Chapter 33

"So sorry," I whispered and waved frantically at the older lady who had just bumped into Aunt Patricia. She was carrying two hefty bags of vegetables and looked like she was going to lose consciousness. Patricia wasn't willing to let it go. She seized the lady's bags and threw them on the ground, scattering the vegetables the older lady must have suffered to get.
       Yanking the lady forcefully by the elbow, she yelled, "Have you lost it? Don't you have any eyes?"
       Okay. Just this once Hannah, turn a blind eye. Lauren and Victoria have suffered enough because of you and Nanny Mai. Seriously, she could have just told me that my food was great. Why did she have to wait so long to do that? I mean, I know why but seriously why? I dwindled my head and drew an imperceptible coil on the floor, tightening my fist. It was the first time in a long time I felt the need to visit physical brutality. If she didn't have Mr. Smith belted under her arms, this would have been the best time to punch her so hard.
       The lady apologized and was about to bend to pick up her veggies when Patricia shoved her so hard that she fell.
       "Patricia!" I ran up to her, subsisting like someone who had just finished a relay race. Only after my Usain Bolt legs had moved toward her, my brain unexpectedly did a rewind and figured it had sent out the wrong word through my lips. "I mean, Aunt Patricia."
       The lady skimmed up at me with a smile when my right hand reached out to her. She took it slowly then got up. I bent down and picked up the bags and arranged the vegetables in them.
       "Thanks." She muttered exasperatedly then tilted her head in Patricia's direction. "I'm grateful for your help, Dear. And as for you, I'm disgruntled. You don't deserve to be called an animal let alone a human."
       "Aunt Patricia," I called out inaudibly, assuming that she wouldn't try to start an argument, especially in front of this lady we narrowly knew.
       Gazing at me with her inescapable degrading eyes, she unlocked her car, looked around and pulled out her phone from inside, and said, nattily, "What? Has the devil decided to come out of hiding? It took you so long to do that."
       Geez. She's always starting it but you must shun her. Nanny Mai's advice played in my head constantly as I bit my lower lip, trying to sound calm despite being so agitated. "You didn't have to do that. It wasn't necessary. She already apologized for whatever she did so why are you taking your fury out on her?"
       "Hold on, did I miss something here? So you know think that you can tell me what I can and can't do just because you are Liam's wife?"
       When did I say that? Is she just tryna pick a fight with me or what? This is exactly what I've been avoiding. "Why in the world would anyone do that? I am Liam's wife but you are his aunt. You come first no matter what." That's more like it. Two wrongs can't make a right and you can't win an altercation with an altercation. "You mean so much to this family and I'm grateful for all the efforts you've put in to save this family's image."
       "Two face bitch." She smirked. Her expression was enough to reveal what was in her heart. Her legs danced back and forth, trying to gain balance with the tight heels she was wearing.
       It took enough practicing and holding my breath for me not to laugh at her while pointing. My nose twitched as I moved my head back and forth, staring at them simultaneously. "I don't understand, Aunt. What are you saying and why did you call me that nasty name?" What could she be thinking of in that devious mind? Something doesn't feel right. I'm certain she's planning something huge. "I would never hurt anyone."
       "Your husband ain't here so you can drop the act. I'm not naive. I can tell behind that false smile that you are planning something huge." She folded her arms like she was doing a face-off with me. "Stop playing ignorant, Hannah. I know people like you very well."
       People like me? That's rude! First, they call me destitute, and now... "People like me? What did I ever do to you, Patricia?" My index finger pointed. "Why do you abhor me so much?"
       "So the cat is finally out of the bag? She looked down at her hands and rolled the ring on her middle finger. "Don't think about feigning in front of me. Do you think by indirectly threatening me, you could assert your right as Liam's wife in New Generation Restaurant? That's not how the game works, Sweetie."
       The Game. The lady from earlier waved goodbye. She knew better than to get involved in an argument that wasn't meant for her. She sauntered into the house and passed the bags to Nanny Mai and then came out. Being accompanied out of the gate by our security guard, she raised her fist to show her support and went away.
       Mrs. Patricia stood motionless, waiting for my reply. She had made up her mind that I had an ulterior motive and there was nothing I was going to say that would change that. There was nothing as laborious as trying to change the reasoning of a person who had made up their mind concerning you. Her eyes went around, feet tapping defensively. All she wanted to hear was the response in her head. When her phone rang, she took a glance at it and then turned it off.
       Mr. Smith's relatives were undeniably beautiful. They were the true examples of not trusting the face but the heart. As the sun showed dazzlingly on her face, she looked more stunning. I was obviously no match for her. She'd been in the business for years. Even if Liam agreed for me to work at New Generation, there was no assurance I would get to her and Diana's level.
