shoulder. She looks at herself in the mirror and smiles.
She was actually sneaking out to meet her boyfriend.
Nadia left the house, without her car, Cuz it might signal her mom that’s someone is leaving the house.
***
Nadia quickly arrived in the park and a call from her boyfriend came.
“Bunny are you still coming?” He asked over the phone.
“Yes I’m. I’m already at the park. Where’re you?” Nadia asked looking around.
“At the grassy area. Fireworks are being shot” He said and Nadia smiles.
“Alright, I’ll be there soon” Nadia said and ended the call.
She went to the grassy area of the park, and sees her boyfriend looking at the fireworks from where he was standing.
She smiles happily.
“Babe” She calls him smiling.
Her boyfriend turn to look at her, and it was no other person than Bryan smiling enchantingly at her.
TBC
