In the Smith household, everyone was having dinner in the dining room. Everyone except Madison. The atmosphere was rather gloomy, and tensions were so thick it can be cut with a knife.
"So, how is the progress for the Quinton Consortium projects?" asked Madam Louise.
"I'm halfway done with my designs, Grandma." replied Charles.
"Halfway done? Haha yeah right. I peeked at your work. It doesn't look a quarter done." mocked Mason.
"Speak for yourself idiot. You are not even halfway done yourself." Charles retorted.
"Enough you two." ordered Madam Louise. "How about you Chloe and Juri?"
"Grandma, I'm nearly done with my designs. I should be able to finish them by tomorrow." replied Chloe.
"Same here for me Grandma. I may take a bit longer to put the finishing touches." replied Juri.
"That's nice to hear. Now listen carefully. I want all your final drafts ready by Monday. They should be on my office table first thing in the morning. I will go through all of them before giving my approval." instructed Madam Louise.
"Will do Grandma." replied the four grandchildren.
Just then, the main door opened. In walked Madison, visibly exhausted after a whole day at the business district.
"Well look who decided to show up." mocked Chloe. "My loser sister spending family money as usual. I hope you had a great day at wherever you went."
"And what is that supposed to mean? What do you mean wherever?" Madison asked, pretending to be shocked.
"Don't lie to us Maddy!" her father Raymond said. "Our driver informed us that you were not at the neighbourhood shopping mall for the whole day!"
"You sent someone to spy on me? Are you serious right now?" Madison maintained her shocked expression.
"I ordered your father to do that." Madam Louise interjected. "You walked out of the house without having breakfast and you come back now, way past our dinner time. Who knows what you have been up to?"
'Of course I know you sent someone to spy on me, you old hag.' thought Madison. 'My parents are just pushovers who don't have the guts to protect me.'
"Wow Grandma. Are you really that insecure?" mocked Madison.
Madam Louise banged the table upon hearing Madison's response. The sound created was so loud the whole family reacted in shock and fear.
"Last warning, young lady! Don't you disrespect your elders!"
For a split second, Madison reacted in fear upon hearing the bang on the table; but she maintained her nonchalant composure and replied accordingly.
"Okay fine, Grandma. If you must really know, I was supposed to meet my friends at our neighbourhood shopping mall. Who knew though, when I reached the mall, I had a call from one of my friends saying they had to change our meeting place at the last minute."
"So where did you go then?" asked Madison's mother Pam.
"The Townsville business district." replied Madison.
Everyone's eyes opened wide with surprise.
"Wow sis. You actually went to the business district." said Juri. "So how was your first experience in that prestigeous area? You do know it's out of your league."
"Maybe on weekdays, little Juri. On weekends like today, I realized that it's a higher grade shopping district. Oh my, we spent the whole day window shopping along the shops of the whole district. My legs are killing me." replied Madison.
"Everything you said sounds too good to be true." said Dave Smith, Charles and Mason's father. "You do know that BDT mall is in that district. Who knows if you went there to do some research on the mall? Are you trying to defy your Grandma's orders and submit your proposals to the Quinton Consortium?"
Dave's wife Lois chimed in, "You're right, honey. Madison, you'll need to provide more proof that you were with your friends and not doing anything suspicous behind our backs."
All the Smiths started to eye Madison with interragative intent; but Madison held her nerves.
"You want proof, Aunty Lois? No problem. Let me get my phone out."
Madison then took our her phone, dialed a number and put the phone on loud speaker so the whole family could hear the other end.
A couple of rings later, Madison's call was connected.
"Hello."
"Hi Steph." Madison called into the speaker. "Hey, thanks for changing the meeting point to the business district. It was my first time there. What an eye-opening experience for me."
"Not a problem Madison." replied Steph on the phone. "I'm surprised that you've never been to the business district before. Where have you been living, girl? Under a rock?"
"Hey, don't tease me like that. Haha. Anyway, it's too bad we had no time to go the BDT mall today." said Madison.
"Yeah true. We went shopping throughout the standalone shops along all the streets we forgot about the mall. Maybe next time, perhaps?" replied Steph.
"I hope so Steph. Hey, I got to go now. Let's arrange another trip there again soon."
"Sure thing, Madison. Good night."
Click.
Madison was no fool. The text she sent before entering the Smith house was to Steph. She asked Steph to follow her lead if she ever calls her. To Steph's credit, she was quick-witted and was able to follow Madison's lead.
After disconnecting the call, Madison kept her phone in her bag. She looked up and eyed her whole family. Their reaction may have been less hostile; but they still kept their egotistical looks.
"Well, you heard my friend Steph, we never stepped foot in BDT mall. And just in case you need further proof, even if by some sneaky tactic you try to steal my electronic devices, you will not find a single design file in it."
"If that's all, I'm heading back to my room. Goodnight." said Madison before heading out of the dining room and back to her room.
Once in her room, Madison quickly sent a message to Steph.
'Hey Steph, thanks for doing me this big favour tonight. I owe you big time. Let's go for that shopping trip for real next time.'
Moments later...
Ding! Madison checked her phone and received this message.
'It's a deal, Madison. Have a good night.'