       Taking in a necessary deep breath, I explained calmly, "I have nothing against you, Aunt Patricia. If you feel challenged then that's up to your conscience. Nobody's judging you or trying to take your place so stop acting like a kid." I might have gone too far but there was no way back. I cleared my throat and went on, "As for New Generation Restaurant, I would be working there. It's not to keep an eye on you but yeah, I'm going there to unveil some truth. If you happen to come across my eyes then I have no option but to watch you as well. We can work together at New Generation without having issues or you can continue to see me as a competition."
       "Does Liam know you'll be working at New Generation?" She glowered at me and scowled.
       She didn't like the idea of me working at New Generation. Why in the damn world would anyone feel envious of me? I had nothing except my husband's name. I didn't even have his love which she already knew about.
       My reply didn't sit well with her as she slammed her hand on the windshield of her car. Her teeth gnashed. Maybe I shouldn't have fibbed about my husband knowing of my plan to work in New Generation but I wasn't obliged to tell the truth. Should I run away or wait for her to explode? No. It's not like she's going to crucify me. I stood straight, observing her every move while being sensitive to know when to flee. This lady couldn't be trusted. "Patricia," Snapping my finger in her face, my head moved to the side. "Are you alright? You don't seem too good. Did something occur while I was speaking? I could call the family doctor."
       "There would be no need for that." She replied, sharply. Mood broken, she surveyed Liam's house, trailing her gaze from the security house to the garage and then his house. After several minutes of silence, she cracked up, her hands clapping and her right leg joining in on the excitement. "Oh my." She brushed off the tears of joy that dropped from her side-eye. "This is so entertaining. Every time I visit my nephew, there's always a comedy show." She prostrated in front of me as the security man swung his door open to know what was going on. He didn't even say a word or act like he knew me, after scanning around, he sighed and went back in.
       And I was starting to like him. He could have just waved or said something encouraging to me. Everyone is scared of this lady like she's a goddess or something. I can't seem to fathom how this is even feasible. I pondered while subconsciously running my restless fingers through my thick black hair. "Comedy show?" Playing along was the only way to feign.
       "The first time I was here, it was his scandal and then his marriage and now it's this."
       "Did you come here on our wedding day?" I narrowed my eyes, trying to think aback if I saw her. It was at that moment my brain refreshed and realized it had heard her name a day before Liam and I returned from our fake honeymoon. Damn. How did I forget such a thing? She was indeed the owner of that hotel. She must have kept an insider to give her info about our marriage. "Well played."
       "Oh my!" She gasped sarcastically. "I'm glad. Now you're finally understanding how this game works. Let's see how long you can keep deceiving the world and how long it would take me to be the next successor to New Generation Restaurant."
       "I see. So you've decided to take off that ridiculous mask. Good choice." What was the point of pretending when she had opened up already? Obviously, she did that because she knew her pathetic brother wouldn't listen to anything I said. Yeah. I realize her pathetic brother is my father-in-law but he didn't have that title at least not until he became a good husband and father. "Now you don't have any reason to pretend while you're with me."
       "You took off your mask first." She said critically. "Oh wait. I could see the real you through that mask. If only I had known that Liam would get married to someone else then I..." Her eyes balled around and she bit her tongue hard. She was going to reveal something but stopped midway.
       What was she trying to say? Does it have anything to do with Lisa? I reasoned. The hair on my skin stood straight as my raging eyes glared at Patricia in self fruition. She was behind everything as I suspected. "It was you all along. Lisa left the house on the day of her wedding because of you."
       "Who is Lisa?"
       It was as though the scales had fallen from my eyes. I could see the real Patricia. She nasty and devious heart she had hidden behind that beautiful face. How could she have gone that far just to get a restaurant that doesn't belong to her? The wealth this lady had was enough to feed ten orphanages for six years. "You know too well who she is. How much did you pay my step-sister to leave?"
       "Enough to sustain you for a lifetime." Her eyes blazed with satisfaction. "Isn't that what you wanted to hear? I don't know who this Lisa is. I'll let this one slide because we don't know each other that well. But I'm the future, don't you ever point that finger at me without a strong evidence which you won't find." She turned to leave and stopped. Looking above her shoulder, she called out my name and said, "How's Diana doing?"
       "Patricia, I..." When I turned, she had already gone into the house. Her perfume scent was the only thing standing outside with me. This is crazy. I shouldn't think about it now. Lisa has done her part by running away. I shouldn't let it bother me. It's all thanks to the decision that I'm married to Liam.
       "Don't think about this family. Only focus on getting your husband's love." The security guy instructed firmly. "It's only when you have Liam on your side that you can defeat Ma'am Patricia. There's a vast discrepancy between having respect for women and loving a woman. Liam stands up for you because he respects women but he ain't gonna take your side if you have an issue with his aunt."
