The Lie - Part I

The day at school was not exactly different from yesterday, people were commenting on how sad I was and to my unhappiness Felipe was spreading that the reason for our breakup was my cheating on Arthur Jacob, which was totally untrue, but he used the excuse of the date and the fast start of the affair with Caroline on top of his cheating. It was obvious that our friends took my side, since they knew the truth and knew that I hadn't done anything to hurt him, unlike him. I was visibly broken and needed some fun in my life. 

When I got home from school it was exactly 11:30 in the morning, and to my surprise I found Arthur Jacob lying on my couch in the living room, my father was in an emergency meeting with Mr. Jacob taking care of something in the company, I heard from my mother that they had both been partners for a few years and that the Edwards family company had suffered a major theft three years ago and was now bankrupting us. 

Arthur looked at me in an amused manner, which made me blush and ignore him completely. I was told to stay in the living room until my father came, which was quite a long time coming. My mother was also waiting anxiously in the room and by her presence in the room I expected Arthur to be discreet with his glances, but that did not happen.

 I was wondering why I couldn't go to my room and a thousand things crossed my mind. Maybe my father would announce the sale of the company and that from today on we would live in a simple life, which might be a problem for me since I was living a life of luxury. My mind was playing tricks on me and I was thinking of a thousand and one possibilities until the unexpected happened.

Josy, an old lady who had worked in the family for five years, came through the door with a glass of whiskey.

一 Here is your drink Mr. Jacob 一 She handed the glass to Arthur.

It was inevitable, it was like the funniest scene I had ever seen in my life. My stomach hurt and my eyes watered, I tried my best to stop laughing so my stomach wouldn't hurt anymore, but it was in vain. A grown woman was treating a teenager as if he were an adult just because of his social status.

一 Why do you laugh so much Beatrix? 

一 What do you think? 

一 I don't know, if I knew I wouldn't be asking 一 I said obvious which made me smile more.

一 You think you're an adult when you're just a teenager 一 I explained why I was laughing and then it was his turn to smile.

一 Watching my father drink so much, and drinking at parties, I got used to it. 

一 You two are so cute! My mother spoke smiling at both of us, but it was not a normal smile, it was the smile of a person who wanted to see the other together.

一 You are so funny too, mom. 一 I spoke wryly and she smiled.

一 Thank you aunt, that's very kind of you. 

As my mother and Arthur talked I was bored to death on the spot, they talked as if they had been close for years, it was clear on my mother's face that she had taken a liking to Arthur, which didn't put me at ease since she would invite him to our home more often. I was about to leave without permission when my father and Mr. Jacob came down to meet us. 

My father was happier than usual, as if something gave hope and light to his problems and that's exactly what happened. 

一 Someone trustworthy is stealing your money 一 Mr. Jacob spoke as if nothing worried him 一 But I will help the Edwards Company with a charity party and all the proceeds will go to the Edwards Company.

一 In exchange for what? 一 I asked directly, because nothing in life was free and everything had a price.

一 That my son will work for the Edwards Company. 

一 I don't want to be a lawyer and you know it. 

It's been decided, Arthur, and don't you dare question it!

一 And when is this party? My mother asked a little excited, she loved the parties that the companies offered, but all because of the food, which she didn't seem to have at home.

一 Tomorrow 一 My father answered her question. 

一 Are we that badly in need of money? 一 I asked 

一 That's not the point Beatrix. 一 He rebutted.

一 Then it's settled, see you tomorrow here at your house. Mr. Jacob said goodbye.

When they left I was allowed to leave to take a shower and change into my school uniform, lunch was already ready so I had to accompany my parents. 

I didn't understand how this had happened, my father was always a good economist and investor, there was never any failure and I wondered what had gone wrong. 

My father was impatient at the table and all the time tapping his foot as if something was making him nervous and anxious, but in my opinion it was because of the party tomorrow. 

一 You can buy dresses if you want. My father said, leaving the table and heading for his room. 

He hadn't finished his lunch, and the Edwards' evil was to let anxiety invade your mind and not let you act rationally. 

一 What do you say we go to the mall? 一 My mom suggested and I smiled. 

一 That would be great, Mom. 

一 I see you're done now, retire and you can go get ready. 

一 So I'll see you in ten minutes?

