Vanessa
Finally, dinner time arrived, after watching five episodes of Keeping up with the Kardashians and also napping on the couch.
It only included me in their family drama, but--whatever--it was a source of distraction.
I was seated beside my mom in the dining room and there was utter silence--as usual. We were both waiting for the table to be served completely. The maids marched into the room in a straight line, each carrying a dish or tray in hand.
They all dropped their dishes, and by the time they were done, the able was filled with varieties of food consisting of: tuna, lobsters, steak, a full spiced fried chicken, some bread and a bowl of home-made bourbon pecan chicken soup, a bottle of champagne for my mom and a jug of pineapple juice for me.
"Eat up." my mom commanded.
I carefully dished my food and I dug in. I gave Nana thumbs up, because this meal was definitely delicious.
"How is school?" Mom asked.
"Fine," I simply answered
"I'm highly pleased by your performance in school. So you know you, even if you have excellent results or not you would still get into whatever college I pick," She said.
"Are you indirectly discouraging me from having good results?" I asked as I reached over for the pitcher.
"I am telling you to make sure you know where your fate lies," She answered.
I didn't respond.
"By the way, I know you already know this," She dabbed her lips with a napkin. "I will be hosting a dinner party in 5 days time for my birthday. Mr Swerdloff would be present, I hear his son Alex goes to your school and is in fact your boyfriend. I hope your relationship is positive at the moment?" She asked.
Why bring Alex into this?
I blushed when I remembered this morning, but I quickly covered my face with my hair so she wouldn't notice.
For the record, Alex was not my boyfriend, I do agree he asked me to be his girlfriend in public in a beautiful way; but he still wasn't. It occurred that faithful day, I decided to go get a cup of coffee from Starbucks. He stood outside the cafe holding a bouquet of flowers, and box of chocolate.
Immediately we stepped out, my BFF's and I were shocked seeing him there, he then sang to me and asked me to be his girlfriend. Believe me, I was wowed and there were lots of people with cameras video taping everything. I was pressurised to say yes to him.
One thing about people like us was that our reputation was very important, imagine how bad it would be viewed if I had said no, the stories the media would make up and what the headlines would be. Believe me, it was a sweet gesture, but I never really saw Alex as a lover; I saw him as a friend.
So when he drove me home, I explained my situation to him and I kindly told him I would think about it.
Still thinking about it.
When there were no record of places we went together or hanged out doing 'couple stuffs', well the story died after some time. I was not surprised she believed what she saw on the internet, because there are lots of things she doesn't know about me.
"I do, but he is not really my boyfriend, that was just a show,"
"Thank God you do, I have this business deal with his father you being close to his son makes it easier to be business partners," she explained. "Pass me the salt would you?"
I handed the salt to her.
Trust mommy to use me for her own selfish gain, shoulda known from the start.
"Wait a minute...did you just say your relationship with Alex is a show?" She dropped the salt forcefully causing some of its contents to spill.
I gulped and nodded.
"How? And Why?"
Manipulation knocking!
"I don't think I like him in that sense but we you could say we are friends," I responded after which I shoved a chicken lap into my mouth to stop myself from spilling other things--like the morning event.
"You should be more than friends. Can you imagine? you would be the best couple in the business world," She cajoled. "You plus him equals power,"
I told you.
"I will think about it,"
Pressure knocking too!
"There is nothing to think about. I taught you well to make good decisions though so go on, think about for a while. Don't disappoint me."
By the end of the conversation, she was done with her food. She dropped her fork and poured herself a glass of one of our famous wine, she sipped a little before pursing her lips in concentration staring at the chandelier; thinking.
Although, my mom was a politician. She was the one and only Linda Conway; the proprietor of the best-selling and prominent architectural company in North America: Conway Designs Ltd. She was also the owner of top resorts and hotels. Moving to me, I was the famous Vanessa Conway; only daughter and heir to the Conway fortune.
Yay! Happy Me!
Note the sarcasm.
I was very much aware many would kill to be in my shoes, but there were so much responsibilities, so much duties, so much pressure and so much drama to come as I get older.
It was good and comfortable having riches and all, but sometimes I wished for a normal life where there were no flashing cameras or press interference. I wish for my old life when my mom was always there for me; my simple life. Now, there are too much complexities, too much business trips, too much campaigns and a high reef between me and my mom.
I wish for my mom to be her old self and to be with me; making good memories.
Unknowingly, I sighed: I'd lost my appetite.
"I'm retiring for bed, bye." mom announced and exited the dining room.
No goodnight, no kiss on the forehead or anything.
I sighed again, sadly.