I found Ray home when I arrived. He was lounging in the living room, a cigar clamped between his fingers, the smoke curling lazily around him.
"Hi sweetheart," he greeted with a forced warmth that didn't reach his eyes. "Come to see Daddy?"
He rose from his chair and reached out, attempting to pull me into a hug. I recoiled, unable to mask the disgust on my face.
"Please stop. Have some respect for your son."
Ray's posture stiffened, and he remained rooted to the spot, his expression a mix of surprise and defensiveness.
"I know about you and Quinn. You should be ashamed of yourself. A father who slept with his son's girlfriend? That's beyond low. I will never be with you because I respect myself too much. I don't need your money; all that I have is enough."
Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and headed straight for Tendai's bedroom upstairs. I knocked softly, and a moment later, he opened the door, smiling when he saw me. He pulled me into a hug, and the familiar smell of weed hit me immediately.
"You didn't text that you had arrived!" he said, his voice warm.
"I wanted to surprise you," I replied, pulling back slightly.
"You've been smoking weed," I noted.
"At least it's not cocaine," he shrugged, giving me a half-smile. "I'm trying to stop so that one day, we can be intimate."
I smiled softly, feeling a mix of emotions. At least he's trying for me, I thought.
"What do Grant, Roe, and Tyler think about it?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"They're not happy," he admitted, leading me to the bed to sit beside him.
"Tendai," I began gently, "your friends don't really care about you. You shouldn't risk your life just to please them."
He sighed, clutching some of his dreads in his hands. "It's our way of bonding, Addie."
I frowned. "You can bond in other ways."
He stared ahead for a moment. "I'm sorry about what you're going through," he said suddenly, quickly shifting the topic.
"Me too," I replied softly, realizing that any further talk about his friends was a touchy subject for him. I could feel the tension in the air, but I didn't want to push him away by pressing the issue.
"Why did she do it though?" Tendai asked, his curiosity evident.
I recounted the story that Soren had told me about what he had learnt about dad. "Are you telling me that Kemi is your sister?" Tendai asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Possibly. It hasn't been confirmed yet," I said.
"That explains a lot about her hatred toward you," Tendai said. "She knew about your possible relationship but still treated you horribly!"
"I wanted to ask you something. Did you ever see my dad at Kemi's house?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"I've never been to Kemi's home, and I never brought her to mine," he revealed. "She never talked about her dad. I assumed he wasn't in the picture because I only ever saw her mom at school."
"How is your mom doing?" he asked gently.
"Since yesterday, she's been locked in her room. We're not sure how to help her."
"She needs to talk to someone; otherwise, she might fall into depression," Tendai said with concern.
"I'll suggest seeing a counselor tomorrow. There are reporters outside our home hounding us. I chased them away earlier, but they've moved across the street."
"Report them to the police," Tendai advised. "The police can help keep them away."
Tendai handed me a joint and lit it for me. We smoked together, the conversation flowing freely as we relaxed and cuddled until evening. Just then, Elaine's voice called from outside the door, "Supper's ready, love birds."
I sat up, suddenly remembering, "Tendai, I need to get back home. I left Soren alone with Mom, and with everything going on, I can't stay too long."
We sat up, I picked up my bag from the floor, and we headed downstairs for supper. The meal was lobster bisque with truffle oil and a side of grilled asparagus. The rich aroma filled the air, making my stomach rumble in anticipation.
Ray was seated quietly, eating his food with Elaine. We served ourselves, helping ourselves to the luxurious lobster bisque and perfectly grilled asparagus.
"Addie, sleep here like last time," Elaine suggested warmly.
"I'd love to, but I need to be with mom and Soren during this difficult time," I replied.
"What's happened, Addie? What's going on?" Elaine asked, her concern evident.
"My mom is the victim of the acid attack Sabrina Barre was arrested for," I said quietly.
"I'm so sorry. Why did Sabrina attack your mom with acid?" Elaine asked.
"I'll explain later," Tendai said, sensing the weight of the conversation.
"Stay strong, Addie. If you need anything, Ray and I are here for you," Elaine said warmly, her voice full of genuine concern.
Tendai and I began eating, the quiet clinking of forks and knives filling the air.
Ray's unusual silence lingered, a stark contrast to his typical jabs at Tendai. Even Tendai noticed.
"Dad, why are you so quiet today?" Tendai asked between bites. "It's not like you—you're always boasting about something."
