Vanessa
Walking through the hallways, I could hear shushed whispers as well as a few giggles. I felt so many eyes on me, but didn't bother looking at anyone and even if I did they'd just look the other way and pretend not to notice me.
I didn't blame them, people had talk about something and I was the latest gossip. I mean I was literally on a gossip magazine since I threw a very selfless stunt at my mom's birthday party.
We all gotta admit I was really courageous back there and let me tell you something: I don't regret it.
So far so good, revenge had been enjoyable, even though I woke up the next day with a pounding head, sore feet, abdominal pain, pain in my joints here and there and with little or no memory of how I got home. I still felt great about what I did.
The only negative emotion I had been feeling was fear. My mom had been awfully quiet about this and that was very scary, normally she blows up and scolds me, but in this case she just stayed quiet. She was never quiet when things went wrong.
I knew she was cooking up a plan to get everything back on track – the way she wants – me included.
I was sincerely scared of what she might do.
"Vané!" A voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I glanced over my shoulder and Candace face came into view. I took a very deep breath and turned around.
With all decency, I greeted her back, "Hey."
"I'm sorry." She suddenly said.
"Sorry for what?" I asked, curious.
"The party, your little show and your break down," She explained.
Did I forget to mention she was invited?
I feel myself getting annoyed.
"I don't need your sympathy neither did I ask for it,"
"I know but I'm curious as if. Is everything you said in that party true? Did your mom not really tell you? If that's the case you were so right, you are the cute little innocent child in a dysfunctional family. Don't worry I feel for you," She asked in a supposedly concerned manner, I almost answered her, but when I heard dysfunctional I knew she was just being fake.
How dare she!
I exhaled, "Candace the only dysfunctional thing I see here is you, so please leave me alone. I'm trying to prepare for class and I don't have time for you right now."
I noticed something similar to anger flash in her eyes, her soft rounded face formed a scowl, but in a second she smiled and sashayed off.
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Grrrrr!
That was the closing bell signally us to get out of school and I didn't waste time in doing so. My BFF's were absent today because they had an important trip to South Korea where they were launching their new fashion line called: "the Asian look".
I hurried out of the school gate with the thought of going home quietly, only to be met by the paparazzi; I was bewildered.
A camera flashed blinding me for a second, then another and another, soon tons of cameras were blinding my vision. There were so many microphones in my direction with reporters throwing questions at me like "What would you say about the excuse your mom gave about your behaviour on her birthday?", "Is it true that your mother did that without your consent?", "Were you also unaware your mother would run for mayor next year?", "Explain your relationship with your father in two words."
I stood there wordless.
This is a form of harassment for Christ sake!
Richard quickly made his way to me and led me to the car by pushing through the crowd. It was not an easy task with people groping me or asking intruding questions bluntly, but we made it. They were still coming onto us like hungry lions, but he quickly ushered me inside the car, took his own place at the driver's seat and plied down the road before they could get any closer.
This just got very serious.
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Later that evening, I was summoned by Nana, I was honestly scared of what she was going to tell me.
Am I being sent to military school? Or a place for delinquents.
But the words which flowed out of Nana's mouth gave me a lighter punishment.
"Tanya and Henry where asked to retrieve all your gadgets and you are to stay at home till this story dies down. All notes and assignments would be sent by email to you. That's all your mother told me to tell you for now." Were the exact thing she said.
I laid in bed hours later staring at my light bulb, phoneless and bored to death.
All I hoped for was for the story to die down soon unless I would literally die of boredom.
Linda
It had been thirteen days since the incident and it still continued to spread by wildfire, especially due to the fact that I refused to talk about it at every interview. The public was dying to know what transpired between our families.
I couldn't believe my daughter could something like that to me. She was always so obedient and easy to control, she had never disobeyed me, she always complied.
My reputation was being tarnished because of her stupid outburst. I knew I was wrong for inviting her father without her knowledge, but I would never admit that to anyone.
