Two weeks after Susan and her mother's encounter at the office, Susan has been avoiding her mother like plague both at home and in the office.
Since two days now she did not visit the office with the excuse that she is sick and needed rest.
She respected her director Mr martins a lot because he is a very strict, upright and diligent man. Although she very stubborn and rebellious, she could only use sickness as an excuse to absent herself from work.
Even if Mr martins is a strict man there is little or nothing he can do to her but she herself will not tarnish her own reputation just because she is having a little obstacle to cross ahead.
She did not know what to do, she wanted to choose a life partner for herself and she doesn't want to make her mother angry either not that the person her parent insisted on is that bad but she did not love him a bit. She has tried to develop the feelings all this years but the feeling refused to developed. She doesn't even know what to do.
She has been up since 9:00 in the morning but she sat on the sofa in her room deep in thought. The ringing of her phone brought her to reality she picked it up when she noticed it is her friend calling.
"Hello Betty, good morning," you are downstairs? isn't it too early for shopping, its still some minutes past nine". Its almost noon come on get your ass here and let's get going" , replied Betty form the other end.
Oh my! my! I don't know its noon already OK, am sorry I don't even know, give me five minutes I will join you " said Susan to her friend before hurriedly end the call to get ready.
After finishing her business in the bathroom, she rushed down to meet her friend that has been waiting for her, so they can go shopping for her birthday party coming in the less than three weeks.
She looked at her friend apologetically, Betty burst out laughing when she looked her friends puppy dog eye.
"Come on let's go", Betty said in between laughter. " we better get going before the mall is crowded or your want to remain their behaving like a puppy."
The two of them started laughing again before they drag themselves out of the mansion.
They settle in a Toyota sport car with Susan as a driver, she decided to drive herself today, she wanted to have a private talk with Betty she is the only one she could confide in right now. They joked around for some time before the two kept to themselves. Betty wanted to talk to Susan about Bob but she is hesitating, she know how much a bitch she is. She won't want to be disgraced and dropped at the roadside. When she was still hesitating she heard Susan's voice talking to her, she quickly composed herself .
"You are saying something just now?" Betty said to Susan." Yes, I said why are you so quiet" replied Susan.
"oh! nothing, I was just thinking about random thing."
"Care to share it. I might be of help."Susan replied while concentrating on the road.
"Don't worry its nothing to trouble our wonderful princess" Betty replied jokingly.
"Betty, I need your advice." They arrived at the mall after thirty minutes on the road. She parked at the parking lot of the mall but they make no move of coming down from the vehicle. Susan faced her friend after the statement.
"Am listening" Betty said when she noticed her friend has stopped talking after parking the car.
"Betty, do you think am been unreasonable ? "
"Why do ask that?"Betty replied
"You can not keep pretending dear friend. I know my mother called you and tattle tale about me."
Betty was shocked but she feigned ignorance." no, no, nobody reported you to me, do you think I won't tell you if she said something. come on you know I wasn't like that. trust me OK. "
"Are you sure of what you are saying? Susan said looking into her eyes.
" Enough of all that. now tell me what do you mean by you been unreasonable. I don't understand what you mean."
"Betty, you have known me for a long time now. You know how much I don't like people meddling in my affairs and how much I don't like mingling with people that of not my level except you." Susan said arrogantly.
( we are all the same low level people in your presence, thought Betty inwardly) But she continued to listening to all what Susan need to say with a sweet smile on her face.
"My mother has been disturbing me for sometime now, she wanted me to get engage with Bob on my birthday. You know I don't love him, you won't believe that I did not developed any feeling whatsoever for him for the past two years that he has claimed to be my boyfriend."
Before she can continue Betty interrupted her, "but why do you tolerate him and claim to be his girlfriend too?"
Susan chuckled when she sees her friend surprised look." I did that to satisfy my parent, they so much like him and his parent has been our family friend and business partners for long. You know how much I hate disobeying my parent but right now I don't know what to do." She holds her friends hand,Betty please tell me what should I do?
"Betty, please tell me on what to do, you are the one that understand me the most even more than my mother. Please advise me."
Betty sighed after her friend finished speaking," Susan, it's OK. Don't be bothered with all that, since you don't want to disobeyed her while don't you let her have her way for now so she won't bother you on that and you too will focus on your life. I want you to be happy, don't be a grumpy granny and smile for me. "she moved closer to her friend and embrace her in a tight hug.
Susan smiled at her friend after the latter release her from the hug. "Thank you, I know you can make me feel better, you know me the best."
"You are welcome, now let's get going."
They opened the car door before they entered the mall to start shopping for dress, bag, shoes and jewelry they will need for the coming event.
After three hours of shopping, Susan selected three quarter purple one shoulder evening gown, five inches silver shoe, silver clutch bag and necklace and a pair of ear ring to complement the dress.
Betty chose powder blue long gown with low back, royal blue four inches opened toe shoe and royal blue bag. Susan paid for all they purchased. The two came out the mall full of life while carrying their shopping bag.
The two were talking on their way to the parking Lt when they heard someone calling them... "Hello ladies, ladies?"
The two of them stopped walking and turned to the direction of the voice, they know they have not done anything unheard of in the mall, so why will anybody try to stop them. Susan stopped and cross her hands on her chest lading at the man that stop them, if eyes can drill hole by now the man would have been perforated . When Betty noticed that her friend is probably angry, she smiled at the man to ask what the problem is... "Hello sir, what can we do for you? "She asked gently.
Sorry to inconvenient you ladies; "my name is Thomas Wilson." He stretch out his hand to shake, Betty shook his hands and introduced herself.
Thomas face Susan to shake her hand but the latter ignore him. He smiled awkwardly before withdrawing his outstretched hands. "I saw the two of you when you are paying for your goods. I just like you ladies, that's why I decided to introduce my self. Betty ,your friend seem to be upset?"
" Not at all, she is tired, we have been shopping all day. So,Mr Thomas what can we do for you? "
The two were still talking when Susan left them. She went straight to her car, started the engine without calling Betty. When Betty noticed what is going on,she knows she will abandon her without looking back even if she can go home on her own, her wallet is still inside the car she did not bother to take it with her when they entered the mall. She knows her friend will pay for whatever she is going to purchase. She quickly excuse herself.... "sorry Mr Thomas may be we can meet another time, I have to get going my friend is waiting for me. "she ran towards the car. Immediately she entered, they zoom off.
Thomas stood their while watching their car until its out of his sight. He shook his head before heading into the mall to continue his shopping. While he was shopping he can not help it but to swear at Susan for ruining his plan. He has planned to laid with any of them today but now he has to look for another prey.
Meanwhile in the car Susan and Betty kept silent, they did not talk to one another. Betty kept quiet because she doesn't want to agitate her friend but Susan kept quiet because she hate the way Betty was talking to that man. The two reached their destination after 25 minutes.
" Babes, I need to go now. There is something important I have to do." Betty did not wait for her friend to reply she took her bag and head to her own car parked at a corner, she started the engine and leave.
Susan watched her friend but she did not utter a word, she instruct the maid to take her bag inside. She herself make way towards the garden, she knows she over reacted just now but she can't help it when her emotions overshadow her thinking but she promise to make it up to her friend because she is the only one that stood my her all this while.