Yes, see you in ten minutes. 

I left the table and hurried to my room and chose a flowery dress and a small heel for my little shopping trip. Most of our clothes were made-to-measure, but at the mall there was an upscale clothing store and that's where we shopped when we had no idea about dresses. My mother was a very vain woman who took a break from her job as a lawyer to dedicate herself more to her home and family, an attitude that I didn't support, but I couldn't make anyone change their mind or their opinions, especially when that someone was your mother, an adult and educated woman. 

When the ten minutes had passed, I went to meet my mother in the living room and she was waiting patiently while drinking tea. She was wearing a black midi skirt and a white blouse, I would say that even the greatest fashion designers could not surpass my mother's style. A sweet smile from her was given as soon as she noticed my presence, I was always going to admire my mother.  

一 Can we go, dear?

一 Yes mom. 

It was obvious that Mr. Márcio would already be waiting for us, his punctuality surprised me. The car door was opened for us and when we were already settled Mr. Márcio started the car. The trip was thirty minutes to the mall, the road was full of trees and few buildings and this I thought was great, I liked green places with many flowers and this was not news to anyone. My mother was distracted with her cell phone in hand, Mr. Márcio was focused on the road and I was admiring the nature and all that it had given us. 

Seu Márcio dropped us off in front of the mall and promised to be back again in three hours, enough time for our shopping. Entering the mall, we noticed a new beauty salon. My mother looked at me in an appealing way and my gaze was no different from hers, and then an accomplice smile was given on both sides. We wrapped our arms around each other and together we went into the salon. 

The color baby pink was present in the place, and so were the drawings of flowers and hair. A counter was at the entrance and it was then that my mother surprised me with a mischievous smile on her face and I knew what she meant by that look.

一 Let's change our hair 一 She said hysterically and I smiled excitedly, until I remembered our financial situation. 

一 Mom, we can't afford it 一 I whispered. 

Yes we can 一 She smiled showing me a card with her name on it. 

一 Since when do you have this? I was surprised. 

Since always, you just didn't know it. 

My mother pulled me to the reception and then we made an appointment, but since there was no one there we were the first ones to be seen. The hairdresser was a kind woman, my mother just brushed her hair and I wanted to do something different.

一 Have you thought about what you want my love?

Yes, I want my hair and my eyebrows in a light brown color. 

Your request is my command.

My hair was a dark brown color and many times my mother told me it was dark as night, I really wanted to change and the first step would be the hair. She started bleaching my hair, which I didn't think was necessary, but she was the professional and after 30 minutes my hair was already completely blonde, my scalp itched and burned, but according to the hairdresser Sheila this was normal and here we went for another hour. 

In this one hour that I was waiting, my mother and I also decided to do our nails. Unlike my mother who chose a red, I chose a light beige that matched my skin color, and soon after I finished my nail, my hair was already done. Sheila removed all the excess dye and then washed it with some product that made my hair smell good, and the last step was the finishing touch and when my hair was done, I felt like a new person, as everything was already paid for, we just said goodbye and went on our way to where we were really going. 

We desperately went to the dress store that we used to buy at the mall, and when we entered we had a big surprise 一 Felipe and Caroline were there too. I couldn't describe what I was feeling, whether it was anger, envy, jealousy, several mixed feelings that made my stomach hurt and it was obvious that he was there to buy a dress for her for the businessmen's party that will happen at my house tomorrow. 

一 Mariah, what a surprise to see you here 一 The store owner spoke loudly drawing their attention to us and for a moment I thought I saw pale Carolina.

一 Odette, I am in dire need of help 一 My mother spoke without caring who was in the rest of the store and quickly an attendant came toward us.

I was trying not to stare at the new couple, but it was almost inevitable since they were glaring at us. 

一 Choose whatever you want, we are all at your service 一 Odette said friendly. 

My mother pretended not to see them to see how far Felipe would go, and knowing my mother as I do, she was likely to be the most fake person in the world with the boy, a far cry from how she had treated Arthur earlier. 

一 Dona Mariah 一 Felipe said smiling greeting only my mother when he arrived at the place where we were standing.

For a minute I thought my mother wasn't going to answer, she stared at the girl cowering behind Felipe from head to toe and those who knew her well knew that her look at the moment was one of disgust.