Five: Weakness

She sniggered. "Whatevs. We both are bitches. Duh…"

I scoffed. "Did you follow me all the way here? What else do you need to know?"

"Um…" She sucked her teeth, narrowed her eyes at me. "Sort of. Well, I didn't follow you here, but fate did. She knew you'd be here tonight, so she pulled me here. She just wants you to know my victory."

I swallowed. I already knew where she was taking this discussion to. "You got the offer? You're now working with Green Stars?"

"You got it!" She snapped her fingers at me, gave me that menacing and cunning smile. "And, what makes me happy is that the company needed to do a small partnership with only one company. And, yes honey, that one company is my company."

I took a long shot of my drink, drinking it as if it was an alcohol. If I was one of those weird people who took alcohol, I would probably be drunk by now, owing to how frustrated I felt. Speaking of alcohol, that thing disgusted me as shit. To me, those who took it were nothing but irresponsible, and maybe wretched. 

I tried to smirk at her. "And what if you've gotten the offer?"

"At least, now I know I don't have any competitors. Cause, obviously, no one can compete with GSF," she sputtered. 

Even more infuriated, I only chortled at her. "You know what?" I sipped from glass, kept my sneer. "Everything works together for good. I didn't get the offer, which clearly means a better one is waiting out there for me."

"Pardon? That's stupid. There's no better offer than working with GSF. Are you planning to go to China or what?" She quirked an eyebrow at me, pulling that confused look. 

"Nope." I faced her, kept my elbow on the counter as well. "I mean, if you hadn't gotten accepted, there'll be no way I'll be this determined to make my company even better than Seth Lee's."

She scorned. "Pi-lease, everyone knows he holds the highest rank and makes the most profit. You're nothing compared to him."

Okay. This was it. My anger had gotten to the peak. She had to hear some crazy words from me. 

"When I saw the level at which your business is, I was a bit surprised that you're lagging behind." I stood up from the stool. Paying for my drink, I fixed my eyes completely at her. 

"Keep quiet," she ordered. She knew how rude I could be, so that was probably the reason she wanted me to shut my lips. 

Did she think I would listen to her? Louella should keep quiet? She had probably been joking. She also knew no one could ever shut me up. 

I tucked some strands of my hair behind my ear, ensuring I was giving her that get-ready-to-cry look. "But now that you've proved to me that you underestimate yourself this much, I've gotten a clarification. I now know why your business is ever in an erratic state."

"Are you crazy?" She slammed her palm against the counter, leaped from her seat, glaring hard. "Hey, I only wanted to share my victory with you, not get insulted."

Ignoring her unnecessary words, I continued, "And, because of how you underestimate yourself, trust me, you'll always be stagnant. In the first place, what do I expect? Your business grew this much, only because you had great connections with the rich, cause you used to be a gold digger," and uttered. 

"Louella!" She pointed her index finger at me, her teeth gritted. "Enough of this nonsense. I've heard enough now. Just get your ass off here, if you know you can't stay here with me."

I linked my arms on my chest. "When a monkey sees a banana and money, the monkey tends to choose banana, not knowing the money can buy more bananas. That's your case here, honey. I had thought you wanted this offer to grow your business, not knowing you only want the fam. You're like the unwise monkey. How much more stupid will you be? Your mistakes taught you nothing?"

"I swear, I'll get you arrested if you insult me further," she threatened. I couldn't believe it, but I saw tears in her eyes. 

I turned in the direction of the door, but made no movement, just smirking at myself. "Also, if you don't mind, prove to be an idiot by seducing the chairman. You're pretty, you know? Cause…" I glimpsed at her. "A gold digger will always be a gold digger. Go on. Go ahead and be his mistress."

"I said that's enough!" She roared. 

I just sniggered. "Bye, moron. See you when my company reaches the highest rank."

With that, I headed out of the restaurant, smiling because I had made tears to attack her eyes. But, opening the huge door of the exit, my smile abruptly disappeared. It was her. This devil. I was seeing her after two years. And then, karma reflected. I had just made someone want to cry, and seeing her made tears tingle my eyes as well. 

I would admit, she looked prettier than the last time I had seen her. Just like Kelli, she was also wearing a dark pencil gown which hugged her curves. Her hair was in a ponytail, a great deal of makeup on her face. She wasn't as tall as I was, but I guessed those black stiletto shoes gave her a height of 5"9, which was my height. 

She widened her eyes at me. "Ella? You're here?"

I swallowed my tears. "You shouldn't be here.This restaurant's been rented for the night." 

"Good question." Her lips curled in a simper. She played with her fingers, being like the bossy idiot she always was. "Well, Kelli and I will have fun here for the night. I rented the place for us both, so don't be such an asshole by asking me something that's not even you biz."

My lungs choked. I felt a pain in my abdomen, which clearly signified I had to leave here. Although I was trying to hold my tears, it didn't seem to be working. I wouldn't cry in front of her, so I had to leave here. 

"You know what?" I sighed. "Speaking with you is useless. Bye."

Saying that, I walked past her, trying to leave as soon as possible. Though I had walked fast, she grabbed my arm back, kind of spun me around. And then, there was that smile. The sly smile I hated to see. 

"Don't forget to use enough tissue to wipe your tears, sister," she bit out. 

I blinked so much. "I hate you, Becca. I ever will."

"Hate you as well. Scale balance."

With that, she left my arm, and walked away. Noticing I would cry anytime, I hurried to my car. And, just about to hop into the car, I saw a couple standing by a black SUV Jeep, just behind my car. The moment I saw their faces, my breath ceased. Suddenly, the place felt suffocating. It was my dad and his wife. The ones who ruined my life; the ones who made me develop a trauma. 

Overly upset, I jerked open the door of my car. Neo was about to hop in as well, but I stopped him by raising my hand in the air, though not looking at him. 

"Go with another car," I ordered. 

"Okay," he said, and shut the door of my car. 

Soon, my driver began to drive. Staring out the window, looking at the view of the streets, the memories came back haunting my head. It felt like my heart was being pierced, my stomach completely crumbling. My hands shook, a clear sign this trauma was about to attack me. 

In order to prevent something terrible from happening, I let the tears leave my eyes. For the first time in two years, I wept. Not only did I weep, my strength vanished as well. I had ever been strong, but now, everything was gone. 

I realized that my dad, stepmom, and step sister were my weakness. Or, I would say, my past was my weakness. 

This was shocking. But yes, Louella was weeping. I had just broken my vow. 

***

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