Vanessa is an extremely attractive woman, standing five foot six inches tall with a full blonde hair, pale skin, with a freckle filled
round face. She had her way with words and carried herself so elegantly. She had so many suitors in high school and I wasn't
surprised James is also hooked on her. I walked into Goldie's at eleven o'clock the next morning. Goldie's has been around since Vanessa and I were in high school. This was the place we first met, dad had asked her father to accompany me to
Grandma's, on our way there he stopped by to say hi to her while she was working a shift, back then her parents were divorced and she lived with her mother. We became friends almost immediately. Her mum died in a car accident a few weeks after we met and she moved into our mansion with her dad. We went to the same school, wore the same clothes, we shared so many first together. She knows everything about me and I thought I did about her too. I saw the blondie tapping at her phone, looking very impatient. We were supposed to meet here by ten am but I decided to take my time
in getting ready. She hates it when anyone keeps her waiting, so I was planning to cause a rift between her and James by blaming my lateness on him. She looked up from her phone as I slid into our favorite table beside the window. "What happened? I have been waiting for a while now" she said, raising her eyebrow.
"I am so sorry, James kept me," I said suggestively with a smile.
"Oh, he did?" she asked, a little surprised. I am very sure she knew about our lack of activity in the bedroom since he shares practically everything about us with her. "Why do you sound so surprised?"
"I am just surprised he kept you just for that"
"I am his wife," I said, reminding her and myself of that painful fact. If only I could pick the time I came back into the world, I would have picked a time before I met James so I never have to meet him.
"Since you showed up late, I already gave our order to the waiter, we should be expecting him any moment from now" she knew what I loved eating the most at Goldie's. Fries, spicy chicken with a vanilla
flavoured milk shake.
"While we are waiting, tell me everything that happened at the reading," she said, doing a little drum roll on the table. She always does that when she is excited. So I told her everything, there was no need to lie since James probably informed her about it.
"So your Nana willed so much money to charity?. I still don't understand rich people and their sentiments to charity"
"She could have just given that money to an ambitious young adult like me, to build up something that would influence the world"
Laughing at how her brain and that of James seems to work alike, I was about to respond when the waiter brought our meal. "So what are you doing with your half of the money?"
"Dad and I already decided that most of it is going to charity. I already set aside some money to buy a house."
"Charity? Pen your Nana has given enough charity that even your children shouldn't be thinking about charity ever again." she said like she would never be able to wrap her head around the word charity.
"Besides, I thought you wanted to start your own company with James since the incident with your parents" when she talked about my parents I noticed how she started picking at her food and avoided eye contact.
"That isn't my company, it is James."
"But you are helping right?"
"I wanted to but I don't think I should anymore" I said trying really hard not to choke on my fries with the look she gave me.
"Why? The company would be your legacies" she replied, faking a smile.
"You know Dad would never take James seriously if he starts a company with our family's money. He has to do it by himself ``
''Then don't tell him" she replied sharply. "How are we supposed to explain James suddenly starting a company right after I get half of Nana's money?"
"You tell him it was always in the plan?" "What plan? James keeps talking about how he has money saved up but won't even start with the little he has"
"Maybe he just needs more"
"Did James put you up to this?"
"You think Dad is stupid enough to believe that it is James money. Even if he did believe, which he wouldn't, what about Mum? Mum is the hardest person to convince. Even I would not be able to convince her"
"Oh shit, your mum is something else. I still feel like she doesn't like me even after all these years." she said, shaking her head slightly as she mentioned Mum.
She doesn't, Mum never liked her, she was just nice to her for me.
"And James did not put me up to this, we don't even talk like that. I just want my best friend to be happy" she reached across the table and held my hand in what would have been a loving gesture if I did not know how much of a bitch she is. Lying bitch. Deciding to finally give them what they want so she can trust me and think she as so much power over me, sighting dramatically I said,
"I thought of a way you know"
"I haven't discussed it with James. You are the first person I am telling." Vanessa loves feeling important so I will make her feel like that.
"Tell me" she sat up quickly moving to the edge of the chair
"I could invest the little money I have saved up but that won't be enough. With my family's name I can also pull in investors for his company"
"James just isn't open to having shareholders. That is all we've got now, we can always buy out their shares when the company is doing better or when I have enough money, but he won't listen to me." "Did you try explaining to him like this?" she asked looking concerned
"Of course I did. When he has an idea in his head it is so hard to convince him otherwise"
"I know right," she said quietly, rolling her eyes. Of course she knows.
"Sorry? I didn't get that?"
"Oh, I was just saying how all men are like that. Try talking to him again, I am sure he will listen this time." with how much
conviction she put in to those words I knew she would be talking to him even before I had the chance too. Good! They were playing my game, it would be so much better to have them both invested in that
company when it crashes.
"Uhmm….Van? Can I ask for a favour?" I asked looking unsure
"Sure"
"You would do it?"
"If it is doable"
"If James agrees to all of this, would you please work in his company?" she looked surprised at my question
"Why?" she asked
"I just feel like if I am there all the time we are going to argue so much it might affect our relationship but I still want someone I trust enough to stay by his side" when she didn't respond
"I would ask him to make you a director, you get all the benefits of a director. You can have some share in the company too. Whatever you want"
"You don't have to add all that, I will do anything for you. Besides I still haven't gotten a job that suits me." the only reason she hasn't gotten a job is because she wanted a job that came with so much
benefits and that is exactly why I offered so much.
"Thanks Van"
"Of course babe"
The waiter came with our check and Vanessa insisted on paying. She left tips on the table for the waiters, It always made her feel good when she did. As I drove back home I knew I needed help if I really wanted them to pay for everything they have done to me, I need to be a thousand steps ahead of those two, they got me the first time not anymore. I need a bigger picture and I know I am not as conniving as that. At that moment the right person pop up in my head and I sent a text
immediately.
"I need your help" few minutes later I heard my phone beep
"With?"
"Can't say right now but it is urgent"
"How urgent?" I rolled my eyes after reading that. Seriously?, I have
never met a more dramatic person.
"The life or death kind of urgent"
"Met me at the basement tomorrow" Finally!
"See you soon".