       That couldn't be more true. I recalled how he yelled at his dad earlier but didn't say anything negative to Patricia. She was his aunt after all. It dawned on me that Patricia loved or pretended to love the boys in a way that they obeyed her even if they knew she was wrong. Earlier she listened to Mrs. Smith because Max had called her attention. This woman is very cunny. She bought her way into their hearts in such a way that nobody could paint her as an awful person in their eyes. I moaned. "How did Diana and Liam meet?" That question was the most relevant among all the other questions I had asked that day. I wished for a second that his reply wasn't the same as the one in my head. 
       As if he could read the fear in me, he paused then said softly, "At Ma'am Patricia's birthday party. She introduced her to Liam and I guess love just blinded your husband. She didn't have to put in any effort. All she did was get them together and Liam's heart did the rest. I'm sorry." He apologized, lowering his head in the realization of how much he had said. "It wasn't my intention to hurt you or anything. You asked and I replied. I'm sorry again."
       Just look at him being a joker. I scoffed. You couldn't even be sensitive. I'll get back to you. I'm aware you did this intentionally. Just wait till I'm done with Patricia and Diana. "Wait. Do you think it was also part of their plan? Could Diana be working for her?"
       "I don't think so." He stepped out of his house, grabbed the broom, and swept the outside. "If that was the case then Liam and Diana would have gotten married and I won't be having this conversation with you."
       True. I moved my legs away for him to sweep. "There must have been a reason why she didn't let Diana get married to Liam. She wouldn't just introduce them to each other without an ulterior motive. And," I narrated everything about the girl that I met a few months back that looked so much like Diana and even claimed to be her. Without leaving any information out, I made sure to let him know about everything Max's fiancee had told me.
        As usual, he didn't flinch or shudder. He knew just how to stay calm in the worst times. "You could be right or wrong. I have nothing to comment on that. But I do know that her behavior is odd. It's like she's been possessed."
       Or she could be someone else posing as Diana. Is that why Diana didn't get married to Liam? Maybe she didn't want to be a part of Patricia's game. This is just silly and mysterious.
       Our conversation ended in an outburst of laughter. This couldn't be what I was seeing. A gecko skittered towards me. "Gross! Kill it."
        When the security guy laughed it sounded like three persons. I raised my head and saw that Liam and Diana had joined in the laughter. So it was them. The gecko moved away when they stepped forward. "Where are you going?"
       "Going to hang out with my friends and family. This house is toxic."
       Family? Who are these people in here?
       "Usually whenever Aunt Patricia and the others come over, Liam's friends and cousins meet up somewhere else because of the drama here."
       They need to stop doing that. I sighed. How do they always know the question in my head? Are my thoughts written on my forehead? "Liam, about New Generation."
       "Not happening." His driver opened the back door for him.
       What's wrong with him? My eyebrows furrowed. It's not like I'm asking for a share in the company. Should I just ask for my share? I stuck my nose in the air. Nay. That would ruin all my chances of getting his love. "Let me come along. Three days. If I can prove to be a good cook then you'll let me work at New Generation."
       "Three days? You're looking for every opportunity to spend time with me. You are one determined woman." He sat in the back, one leg outside the car. "I disagree."
       Taking in a deep breath, I pleaded again. His stubbornness wasn't enough to conquer my determination. He alighted the car and my legs made sure to follow him around, my lips begging and trying to make him see a reason why I should come along. How could I spend the next three days with Patricia? If he was going to be around then I won't have an issue but three days in the same house with many haters. u couldn't do that.
       Diana sat in the front seat with the driver. Maybe she already knew what I was asking for. She wasn't the kind to stay far away from Liam. The security guard gestured to me to keep asking. One could only give up after trying hard.
       He passed an instruction to one of his workers and entered the backseat. "Hannah Smith." He raised an eyebrow. "Are you coming with us just to show me that you can be a good cook or to spend time with me?"
       "I could do both."
       "Only one. I'll only evaluate you on one. If not,"
       "Fine." I stretched out a hand. "To show you that I'm a good cook. No lying. You have to tell me the truth if I passed or not."
       "No need to worry. I'm not the other one who's going to be adjudicating you." He entered the car and shut the door.
       Is he going to make me cook for his friends and cousins? This is humiliating. I only agreed to do this for him and no one else. "He's a difficult man." As I was about to open the other door, Patricia called out my name and waved.
       She wiggled her wrist, tapping on her wristwatch. "Have fun, dearie."
       What does that even mean? Had she started playing another game? I exhaled and sat in the car. Turning to my right to admire Liam, I blushed and looked away. Three days away from Mr. and Mrs. Smith. This is fun except for the fact that Diana is here and we won't be alone.