I couldn't reveal to Tendai that I was the reason behind his father's silence. My words had clearly hurt him. "I'm a bit sick," Ray said, his voice lacking its usual edge.
Tendai didn't press further; he seemed satisfied with the explanation. However, I could see the hurt in Ray's eyes as he looked at me. I focused on my food, eating quietly until I finished. Afterward, I stood up to leave.
Elaine stood as well, offering, "I'll give you a lift, Addie. Tendai, you'll clear up the dishes and wash them."
"I will," Tendai replied. He stood up, gave me a warm hug, and said, "Goodnight, Addie. Don't worry so much; things will work out."
Ray's farewell was subdued, almost sulky. He said, "It's sad when bad things happen. Cheer up, Addie. You'll come out of this triumphant. Be generous to the world, and things will find a way of working out."
"Dad, why does Addie need to be generous?" Tendai asked, puzzled.
Ray responded, "She needs to be generous because it can open doors for her."
I understood Ray's words, he wanted me to be more generous by sleeping with him. Something I would never do.
"I am generous enough," I replied firmly. "I don't want to be overly generous."
"Enough talk about being generous," Elaine interjected smoothly. "Addie's generous enough to have visited us today. Her generosity knows no bounds."
She smiled, cutting through the tension with ease. We walked out of the dining room together. The last thing I saw was Tendai eating, while Ray's gaze followed me, unhappiness still lingering in his eyes.
Outside the house, I noticed how bright the stars were—it was a clear, starry night. Elaine led me to her car, the sleek Audi I had seen parked alongside the Maybach and the Ford Bronco the first time I visited Tendai's home. She unlocked it with a click, and I smiled to myself, knowing I had guessed right—it was hers. "The Maybach's mine too," she added with a casual smile
"I thought it was Ray's," I said, still glancing around. "Where's his car?"
"Aston Martin. It's in the garage," she replied casually.
"And who drives Tendai's Ford Bronco?" I asked, curious.
"Ray drives it sometimes when he's not in the mood to take out the Aston Martin," she said with a shrug, as if it were just another everyday choice between luxury cars.
I slipped into the passenger seat of her car. Elaine started the engine and smoothly drove us away. After a moment of silence, she spoke. "Addie, thank you for confronting Ray. The chef overheard your comments and told me."
I was stunned that she knew about it and had remained so composed. "I'm sorry, Elaine. I could never do that to you or Tendai."
"It's okay, Addie," she said softly. "Thank you for being special. You're not like Quinn. She slept with Ray, and what she did devastated Tendai."
I swallowed hard, unable to tell her what had driven Quinn into Ray's arms, knowing that no matter the reasons, it was still wrong.
"Will this cause problems between you and Ray?" I asked cautiously.
"No. I know Ray's weaknesses, and I detest his ways. But I love him, so I'll let it slide... because you're not interested in him.
"He's sulking now because he always gets what he wants, but this he didn't," she said, her tone sympathetic but resigned. "Hopefully, he'll get over it soon."
"What about Tendai?" I asked, concern creeping into my voice. "It hurts him that his dad tries to get with his girlfriends."
Elaine sighed, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. "Tendai's leaving for university soon. He won't be bringing girlfriends around for much longer. Ray doesn't actively seek them out—it's only when they're here that he tries it."
I felt a wave of sadness for Elaine, knowing she had to tolerate Ray's infidelity because of her love for him. It wasn't fair.
We reached my home sooner than I expected. "Goodnight," Elaine said as I got out of the car, and she drove off.
The reporters had finally left.
I knocked on the door, and Soren opened it, his expression grim.
"Is Mom still in her bedroom?" I asked, my voice tinged with worry.
"Yes, she hasn't come out. She's really upset," Soren replied, his voice laced with worry.
"What if she becomes suicidal?" I asked, my heart sinking with fear.
"There's a chance if she stays locked in there," Soren said, his face grave.
"I'll call Dad; let him advise us on how to help her," I said, dialing his number with trembling fingers, hoping for a solution.
"Hi, Ade, I'm so sorry," Dad's voice came through, strained and full of concern.
"Dad, Mom hasn't left her room since last night. We're really worried. She needs to talk to someone," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising panic.
"I'll call Pastor Stuart to talk to her. She won't refuse to see him," Dad assured me.
Pastor Stuart arrived forty minutes later, his presence a beacon of hope in our troubled night.
