Chapter 47

Maria Hall finally took her seat, adjusting uneasily. She stared at her friend and watched as her lips parted as though she wanted to say something but then it closed just as quickly as it parted and she turned to look at the now covered window.

Maria Hall sat there dreading her friend's revelation. She wondered if her friend had asked about her while she was at The Oceans. Maria Hall was beginning to fidget, she kept fiddling her fingers as she soon became wrecked with nervousness. Maria Hall remembered how she had lied about her story on their first day of meeting when Laura had asked her to tell her a bit about herself. She had told Laura that she was unmarried, didn't have any kids but helped raise up the Queen, she was hired by her parents to take care of her while she was small and after her mother's death, she acted as her new mother and ensured the girl never lacked anything. She had gone further to say that she was the one who had helped set up her marriage with the King, Matt.

She tried defending herself that it was because they had not been friends then but then she remembered she kept on with the story ever since that day. The new story just felt nicer to the ears.

Maria Hall recalled how one time, when those evil people were chasing her and she had run to Laura's place and Laura had asked her where she was running and who was after her.
In response to this, Maria Hall had claimed to be running an orphanage home and that she was hurrying off to get some things for a child when she met some men who had wanted to take the child away and had accused her of kidnapping. She had tried explaining but they were bent on. harming her, so she had to run.

On another occasion, Laura heard the rumors about a woman that had claimed to be the Queen's mother but who had instead of playing this role, robbed the Queen of her happiness and was bent on destroying her marriage. She learnt the woman had been arrested and recently released.
Laura had been shocked to hear such a thing and went to search for more information about such a woman. She had managed to find a newspaper she had come across somewhere down the road. She had asked the man if she could go through it and he had replied in the affirmative. It was during one of her “searches” that she saw Maria's face in the newspaper. She had been so surprised and immediately took it to Maria Hall for explanation.
Maria Hall remembered how she had formulated a lie so quickly.
“ I wasn't arrested because of whatever they said. I was wrongly accused by the same girl I had raised” . Laura remembered how she had begun crying soon after in order to sell her story well and to her greatest surprise, Laura had bought it, hook, line and sinker.

From that day onward, Laura had seen her from a different light and had felt the world had been unfair to Maria Hall and that was why she stayed or so Maria Hall thought.

Staring intensely at Maria, Laura managed to say. “Maria, the deals you've been offered are going to lead you to an early grave”.

Maria Hall didn't respond to this, she only sat there quiet. She had been bracing herself to hear the worst, not some unnecessary advice. She soon started laughing.

“Maria! I'm being serious, the earlier you let go of those deals, the better for everyone” Laura was really concerned.

Maria watched her friend and could only smile. If only she knew what she was capable of doing then she wouldn't be here advising her. Doesn't she think I know what I'm getting myself involved in? She wondered, brushing her brows.

“I know what I'm doing Laura” she said with a wry smile.

“Good deeds never pays” she added as an afterthought.

“But it does!” Laura retorted, she really wanted to get Maria to see the good side of being a good person.

“Remember that man who had been good all through his life and then he…” She stopped as soon as she recalled he had died for being good. She tried to cite some other examples but all to no avail. She wasn't thinking straight to have been able to come up with something tangible.

“Exactly! He died while being good”
Maria Hall said grateful for Laura's failed example.

Laura decided to throw in the bigger fish. “Do you realize that the lady who just left and the man who sent you on this task are great enemies and anyone who comes between them never goes unpunished.”

She saw that Maria Hall had raised her head to look at her and decided to press further. “These people share blood, they are not normal humans, Maria. They are not lenient when it comes to killing” Laura pleaded.

“Maria, please, I don't know you to be this way” Laura didn't want anything to happen to her friend. She had gotten so fond of Maria Hall and found it difficult to detach herself from her.

Maria scoffed. “Then, I'm sorry my friend but you don't know me”

Laura was really hurt by what Maria Hall had said and Maria Hall knew this. She really didn't care about how her words would affect Laura. She just wanted to be done with this conversation. She was beginning to feel like a child with the way Laura was speaking to her. What has been good ever done for her. She was done with “trying”. Maria Hall laughed inwardly at that statement, when had she ever tried to be good? Oh well! It's not for everyone, she thought, resigning.

Returning her attention to Laura. “I would be doing this and there's nothing you or anyone can do about it!” Maria Hall said without a second thought.

“Fine! Have it your way.” Laura said, getting up. She really wondered why she had even tried to convince her in the first place. Maria Hall never cares for anyone but herself. She was really a stubborn woman.

Maria Hall stood up with Laura to escort her out.

Finally at the door, Laura decided to inform Maria Hall what she dreaded most.

Turning to leave. “I know everything about you Maria Hall. Well… not all entirely but I do know that most of the things you've told me were all a lie” Laura said without looking at Maria's face.

Maria Hall was about to say something but instead, she stood there cold as ice, she wasn't going to apologize, not even to her supposed friend.

Seeing Maria Hall's reaction, Laura became really hurt and said softly. “But I don't hate you, you are my friend and I'm only trying to protect you".

Maria Hall caught a sparkle on Laura's eyes as she had turned to leave. Maria Hall immediately recognized it as tears glistening, she wanted to call her friend back and apologize but she changed her mind and locked the door.

She would have time for regrets the next day. All she wanted right now was a good night's rest.