❣️LOVE IN THE ELITES’ WORLD❣️
🌏🌏Her new world 🌎 🌏
📖📖CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.3️⃣2️⃣
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❣️❣️Getting two birds with a stone❣️❣️
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HOLLAND HIGH^^^
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Paulina sat on the rooftop with Steven in silence, they did nothing but stare at the night sky until she broke the silence.
“Do you know?” She asked, and he shook his head. “Do you even know what I’m asking you?” She asked again, and he nodded.
“About the engagement,”
“Yes, it was so sudden. I’m aware that my relationship with Mike was fake, but it shouldn’t be Ava who we wanted to get back at together,”
“I don’t know much about Mike, but I’m aware that he hates Ava,”
“But how can he hate the person he was engaged to?” She blurted, and Steven shook his shoulder. “You really know nothing about Mike, hun?”
“Absolutely nothing!”
“How can you be friends that way?”
“I’m not thier real friend, I’m simply a stand in that kinda get lucky to be in thier circle,”
“What do you mean?” She asked, already curious.
“It all happened when I was in middle school. I just got enrolled in grade 7, so don’t even know about thier existence, but i heard that there are some powerful elites that rule the school, their name wasn’t really known then,” he stated, and looked at Paulina who was already curious.
“Carry on,” she muttered, and he smiled.
“When you look at me that way, I feel like I have to do anything to please to,” he teased, and she laughed.
“Well… everything started that day,”
*
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FLASHBACK to when Steven was in grace 7***
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Steven stood by the tip of the rooftop staring down emotionless, when he heard voice behind him.
“You’re the new student who is already curled up somewhere,” he heard, and he spun around dauntlessly.
He might be quiet, but he is very good with his fist.
“Mike, is he the one?” Austin asked Mike who nodded.
“Yes, he is the right knee. The one we can use, and discard,” Micheal muttered, and Steven made a fist, ready for the worst.
“You don’t need that, man. Even if we push you down the rooftop now, we got nothing to lose, why? Because we’re MASS!” Austin blurted.
“Get off it, man. Sliver isn’t even around,” Stanley said.
“Oh, yeah. That’s why we’re here,” Austin grumbled.
Micheal walked closer to Steven who stood there dauntlessly staring directly at him.
“You must be good with your fist, considering your courage,” Micheal said, patting his shoulder. “But I don’t need your fist. I like the way you’re quiet, it’s less noisy. I really hate noise. There is a special event we need to appear as the MASS, and you’re a suitable stand in for our friend who is away. You’ll come with us to the event tonight, and you get lost right after,” Micheal said, and Steven looked at him.
“You don’t want to?” Stanley teased.
“Why won’t he? Mike, you’d so well by taking your time to explain when we could just drag him away,” Austin blurted.
“I…-,” Steven was saying, but Micheal cut in.
“Nope! You don’t have to say a word, it’s either you jump off now or come with us. I’m out of choices, that’s why I’m here. I don’t want to hear your voice, your opinion isn’t needed,” Micheal sneered, squeezing Steven’s shoulder.
“You’re scaring him, man,” Stanley said, and Austin laughed.
Steven shucked back in fear, he gazed over the rooftop and sniffed his gaze to Micheal who stretched his hand towards him. At that instant, he knew that he would be best for him to oblige, because they could really push him down the rooftop.
*
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FLASHBACK ENDS***
*
Steven concluded his story, and Paulina stared aghast at him, speechlessly.
“Just like that?” She managed to say, and he nodded.
“I was a standin to the party, it seems like they already pull off some dare with Prince. Everything dovetailed for when Prince formed a squad with his friends, ‘Prince and the clowns’. Sliver was recently added to Mike’s circle, but Prince was aware that sliver would leave because Sliver was once closer to Prince. It’s all complicated, so Mike had to save face by using me as the stand in for Sliver was away. It was a mask party so all was cool. But another appearance was needed again for a magazine edition regarding famous teenagers that Austin signed up for, so I had to stand in again,” he concluded.
“Wow! So just like that you became a part of them?”
“Yeah… Stanley made the proposition to make me a part of them till their friend return, but he never did. Turns out his parents relocated for good,”
“But how could they choose you when they know nothing about you?”
“That’s why they chose me, because they knew nothing about me. Stanley has been a genius in hacking, but he couldn’t find anything anything about me,”
“Weren’t they worried that tiy might not fit in?” She inquired, and he shook his head.
“We were in same class, and my tuition was cleared. I could also afford their standard, so they weren’t curious at all,”
“But how could you afford it all?”
“You’re asking too many questions when you have secrets as well,”
“What do you mean by that?”
“There is something you aren’t telling Mike,”
“What?”
“Why Ava hates you so much, and why you strike that deal with Mike to get rid of her,”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“We both know there is more to it. I won’t pry, so don’t ask too many questions as well,” he muttered, and she nodded. “You see, I just caught you. So there is really something you are holding back!” He shouted, and she hits him playfully.
“You’re better off quiet!” She blurted.