"Hi, children. Your father told me your mother is going through a tough time and needs someone to talk to urgently," he said, his voice calm but serious.
"You don't know what's going on?" Soren asked, surprised. "It's all over the media."
"No," Pastor Stuart replied. "I usually turn off all distractions when I fast. I only just checked my phone an hour ago."
"Can you tell me what the issue is?" Pastor Stuart asked gently.
"Let Mom tell you herself. It's her story to share," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Soren knocked on Mom's bedroom door. "Mom, Pastor Stuart is here to see you."
After a tense moment, she opened the door—her eyes swollen and red from crying. Mom could never refuse the Pastor, not in her darkest moments.
Mom burst into tears as soon as she saw him. The Pastor stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. We waited anxiously, the minutes stretching into hours.
Mom emerged with Pastor Stuart at midnight. Soren and I had fallen asleep on the living room couch, exhaustion etched into our faces.
"Children, I have something to tell you!" Pastor Stuart announced, his voice breaking the silence. Mom's face was tear-streaked but held a newfound calm.
"Your mother and I have been praying for the past few hours," he said. "It's a blessing that your father called me before I broke my fast—God revealed something hidden for years."
"Your father was bewitched by a powerful witchdoctor from his country," he continued, his tone solemn. "The man stole a piece of cloth belonging to your father when he was younger and placed it in a calabash. His aim was for your father never to find happiness."
Soren looked skeptical, his brow furrowing. "Did Dad put you up to this?"
I wanted to believe Pastor Stuart, but his explanation seemed almost too convenient—like a carefully crafted story to ease Dad's guilt. Maybe Dad had orchestrated this to reconcile with Mom.
Pastor Stuart had always been honest—known for his integrity and simplicity. He lived modestly and dedicated the offertory and tithe from the Church to support immigrants from Africa who were homeless. There was no need for me to doubt him.
"In the morning, you will see something that will confirm the truth of what I've said," Pastor Stuart assured us. Mom escorted him to his car with a weary smile.
I served Mom food, watching as she ate quickly, her hunger evident—she had spent more than 24 hours without food or water. Soren and I watched her with concern, our own worries momentarily pushed aside.
"More," she demanded, holding her plate out to us with a trembling hand. Soren quickly brought more food.
"Mom, how are you feeling?" Soren asked gently.
"I feel better," she said, as she gulped down some water. "Now that I know the truth that your father was under a spell—things make a little more sense now."
"Are you trying to excuse his actions because you still care for him?" Soren asked, his voice edged with frustration.
"No," Mom said firmly. "I believe God has put me through this to strengthen me."
"He did it so that the truth would finally come out. The devil has been revealed. God will always triumph over evil. Go to bed, both of you. The truth will soon come out," Mom said, her voice a mix of relief and fervent belief.
"Mom, stop defending him," Soren said, his frustration palpable.
"It's late, children. Please go to sleep," she urged, ignoring him.
Mom had regained her composure. She picked up her plate and carried it to the kitchen, leaving Soren and me in the dining room, dumbfounded and uncertain.
Soren and I exchanged a glance, but before we could say anything, Mom returned. "What are you still doing here?" she asked, her voice a blend of exasperation and concern. "I told you both to go to your bedrooms."
We walked silently to our bedrooms, each of us lost in thoughts about Mom, Dad, Kemi, Sabrina, and now the witchdoctor.
"Goodnight, sis," Soren said softly as he entered his room.
"Goodnight," I replied, stepping into my own room and closing the door behind me. I pushed away my swirling thoughts and turned off the light. As soon as my head hit the pillow, exhaustion overtook me, and I fell into a deep, immediate sleep.
Mom burst into my room the next morning, her eyes still red and dark circles under them from all the crying. I was still exhausted after sleeping past midnight.
"Ade, wake up," she said urgently. "Something terrible has happened. Your dad's neighbor in Sierra Leone—he's dead."
I sat up, still groggy from the night. "Mom, is that the witchdoctor?" I asked, my voice thick with sleep.
"Yes, the very one," she said, a hint of relief in her voice. "He died in a fire in his house. Your dad's aunt told me that Grandma heard screams coming from his house a few hours ago, just before the house was engulfed by flames that came out of nowhere."
"Here is the video of how the house looks now that she shared," she added, handing me her phone.
I played the video. The house had been burnt to the ground. Nothing remained of it.