I'm right. I'm always right.
It had been thirteen days of plotting and thinking of how to punish Vanessa and I came up with the perfect idea, but the only way to get this idea into action is to make her feel guilty.
Knowing how to play with words and coax Vanessa into doing what I want was talent of mine. I was aware Vanessa still believes in that mother-daughter bond we shared a long time ago, she loved me very much and that was what I always used to my advantage.
What Mommy wants; mommy gets.
"Tanya." I called my for P.A and personal bodyguard.
She rushed in.
"I need you to bring Vanessa to my office."
With a bow, she exited.
Few minutes later, Vanessa was seated in front of me with a deep frown and a glare. She was still angry, but under all those resentment I knew she was squirming inside; dying to know what I wanted to say.
"Vanessa," I started, cracking my knuckles. "from what I've learnt you don't seem to want a father as much as you did before. I gave you what you wanted but you threw it at my face. Why do you have to be so ungrateful?" I asked.
"I'm not ungrateful mother. I'm sincerely thankful for everything you've done for me but bringing him to that party was something I couldn't take," She corrected.
"You couldn't take what, my present?" I folded my hands. "Your dad being there was your birthday present, I just decided to give you earlier. Or don't remember when you always asked 'Mommy, where is daddy?' I'm sure you can,"
"Mom, that was a long time ago, and you could've discussed father coming before the party,"
"I know talking about your father is a sensitive topic that's why I didn't inform you but," I raised up my finger. "You just had to throw a tantrum,"
"I was drunk!"
"Drunk?" I let out a humourless laugh. "The wine was grape wine Vanessa. The wine was grape wine,"
She gasped harshly, "How did you-."
"How did I know? Vanessa I'm your mother and I'm Linda Conway; I know everything. And I also know you were never drunk in that party, that wine was fruit wine,"
"But, but, but.....Who told you?"
"No one told me. I found out. I need you to remember this: I'm always a step ahead of you. Always."
She didn't respond.
"Do you know how much your stupid and nonsensical behaviour affected me? You don't like your father so what? I don't like him either. Frankly speaking, I hate him, but one thing I've learnt in my life is never let your emotions stop you from doing what's necessary," At this point my voice got higher. "I invited your father to show him how well I have recovered after he abandoned me. I invited to show him he had no effect in my life whatsoever and that he meant nothing to us. I invited him to show him how strong we are, and how great we are living even after he left us in the slum. I invited him to show everyone one that the Conways' can get through any circumstance no matter how life changing." I concluded making me seem like the victim. I totally agreed to invite him for a whole different reason, but she didn't have to know that.
Her eyes softened and her pretty face fell, my plan was going smoother than expected.
I stood up and crossed over to where she was seated, I squatted to her level and I continued this time lowering my voice, "But do you know what you showed him by screaming and causing a scene. You showed him that you are weak. You showed him that even after all this years, he still had control over your emotions, and he is gonna use that against you,"
She examined her fingers on her lap instead of staring back at me; guilt was evident in her eyes.
"I know it was a shocker and you didn't expect him there and I apologise for not telling you but in the business world things like this happens frequently and if you don't know how to control it, it controls you. Life is a game, you play the game, the game doesn't play you, you gotta be strong alright."
I could see tears streaming down her face, I lifted her chin up to face me.
"I'm sorry mom. Seeing him there just brought out so many emotions, I felt betrayed and hurt. I'm sorry for doing something so reckless. I'm sorry," She croaked.
I pulled her in an embrace "I apologise too, don't feel guilty now. Just learn how to control your emotions honey and everything would be fine," I reassured her in the most soothing voice as I patted her back. "But I will forgive on one condition,"
"What?" She asked as she pulled away.
"You are getting a bodyguard." I informed her.
She tried to argue something, but clamped her lips shut, instead she replied, "Okay I agree."
I internally smirked, "Good, he starts tomorrow."