Chapter 90 ASSAULTED
“Really, is there anything you would need, ma’am?” the receptionist asked, and Esme parted her lips.
She was here to visit Aurora. She heard the girl had finally come home. She even made dinner for her.
“I want to see Aurora,” she muttered and stretched out her phone, showing the photo to the receptionist, who stared at her like she was some crazy fan or stalker.
The receptionist reached for the telephone while Esme glanced around. The hall was huge. Even the tiles were neat and polished. She hadn’t been in such a place for a long time.
“Yeah, here!” the receptionist muttered, glaring at Esme, then pointed at a chair. “Please, have a seat.”
Esme nodded and walked to sit down when suddenly two hands grabbed her elbows.
“Huh! What’s wrong?” she asked.
A bodyguard came into view, staring down at her with disdain. “You can’t visit without an appointment,” he announced.
Esme froze. She turned to the receptionist, who was now speaking quietly to a woman in a white gown.
“But the receptionist said she was on a call with her,” Esme muttered, confused by the lie.
“Please leave, ma’am,” the guard said and dragged her out forcefully.
“But she’s my daughter’s best friend. She even asked me to come,” Esme pleaded, reaching for her phone to show him.
The guard shoved her hand away.
The phone slipped from her fingers and crashed onto the tiled floor.
Everyone froze.
All eyes turned to Esme as she stared at the phone in shock. She had cherished that phone for years. It was Celina’s last gift to her. The last thing she had of her daughter.
“Why—” Her voice broke as tears filled her eyes. “Is this how you treat people?” she asked, trembling with grief.
She bent to pick up her phone, but the guards pushed her back.
“What part of leave didn’t you understand?” one of them snapped, reaching for her hair—
“What are you doing?”
A cold voice cut through the air, the guard froze.
Aurora came into view.
“Aurora…” Esme whispered softly, still curled on the floor.
Whispers broke out.
“Did she tell security to treat her like that?”
“Did she set the old lady up?”
“Gosh, they treat people here so poorly.”
“I think the old lady deserved it. What if she’s a stalker?”
“Shut up,” others murmured.
Aurora clenched her jaw and stepped toward the guard.
“Who told you to treat her this way?” she asked.
He opened his mouth to speak..
POW!
Aurora’s hand met his face. The slap echoed through the hall.
“Did I tell you to push her?” Aurora yelled. “How dare you disrespect my guest!”
The guard froze in fear.
Esme’s eyes shone as she stared at Aurora.
“Child, it’s okay,” Esme said gently, standing up from the floor.
Aurora clicked her tongue and pushed the guard aside before turning to Esme.“Forgive me. I should have arrived earlier,” Aurora said softly, holding Esme’s hands.
“I’m okay,” Esme said, but her teary eyes betrayed her.
Aurora noticed the cracked phone and her breath hitched.
Then she saw the stew soaked into the floor, the food Esme had brought, ruined.
“Who reported this?” Aurora snapped.
The guard pointed at the receptionist, the receptionist’s face turned pale.
Aurora walked toward her slowly.
“I—I really thought she was lying. She only showed a picture, so I thought-” the receptionist stammered.
Aurora grabbed her hair and yanked her backward. The receptionist screamed as Aurora shoved her to the ground.
The crowd gasped.
“Do you like it?” Aurora yelled. “Being pushed around like that?”
The receptionist held into the hem of her skirt, the tears slipped out, she was trying to feign sadness and regret, it made Aurora face twist in disgust.
Murmurs spread.
“They deserved it.”
“They treated that old woman like trash.”
“People like them irritate me.”
“Stand!” Aurora ordered.
The receptionist scrambled to her feet, shaking.
Aurora wiped her hands with a handkerchief like she had touched filth. “Fire them,” she said coldly.
The receptionist collapsed in fear and collapsed to the ground "Please," she begged holding onto the hem of Aurora's skirt.
"Did you think about the consequences when you bullied her?" Her cold voice rang out and the receptionist paused for a second
"She really didn't show any chats messages, it clearly her fault. If she had clarified it, i wouldn't hav-" Aurora shoved her away.
"What are you waiting for!" She asked staring at the guard she had called earlier "Drag. Them. Away" she said clearly. And turned to Esme.
“Let’s go.”
Esme gave her a small smile.“You’ve changed,” she said softly.
“I had to change for the better, Mum,” Aurora replied.
She learnt to call Esme mum as she spent mostly her hours with Celina at home and Esme had treated her as the best mother.
They arrived at Aurora’s office. It was neat and modern, painted black and white. Her desk was covered with magazines and documents. With a neat portrait of her on the wall.
“I’m so happy for you,” Esme said.
“I’m really sorry about what happened downstairs,” Aurora said. “The people they hire these days…”
Esme laughed sadly. “Who wouldn’t treat an old lady like that? I looked suspicious. With my shabby clothes and all.”
“Please don’t say that, Mum,” Aurora said firmly.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a card.
“How about we go shopping? I’ll buy you the best clothes.”
“No, no need. I already have enough,” Esme declined.
She cupped Aurora’s cheeks gently.“You’ve grown so much. Celina would be proud. I am proud.”
Something emotional flickered in Aurora’s eyes. She looked away with a smile. “I’ll order lunch,” Aurora muttered, standing.
But she froze when she saw a familiar figure at the door.
“What are you doing here?” Aurora asked sharply.
“Who’s inside?” Giselle asked.
“No one,” Aurora muttered and shut the door behind her.
“You snubbed me last time,” Giselle smiled. “Why are you trying to win over Erica?”
“When last did you visit her grave?” Aurora shot back, ignoring her question.
“Tsk. Don’t ask me that,” Giselle muttered.
“You don’t even visit your friend’s grave. What kind of friend are you?” Aurora asked.
“I never liked her, Aurora. You knew that. You forced that stupid friendship on me,” Giselle whispered and stepped closer “Between you and me… it was for the best she died.”
Aurora froze, the hall fell into a sufficating silence.
“The best who died?” Esme’s voice cut in, from behind!
Aurora and Giselle froze.
Esme stepped closer. “The best who died?” she repeated.