"Do you now see that what Pastor Stuart said is true? Your dad was under bondage," Mom said, her voice trembling with a mix of vindication and awe. "When we prayed, God sent a fire that burned him in his house and destroyed all the witchcraft."
"I honestly don't know whether to be happy or sad. Someone dying is not something to be happy about," I said quietly.
Mom left to break the news to Pastor Stuart, her steps heavy but resolute.
I went back to sleep, still exhausted, and woke up past 11 a.m. I found Soren eating breakfast of toast and eggs.
"Addie, has Mom told you what's happened?" he asked between bites.
"Yes, she told me this morning," I said. "Pastor Stuart said we would see a miracle, and it happened."
"The death of someone can't be a miracle," Soren replied, his voice somber. "This probably screamed for help, but no one came to save him because he was labeled a witch doctor.
"I won't judge him, Soren. I didn't know him, but maybe there was some truth to what was said about him."
"I doubt it. People like to accuse others of being sorcerers and witch doctors without evidence," Soren said.
Mom walked in. "I just talked to your dad. He will be here soon," she said, her voice carrying a note of happiness.
"Mom, Dad is responsible for your acid attack. Why are you making excuses for him?" Soren asked, his frustration evident.
"He was under a spell from the witchdoctor," Mom said firmly.
"What if it's what he told Pastor Stuart to say and then executed it by having some men in Sierra Leone burn down this man's house?" Soren continued, his voice laced with suspicion.
"Soren, your dad is not a killer," Mom said, trying to reassure him.
"Just a few hours ago, you didn't know he was a polygamist. Do you really know him like you think you do?" Soren asked, his voice tinged with doubt.
"Mom, stop defending him," Soren said, his frustration palpable.
"Soren, I truly believe that Dad was bewitched," I said firmly. "The Pastor told us to wait for our miracle, and we got it."
"Will this take away the fact that Dad dated two women at once, and one ended up pouring acid on the other?" Soren asked, his anger palpable.
"No, Soren, it doesn't," I said, feeling the weight of the situation. "But at least now we know Dad didn't intend for things to turn out this way. The devil did everything to ensure he ended up in this mess."
"Addie, you can try to defend him like Mom, but I am not forgiving him," Soren said resolutely.
He continued eating his breakfast in silence, while Mom retreated to her room—likely to cry over Soren's harsh words.
"You don't have to be so hard on her, Soren," I said, trying to bridge the gap between them.
"She needs to stop being so gullible," Soren replied, his frustration evident. "She's making excuses for him. The fire happened, but it doesn't excuse the damage Dad's actions have caused."
I sat down to eat my breakfast, continuing the conversation with Soren. Afterward, I cooked lunch and cleaned the house.
Dad knocked at the door at 2 p.m. Soren, who had been eating his lunch, quickly retreated to his bedroom to avoid confronting him.
I opened the door, and Dad stepped in with a relieved smile.
I opened the door to find Dad standing there, his face a mixture of relief and apprehension.
"Can I talk to you and your brother?" he asked, his voice carrying a weight of unease.
"Soren's upset with you," I said softly. "But we need to talk."
We moved to the living room, the air thick with tension. As we settled into our seats, Mom joined us, her presence a quiet sign that she had been waiting for this moment. Her eyes were no longer red and swollen, a sign that she was better.
"Addie, thank you for forgiving me," Dad said earnestly. "I know Soren will come around someday."
"Afua, I didn't want to be with Sabrina," Dad continued, his voice heavy with regret. "I met her around the same time I met you. I chose not to marry her because she didn't have the values I wanted in a wife."
"She blackmailed me, threatening to reveal our relationship to you, but I didn't take her seriously," he admitted. "I wish I had. When her threats failed, she poured acid on you and threatened that if I reported her, her brothers would finish you off in the hospital."
"I couldn't let that happen, so I agreed to her terms. I stayed with her, but you became my main family," he confessed. "As time went on, she had a daughter, and so did you. I had to juggle between the two families."
"I used to travel a lot before I became a manager, but after that, my trips reduced," Dad said, a hint of sorrow in his voice. "Sabrina became increasingly selfish, demanding more and more of my time. She wanted me to spend less and less time with you."
"Her daughter took out her anger on Addie because she was unhappy being the 'other family.' I warned her to stay away from you, but she's as stubborn as her mother," he revealed. "She doesn't accept the word 'no.'"
"When Addie started dating her boyfriend, it drove her mad," Dad said with a note of bitterness.