“What do I do? I’m already fond of talking to you, so you’ve to get used to it,”
“Oh, gosh… it’s getting late, and my face is itching from this makeup,” she muttered, lying flat on the floor.
He brought out his handkerchief, and started wiping off her makeup.
“Stup it, it won’t help,” she quipped with a laugh, and he laughed as well.
**
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STANFORD’S MANSION^^^
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Ms. Grace arrived home, and joined her husband in the bedroom. He always stay up late in his study so she could instantly guess why he was in the bedroom— he was there to start an argument about the engagement, because she didn’t inform him beforehand, knowing well that he would be against it.
“Honey, you missed out a lot at the party,” she said, and he nodded.
“I know. Ava told me. When do you plan on telling me? When you felt the time is right, or after they walk down the aisle?”
“Honey, I would’ve inform you beforehand, but the timing was never right.”
“Timing my foot!” He yelled, and she flinched. “What do you take me for? I know I allowed you and your father push me around like a pushover, but must you take it this far? Even my daughter… I can’t have a right to this important decision in her life!”
“Honey, it’s not like that. The Russ and I discussed it the last time we met, but I didn’t make it official, I was going to inform you, I never knew they would announce it,”
“You could’ve tell me before now, but, no, you believe you have the upper hand and the final say, so you went when’d and had that conversation with them,”
“It wasn’t an official conversation, it was a random topic that the Russ brought up, and I played along with it. I didn’t know they would make it official, I really mean it, Paul,”
“You actually have no reasons to find excuses, so I’m sure you are being honest. Now, I want you to set it straight. I’ve no interest in being in-law with that greedy family, I don’t want my daughter to end up in a pathetic marriage like ours!” He blurted, before taking the exit.
**
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Paulina and Steven left later at midnight, and he stopped a cab, and headed to the Stanford’s.
“I will be fine for real, you shouldn’t have followed me home,” she said, and he chuckled.
“We’re here anyways, see you on Monday,” he waved, and she smiled.
“Thanks for comforting me today, I’m really grateful,”
“Then you owe me,” he winked, and she laughed. “Go in, it’s cold outside,”
“Alright, bye,” she waved, and went inside.
*
She got to her room, and laid flat on the bed thinking about everything that happened again.
“It’s a good thing I didn’t see Ava or dad as the party,” she thought, turning and tossing on her bed. “Mike and Ava really got me this time, I admit,@ she grumbled.
She took her phone and saw many missed calls and messages from Sophia. At a point she had to put her phone on silent to avoid the endless calls.
“Turns out Sophie and Sage are the only true people around me,” she muttered, reading the messages.
**
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IN AN UNKNOWN ^^^
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Charlotte was already getting better, but she couldn’t recall her memories from the day she had the accident. She only remembered leaving home, and heading to the market, she couldn’t remember anything else.
She and Joy sat together in the garden playing cards when Louis joined them —he has been away since yesterday, he couldn’t return last night because he had a lot of wonk to do.
“Professor is back.” Joy said, and greeted loads before excusing herself.
“Louis,” Charlotte called, and he spread his arms for an embrace, she smiled, and walked into his embrace.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered in her ear, and she let out a sigh.
He has been so good to her, but what she really wants is to return home to her daughter.
*
They both went to seat, and she struggled trying to think of the best way to talk up her daughter without upsetting him.
“Your daughter is fine, Charlotte, but before telling you where she is, I’ll tell you how I found you instead,” he said, like he could read her mind.
“Where she is? Is Paulina not home?”
“I’ll explain everything to you. You’re already fine now, so we can travel as far as you want,”
“Thank you, Louis,”
“You weren’t a victim of the bus accident as everyone assumed,” he said.
“A bus accident?” She repeated, and he brought her a newspaper from his bag —newspaper articles about the accident.
“There was an accident that day, but you weren’t a victim of that bus accident, I believed the car you were in caused the accident,”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I confined that the car you got in an accident in was an unlicensed car, and the driver has many criminal records, and he is even wanted, he escaped prison,”
“What?”
“I believed whoever was behind the your accident helped that criminal escape prison,”
“Someone tried to klll me?”
“I don’t know the details yet, that’s why I wanted you to recover before telling you, but you haven’t received the memory of the event that happened that day,”
“And my daughter? How is Paulina?” She cried.
“She thought you were a victim of that accident, everyone thought the same. One of your valuable belongings was found with one of the victim, I think it’s your bracelet,”
“Oh, my bracelet, I remember now, a creditor seized it from me at the market that day, that why I couldn’t take the bus, I was hoping to earn more to be able to claim back my bracelet,”
“So that was it, do you remember more?”
“No, that’s all I could remember, but it rained that night,”
“Don’t strain yourself too much, it’s bad for your health, you’ll gradually remember, you are still traumatized that’s why you can’t remember now. It’s temporary, I’m sure you will recover soon,”
“Where is Paulina now? She must be devastated and alone, thinking I’m gone,”
“She would be devastated, yes. But she isn’t alone,”
“Where is she?”
