Asia turned up for work late. David, in his rendezvous, had dragged her to that club and they hadn't left till 1 AM. Asia didn't have a car yet as David had insisted that the car needed a lot more fixed than just the cut out. Asia had believed him because she was ever gullible with David.
The only way Asia would get to work was with David and he loved it. At the very least, although not true, people would see he lived with a woman. They wouldn't know she could murder him in his sleep. That was not important.
Asia had waited for David, had breakfast and gone to work together. Now she lived with him, rode with him and expected to have peace with her sister. How ironic.
Mrs Rivers was on Asia's case trying to push her to marry David. Asia and David would never look at each other in a sexual way but only those two knew that. Mrs Rivers saw love in David's eye each time he looked at Asia. Mrs Mara saw the same.
The moment Asia entered the office, the colleagues laughed. She stood there in a red dress and black stiletto, laptop bag in hand.
Fiona there, seated at a corner, turned off her headphones so everyone could all hear what evil she was listening to. 'The controversial Mara heir moves in with the new alleged lover, days after ending his engagement to her sister. Our sources have it that Asia Rivers, younger sister to Violet Rivers, has moved in with the wealthy Mr David Mara and is capitalizing on the new found favour.'
What favour? What madness was that? Asia laughed out loudly and took a seat. There would be a briefing in half an hour.
"Girl, you are the centre of attention," Kevin whispered as they sat at the back, waiting to be addressed.
"I hate everyone," Asia whispered, held her notebook.
"Even the MD?" Kevin asked.
"Especially the MD," Asia looked ahead while she giggled.
Asia and Kevin had been in the same class at the university but he had landed in the sales department. He was one of the few friends she had at the workplace. A few of her childhood friends who worked there were on Violet's side.
The head of HR was talking. There was to be no gossip at the work station. People were wasting time talking and it was affecting production.
Oh nice. It was Asia they were talking about. While she looked serious, Kevin nudged her. He wrote a note. I shouldn't be seen chatting the boss' chick. Really? Asia hit him with her elbow. I hate you! Asia wrote back, watched him laugh.
The office had better air. Asia smiled and worked with her colleagues. Whatever they thought of her was literally none of her business.
They wouldn't bully Asia. She had support from the bosses. It didn't matter how shaky the bottom was. They focused on work. They checked the last marketing strategy we had generated. It came up. It could identify with the ordinary people and the sales were impressive.
While they looked, buried, there was a knock and in came Violet. Maybe she was here to make peace. She stood there, the human hair on her head elegantly done, a white fur coat on the red dress she wore. She was in beautiful, elegant white boots and her smile exposed a perfect set of teeth.
Yes, they both wore red dresses. But while Asia's clung to her decently ending right below the knee, Violet's ended a millimetre above the knee and was clearly more expensive. She wore elegant sun glasses and the jewellery round her neck stood out. Everyone quickly left the room.
"Sister I miss you," Asia began.
"Is that why you moved in with him? He is mine, Asia. Everybody knows this. You are stabbing me at the back," she said curtly, grabbed a seat.
"Let me come back home. I had nowhere else to go," Asia beseeched.
"What about Allan? You two were to move in together," Violet asked, watched as Asia fought tears.
"His friends gave him a girlfriend that could orgasm. I had nowhere else to go, sister. David took me in temporarily," Asia whispered, leant forward and held Violet's hand.
"Why didn't you come to the meeting, Asia? It made you look guilty," Violet chuckled.
"Guilty of what, sister? I have no connection with the Mara family. There will be no marriage between our families. The sooner we wake up from that dream, the easier it will be for us all," Asia said, moved close. "Who is the father, sister?" Asia rubbed Violet's hand.
"We will talk about it later. I am here to talk to David. He has blocked me. Will you take me up to his office? He listens to you," she asked expectantly.
"Of course. I owe you," Asia whispered.
Asia got up, grabbed her phone and left with her sister. There were eyes as the colleagues, instead of going back in the office, chose to watch.
As they got on the elevator and pressed the top floor, Asia didn't think what would happen other than David would love the hell out of her. But that was none of her business.
Violet's hand had a slight tremor. She was nervous. Asia held Violet's hand to reassure her. David would grant her audience. As to whether he would do her bidding, they would see.
The Rivers sisters walked to the MD's reception lounge hand in hand. There was surprise on the secretary's face. After what was all over the news, that was an unexpected sight.
Asia asked the secretary to inform the MD that the Rivers sisters needed a word. She quickly left for the office. The sisters took a seat on the lavish reception couch and waited.
Asia would usher Violet in and step out till they were done. What they would talk about would be none of her business.