"You mean Tendai is Kemi's boyfriend?" Mom asked, her confusion evident. I had never shared with her that Tendai was Kemi's ex.
"Ex-boyfriend, Mom!" I clarified. "I started dating him after they broke up!"
This explains a lot," Mom said, her voice tinged with annoyance and frustration.
"Mom, as Dad has clarified, Kemi hated me before I started dating Tendai. Being with him only made her resentment worse," I explained, trying to soothe the tension.
"Dad, where do we go from here?" I asked, my voice wavering. "Sabrina is awaiting trial, and you might also be imprisoned for being an accomplice."
"I can't undo the past," Dad said solemnly, "but I can atone for my mistakes. I'll serve my time if it means making up for all the pain I've caused."
"Desmond, you were under a spell," Mom said, her voice filled with compassion. "It wasn't your fault."
Watching Mom defend Dad so fiercely made me believe in true love—that someone can endure so much pain and still find it in their heart to forgive.
"I want a love like that," I thought, feeling a mix of admiration and longing.
Knowing they needed time together, I quietly slipped out, leaving them to work through their emotions.
Mom and dad retreated to their bedroom to sort out their issues. I spent my afternoon watching TikTok videos and texting Eloise, Tendai and other schoolmates who were inquiring about the Sabrina Barre saga.
Supper was a rare moment of joy amid the recent turmoil. Dad, Mom, and I sat around the table, enjoying delicious burgers that I had prepared.
Soren, however, chose not to join us. Mom, noticing Dad's concern, gently advised him, "Give him time to forgive you."
Dad stayed over that night. As the day's exhaustion finally caught up with me, I went to bed early, hoping for a peaceful night's sleep amidst the chaos and turmoil in our lives.
Dad told me he was going to pick up his things from Sabrina's house and that he was never going back there in the morning as I was taking breakfast.
"Kemi has rich uncles who are looking after her," Dad mentioned. I didn't bother to ask why he didn't care for Kemi, seeing as she was also his child. She didn't care for me or Soren, so why should I worry about her?
I had been dreading Monday because of all that had happened over the weekend. People would ask questions and stare since the story about my mom had gone international. Dad dropped us off at school. He didn't want Mom to face the reporters who had come back that morning and were waiting outside our house.
"I will be calling the police shortly to chase them away," he promised.
As soon as we stepped out of the car in the parking lot, a wave of students surrounded us, their questions hitting us like a storm we couldn't escape. The weight of their words was heavy, each question cutting through the air like a knife.
"Addie, Soren, why did Kemi's mom pour acid on your mom?" they asked, their eyes wide with morbid curiosity.
My heart pounded, and I forced myself to stay calm. "Wait for the trial," I replied, though every fiber of my being wanted to scream.
"Addie, can we talk?" a familiar voice called out, but I was already on edge, mistaking it for yet another intrusive student.
"I said wait for the trial!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the walls. It wasn't until I saw the hurt in Jensen's eyes that I realized my mistake.
"Sorry, Jensen, I thought you were someone else," I apologized, my voice softer now, tinged with regret.
"It's okay," he replied, his tone gentle, forgiving. "Bad timing on my part. I could see that you were being bombarded with questions you didn't want to answer."
"Let's talk elsewhere," I suggested.
Jensen led me to a quieter part of the school where there were no students loitering.
"Addie, please forgive me for how I behaved," Jensen began, his voice trembling. "I acted like a jealous boyfriend when I found out about you and Tendai. I was so quick to believe the lie that you were the whistleblower. But the truth is, I told you, Andrew, and Mae about my dad's secret, so it could have been any one of you."
"Jensen, it's okay," I said, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about dating Tendai sooner. You shouldn't have found out the way you did."
"When Kemi and her friends humiliated you in class, I couldn't stand by anymore. I had to defend you," Jensen said. "I didn't respond to your texts because I was ashamed that I didn't believe you when you said you didn't do it."
"I used the information you gave me to find the true culprit," Jensen continued, his voice growing stronger, more determined. "I learned from Janine that Andrew told Liz about my dad being a Freemason. But Janine didn't give me that information for free—she wanted something in return. She's been struggling with her history project and needed help putting together a presentation. I'm good at public speaking, so I agreed to present it for her."
"I'm sorry, Jensen," I said, feeling the weight of everything we'd been through together.
"It's okay," Jensen replied, his eyes softening. "My dad's campaign has recovered from the setback; he's still on track to win."