“Promise me you won’t act rashly if I tell you,”
“Just tell me, Louis, where is my daughter?”
“You haven’t promise,”
“I promise,”
“Say it like you mean it,”
“Louis…” she cried
“Your tears can’t force the words out of my mouth,”
“I promise, I won’t act rashly,”
“I know they are mere words, but I would believe you,”
“Where is my daughter?”
“She is with Paul,”
“What?” She shouted, and stood up.
“Charlotte, you already promised me,”
“Why would you take her to Paul? Paul doesn’t know about her existence,”
“I didn’t take her to him. Turn out Paul has also been on a lookout for you, and your daughter. I don’t know the details yet, but Grace visited your house after the accident,”
“I’ve to go get my daughter,”she said, and intend to leave but Louis held her back.
“I already assured you that ebi fine. I detailed someone to watch her, but I’m sure someone who care about her as much as you do is also watching after her,”
“I don’t care, I’ve to get my daughter back,”
“And then what? Return to your home with her? Where you almost got kllled? You can’t even remember the incident, Charlotte, and that’s the main problem. We don’t know who the enemies are,””
“I don’t care, but I’ve to protect my daughter,”
“You’ve to be able to protect yourself first, before you can protect her,”
“Louis, I want to go to my babyyyyy…” she cried, and he embraced her.
“I’ll help you return to your daughter, Charlotte. But let’s wait for now, just until you’re fully recovered, until we know who the enemies are. Then, we will both go to Paul, and get your daughter back,” he said, and she broke down in tears.
“My babbbyyy…”. She cried, and he embraced her.
**
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CHAIRMAN STANFORD’S MANSION^^^
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Ava tossed and turned on her bed until she finally got the strength to stand up. She took her phone, and saw a message from her grandfather.
💬*You’ve two hours to get ready, the driver is coming to pick you up. Picnic with gramps.* the message reads, and she hissed aloud before putting her phone away.
She was already aware of what he wanted to discuss with her. The engagement was probably planned by him and her mother since her father was oblivious to it.
She went to freshen up and went out when the driver arrived, and met her mother by the main entrance.
She walked post her with no intention of exchanging words, but her mother dragged her back.
“Let me go, mum. I’ve nothing to say to you!” She blurted.
“Even if I plan to denounce the engagement?”
“You won’t do that anyways, so don’t bother me, became I won’t accept it. You will have to tie me up to make me marry him,”
“Why? What’s so wrong with him? He is the heir to the Russ family, so why did you disgust him that much?”
“It’s late, mum. You should’ve asked me that before that announcement, so I won’t answer you,”
“Ava, I was aware of your relationship with him,”
“Then you should’ve known that we broke up as well, so you know why I broke up with him? You don’t care! All you care about is your political career, and the family’s best interest. I don’t care about either of that mum, so I won’t save your face,” with that she left.
“Ava…” Ms. Grace called after her but she ignored her, heading to the car that her grandfather sent to pick her up.
**
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IN AN AMUSEMENT PARK^^^
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Mr. Packard welcomed Ava when she arrived, and he spread his arms for an embrace. She chuckled softly, and walked into his embrace.
“You always love amusement park when you were younger, that’s why I brought you here to reminisce old memories,”
“I don’t like amusement parks anymore,”
“I know, because you’re so much like me. I also have no desire meaningless things anymore, and that’s how you should always be,” he said, and she nodded. “Your engagement…”
“I won’t accept it, grandpa, even you can’t force me to,”
“I’m not going to force you to accept it,” he said, and she looked at him.
“You can’t convince me either,”
“Why do you disgust him that much?”
“He is a piece of trash, he isn’t what everyone think he is,”
“Is that your only reason?” He asked, and she looked at him. “I’m aware of it all, I know before I accepted the engagement,”
“You knew?”
“I know a lot of things, my child. More than you could imagine. Your mother didn’t tell me about the engagement before she proposed it, but she told me later and I accepted it, because it’s to our favor. The Russ needs us, and they will also help your mother’s election,”
“I don’t care, grandpa,”
“Do you know the kind of people you should have around? Those who you’re above, people who needs you, people who you can step over, that way, they will he scared to lose you. That’s why I approved your mother’s marriage to your father, and that’s how I made it this far. You should use what you got to attract people to be close to you, they would crawl on thier knees at your order,”
“Grandpa,” Ava called with brightened eyes.
“The Russ needs us more than we need them, and that brought them to our feet. If you’re with their son, you will control over the Russ, over him, and the entire family. Why? Because we are above them, and we know their secret. That is your weapon, my child. In life, having a weapon to use against others will give you the upper hand and upper hand,” he said, finally able to convince her.
“You’re the best, grandpa,” she beamed, and embraced him.
“This is my chance to get two birds with a stone. I’ll be able to get rid of Paulina, and also get Mike under my control. How come I didn’t think about this?” She thought, grinning widely.
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TO BE CONTINUED…
