Chapter 79 Calling a truce
~AKIRA~
I stood in front of her house with a large friendship bowl of cupcakes that spelt out the words love.
I turned to look at the car that just dropped me off, at narim who was grinning like he just won the lottery as he gave me a thumbs up sign.
"Nope." I said to myself, turning to get back into the car. Narim shut the car door quickly, my eyes thinning as I watched him roll down the mirror to stare at me.
" Nope. You are not doing that".
" I can't go in there. I will just make a fool out of myself and that is the last thing I want. We will think of some way to get back to her, so just open the goddamn door"
" This is the quickest and probably the only way. And I know I said Karina is a witch but she probably isn't. Who knows? You have a handful of cupcakes so put on your biggest smile and go make friends with the witch."
I knew he was enjoying this a little too much for comfort. It was obvious in how the corner of his eyes crinkled as he tried to hide the bout of laughter that threatened to rip out of him.
" If this goes wrong, I will kill you" I say through gritted teeth as I plastered on my fake smile and stumbled towards the front door before I gave myself the chance to change my mind.
The butler was shocked.
" Oh. Who are you?"
I had my nose masks on and again, I knew this was going to be a hassle.
" I'm Lilian, miss Loretta's adopted daughter. After the scene I caused the last time I was here, I thought to come and apologize for my unruly behavior "
The minute I mentioned my identity, his face lit up like the night and he grimaced, looking at the cake in my hands.
" I doubt a few cakes will appease miss Karina but sure, right this way"
The familiar walls engulfed me as I waltzed through the hallways, his tinted shoes tapping with a rhythm I quickly fell into.
I heard her before I saw her. That loud obnoxious voice that towered over our heads as she pushed past a servant, nearly running into me.
Just like me, she stopped short, taking a look at my hands and then back at me.
" What the hell is going on here?" She finally asked.
Narim's advice stuck to me like a second skin.
Smile. Wide.
I put on my best wide smile, pushing the pasteries forward.
" Hey! I just thought that you and I started off on the wrong footing and I don't want that for us. So I was thinking if we could call a truce, and get to know each other all over again with the past behind us"
Her face was unreadable for what felt like three whole minutes but was in truth, three seconds.
" So let me get this straight. You, the same woman that insulted and tried to demean me, you somehow had a change of heart and decided that giving me cupcakes you picked from a drug store would be the suitable gift to appease me? Are they poisoned?"
Thankfully, I had seen past narim's stupid plan of presenting her cupcakes.
She was a stupid bimbo that cared about fashion more than her life. Cakes would never move her.
" Well I did not only bring cake if that counts"
I brought out the sparkly bag in front of me, handing it over to her as she mulled over it with curious eyes.
" Its a limited edition Versace bag. I had the leather custom made for you and it's said to compliment your skin beautifully."
I did not need her words, her eyes were enough. She was impressed.
She huffed, masking her expression with a simple smile.
" Well at least you know how to do things right. I have to go get something downstairs, you can stay in my room till I get back and then, you and I can talk about this so called truce offering you are bringing".
My heart soared. Yes. I did it.
I turned to go back into the room she just came out of but she called me again, voice condescending.
" Oh. And please trash those useless cupcakes. Or give it to the servants. I don't know why would even bring that thing along".
Her room looked and smelt just like I had thought it would. Like life straight out of a Barbie movie. From the beautiful pink bed to the luxurious paintings that hung loosely on the walls, adding the finishing touches to this room.
" Fascinating isn't it? I had my husband design everything from scratch. I even have a lot of million dollars paintings here too. I'm a bit of a connoisseur you know" her voice said from behind me.
I turned around and she was standing there again, but this time, with a small poodle that seemed to vanish under her grasp.
" I never took you as one who loved paintings" I said, studying each one of them, some of delicate flowers and the rest of women seating in pretty meadows.
" Just how I did not take you to be the kind to beg. So spill. What do you want from me? You want favour from my husband?"
She was smart. I would give her that. It was hard to deceive someone like her.
" Fine. I talked to Narim and he told me you are the most influential in the family. I just joined and I want to make sure they like me. So I can't be at logger heads with you.".
That did it. The teasing of her ego, just enough for her to blush.
" I mean I was trying to let you know who you are messing with but you were so oblivious and..."
The rest of her words faded into the background as I stared at the particular lily painting that looked oddly too familiar.
That was Lily's work. I could recognize the brush strokes anywhere.
But Lily's painting never left the house to be sold. So how did Karina have it in her room?
Except....
I gasped as the truth hit me, turning to look at her, her own expression shocked.
But finally, I had it figured out.