Chapter 27: CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN: BIMBO’S RETURN

I couldn't get my eyes off her, my chest tightening as my gaze lingered from her head down. I could recognize her despite her red braids. It couldn't be her… Bella Mercedes? 

"Bella Mercedes?" I clutched my chest as I watched her walk up to the dining room, taking her seat next to Mom. 

She looked stunning, touches of powder applied to her beauty to make her look quite more exquisite than I remembered. 

"And who might you be?" She frowned. 

My voice trapped in my throat. I'm mute, unable to express the words swirling in my mind. I clutched the tablecloth, holding myself from tearing it apart. 

"Artemis! ... Her name's Artemis." Mom let out a giggle, not acknowledging the fueled battle going on. 

"Are you okay?" Alexander whispered in my ear. 

"She isn't Bella Mercedes." I said barely above a whisper. 

Alexander grasped my words, exchanging glances with the so-called Bella. She glared at him severally, checking out his clothing and assigning him credit for his looks. 

"Prince of Height?" She raised her eyebrows. 

"Yes." Alexander let out a smile. She jumped out from her seat, rushing towards him like she knew him for ages. 

"I'm your biggest fan." She hugged him slightly, placing a peck on his cheeks. I growled underneath, my fingers clutched as she attempted to peck him once more. 

"Get to your seat, please. You can act atrocious when we are done eating." I said in a clear voice. 

"Oh, sorry about that," she hopped back, readjusting in her seat. She clapped twice, her charity running out like she had been chased by an army. 

She whispered something into Charity's ear, and Charity hurriedly rushed to the kitchen, bringing out several dishes that weren't on the table. 

"Now let's eat," she smiled, hands on the table. 

"Mom, Dad, can you please explain her relationship with us?" I faked a smile, my eyes unfriendly as I spoke my mind.

"Bella here is your sister. You guys should get along really well, judging by the fact that you're the same age." Mom let out a gasp. "You all can have a girls only night together when I'm busy with work."

I chuckled a bit, pain tearing me up from the inside. My heart wrenched just from glaring at her; she felt like a nightmare eating me up bit by bit. An enemy on my path to success.

"So Artemis… I heard you were installed as the heiress of Mercedes while I was away. How does that feel?" She cut a piece of pork, letting the sauce drop before she focused her gaze on me. 

"It felt really great. Like I was crushing the runway and leading a celebrity lifestyle." I said. 

"Come to think of it, Bella here was once a popular fashion model and also a top celebrity a year back before she left the industry for a bit." Dad said with his chest puffed out. 

Alexander stared at her, his eyebrows furrowed as he focused on her bosom. "You're the famous cross model?"

She let out a light laugh, her hands finding their way on top of his. "Thought you wouldn't remember."

"I would never." 

This was already becoming tragic. Alexander and Bella getting along like they had known themselves for ages was really driving me crazy. I couldn't let her do what she did to me once more; it all had to stop. 

I faked a cough, eyes darting at Alexander. "I see you guys are getting along pretty well."

Like he could read my eye movement, he let go of her hand, fixing them back in their rightful position. 

"Oh Artemis. Didn't think you would be offended by that… I'm so sorry." Her voice soft and calm. 

Offended? I wasn't the same person I was five years back. Tearing up because of a man would be the last thing I do. 

"I'm not like that." I faked a laugh. "Maybe you're thinking about it too much."

"Am I?" She let out a laugh. 

Alexander's eyes just kept darting from hers to mine then back to hers. He couldn't get the whole idea of sisters fighting, especially when he knew both our personalities slightly. 

"This food isn't going to eat itself." Mom cleared the air as she began dishing her special soup. 

"Let me help you out, Mom." She rose from her chair, helping out with the soup. She successfully dished it and was about to serve when she made her move. 

With the soup steaming, she held it out, ready to serve me. I kept my eyes on her as she reached to place the soup onto the table. 

"Hot!!" She screamed, the plate of soup falling out of her hands. 

"Arghh!" I groaned as the soup found its way to my body, burning me on the thighs. 

"OMG! I'm so sorry, she rushed towards me, a wet towel in her hands. 

"Don't touch me." I pushed her hands away, rising to my feet. They all stared at me, unable to decode what had just happened. 

I headed for my room, thoughts of returning after a cold shower crowding my mind.

Dinner ended earlier than I expected. It was filled with quite a number of silent arguments, but it was laid out between us girls only. Alexander, on the other hand, just stuck to eating and knowing my parents. 

After greeting my parents and thanking them for the meal, he sets out to leave. I followed behind him, hoping I hadn't spoiled dinner night for him.

"I'm sorry for everything that happened in there." I placed my hand on his chest. 

"It's okay. The soup was hot; anyone would have done that in such a tight spot." He wrapped his hands around me. 

I kissed him on the cheek, watching as eyes widened. "Thanks."

"My pleasure dining with you tonight." He held my hand out, placing a soft kiss on it. 

"So tomorrow?" I gazed into his eyes. 

"Yeah. Tomorrow." He chuckled. 

"Have a nice ride. Also, don't go drinking in the attic." I teased. 

He walked into the car, turning on the ignition. “Yes, ma." 

I watched him drive out of the parking lot and head home. Not like I wanted to watch; I just had to make it look like I was in love with him in case I was being watched. 

"What an upgrade..." Her voice crept into my ear. 

"What do you want, Bimbo?" I faked a smile. 

"It's Bella now." She walked towards me, taking her stance before me. 

"To me, it's Bimbo. Nothing's ever going to change that part of you." 

"You're still angry. I stole Jarvis from you. You really shouldn't; our standards are far off." She giggled. 

I could tell she had been pretending in the dining. She knew exactly who I was but had resorted to the old tactic of speaking before acting. She was truly my enemy, the one who stole my past life and led me down the dark path before I was found. 

"You should mind your tongue and the way your hand moves from now on. Don't think I would let you off so easily if you tried anything funny this time." 

"What do you want to do?" She moved forward, and I staggered back. 

"You're still the scared little Artemis who didn't know how to hold her man. The little girl who didn't know how to give the perfect joyride and let him whimper in your ears. You're still the same log of wood I chopped off." She giggled. 

"How come you're even here? The last time I remembered, I was the heiress and only daughter of the Mercedes." I put up with her not giving a care in the world. 

"There are more ways than one to have a child. You're just too little to understand." She turned her back on me, prepared to leave. 

"There's no way you're winning this time, Bimbo. I promise you that." I held out a fist, my blood boiling hotter by the second. 

" You've already done your best, Artemis, by stealing the spotlight. You have taken everything, including the attention I wanted." She laughs mischievously, "I'd like to see you try, Artemis."

I walked up to her, unhinged about her abilities. "You have just one playing card, and you're off." 

"You're going to pay for all you've done, Artemis. You have my words." She flashed me a smile before retiring inside. 

I had no idea what she had planned for me, but one part of me felt it wasn't going to be something I would laugh about in the future. I had to keep an eye on her if I wanted to survive this playing field…

I closed the door behind me as I returned to the dining. My thoughts on the various ways Bimbo could set me up or lead me off the railings. 

Alexander wouldn't be feeble-minded to date her, would he? 

I turned the doorknob to my bedroom, ready to retire to bed early and resume for work.

As I walk in, ready to jump into the bed. I'm halted by Mom's horrified look, her hands clutched on a 24th Edition Male pornmagazine. 

"Artemis, explain yourself."