"I want to be there for you, as I should have always been," he said, his voice filled with resolve.
I hugged Jensen. I had missed him. He held me tight. "I have missed you too," he said, sincerity in his voice.
"How did you know Raven likes Mr. Thomas and that Liz is broke?" I asked, after we broke apart.
"My mom loves expensive things; she taught me how to differentiate between expensive and fake brands," he replied with a small smile. "I always knew Liz was broke; I just didn't want to shame her. As for Raven, Eloise shared her love poem with some classmates, and it ended up reaching me. 'With dimples deep and eyes of green.' How many people do you know have dimples?"
"Few," I answered, a faint smile tugging at my lips.
"It was a secret love, so it was likely forbidden; it couldn't be a student," Jensen concluded.
"The HM has dimples," I remarked, my mind trying to fit the pieces together.
"He does, but he has blue eyes, not green," Jensen corrected.
"It could have been the Head Boy she had a crush on because he has dimples," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
We both giggled at the thought of Raven with the Head boy. They would make an odd couple.
"Thanks for standing up for me. I appreciate it," I said, my voice full of gratitude.
"Anytime, Addie," Jensen replied, his smile warm, reassuring.
As we walked into class, the tension eased, replaced by a sense of understanding, of forgiveness. "So, Janine wanted something in exchange for telling you the truth," I mused, shaking my head at the thought.
"She's opportunistic!" I said, unable to keep the incredulity out of my voice.
"That's her, always asking for favors," Jensen agreed, chuckling as he went to sit with King.
I made my way to sit with Eloise. Jensen sat with King as he had been doing ever since the day we fell out. We could be friends and still have other friends too.
During Mr. Ngonzi's lesson, Tendai and I created a prototype of briquettes from cow dung we got from the school farm. We followed a tutorial we found online.
Mom told us on Tuesday morning that Sabrina's trial would begin on Monday, the 22nd of May. There was a light in her eyes, she was happy and excited. She was finally going to get the justice she had been denied all those years ago.
Dad, on the other hand, seemed indifferent, as if Sabrina had become nothing more than a distant memory. Now that he was free from her clutches, he wanted nothing to do with her, his focus solely on the future, on rebuilding what had been broken.
On Thursday, Eloise invited me for a sleepover at her house on Friday morning. I agreed—I needed to relax my mind after the weekend I had just been through.
"Addie, let's go out on Friday night?" Tendai asked me at lunch time, his voice hopeful.
"Sorry, I'm having a sleepover with Eloise," I replied.
"It's okay. You girls have a good time," he said, his smile understanding.
I asked Mom and Dad when I got home if I could sleep over at Eloise's, they readily agreed. They were going to have a family meeting on Saturday and Sunday with their relatives, both in the UK and online with those in Africa, regarding what had happened in their marriage.
Soren requested a sleepover at his friend Levi's home. He didn't want to stay at home and listen to their marital woes.
On Friday morning, I packed everything I needed for the weekend, including a swimming costume. That evening, Eloise's driver, David Burns, picked us up in a sleek Rolls Royce that felt more like a dream than reality.
"Hi, David. take us to Harrods?" Eloise requested, her tone casual.
David nodded and started the engine. "What time do your parents expect you home?" I asked, my curiosity mingling with a hint of worry.
"When they are around, by 7 p.m. But even if they were, they don't care much about what I do," Eloise replied. "They're always so busy."
"Are they okay with me sleeping over?" I asked, suddenly feeling a bit out of place.
"Yes, they like me to have company because they're always away," Eloise replied. "Nadia sleeps over sometimes."
David drove us through the affluent neighborhood of Knightsbridge, the streets lined with opulent homes and high-end stores that seemed to belong to another world. I had heard of Harrods, the legendary department store where the Uber-rich shopped and relaxed, but I had never imagined I would actually go there.
A few minutes later, David parked outside, and we stepped out into a world of luxury, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfumes and the quiet hum of wealth.
"Let's start with the spa," Eloise suggested.
The massage was like nothing I had ever experienced, the masseuse's hands working magic on my tense muscles, leaving my entire body feeling relaxed, almost weightless.
"Let's go eat something," Eloise said next, leading me to a fancy restaurant where we indulged in sushi and sashimi dishes that melted in our mouths. By the time we left, it was already past 7 p.m.
"I love these perfumes," Eloise said, spraying some on her wrists as David drove us home.