“Hello Sis” I greeted sassily with my eyebrow turned up to form a nonchalant face and the little smirk dancing on my lips summed it up. Clad in club girl-like clothing, I was sure to get the reaction and truth out of my nagging sister.
“You look good" came her sly response. I chuckled, hiding the surprise in my eyes. I thought she'd react to seeing me. Why was she so confident and unfamiliar? I needed to up my acting game.
“Where are you dressed up to?” She continued and I forced myself not to stare around to be sure we were alone. She had a clue and I'm sure someone was playing a dirty game on me.
I gave her a sincere once-over then commented with a smile, “You clean up nice too.” She lowered her gaze at my words and lifted it up sniffling, her eyes teary. What the fuck?! I exclaimed inside of me, feeling as if someone was banging my head against the wall whilst punching my stomach.
I wanted to scream, “Stop acting! We're alone! You sadistic bitch!” But I dug my manicured nails into the flesh in my palm until I felt liquid, I didn't need a prophesy to know that I'd pressed too hard.
“You've never complimented me that way before.” She continued and I stood there allowing confusion to marry my expression. If she wanted an Oscar-worthy performance then game on!
“I understand you, sis. Your condition makes you forget a lot of things.” I was assured that she had a camera somewhere and expected to get some dirt on me but she'll become the sister with a memory condition and I'll be the heroine that helps her remember.
Her acting wore off in a minute and she began to yell… Pause! Not yet. Instead, she raised her head, wiping her tears with the curve of her wrist, she steadied her gaze on me. Only I could see the coldness in her eyes, I wanted to battle but not with the only elder sister I had.
“Yeah. That's why I can't remember much about what you said or did at the gala. Watching the news helps me keep track and regain the emotions I felt that day at such betrayal.” Her sniffles became stronger. I swear, Dad should've let Audrey go to the art school she'd wanted instead of leaving this talent to deceit.
I moved close to her with my face set like a mother would if she saw her struggling child. I reached for her chin, I had always enjoyed touching it but today, it took a great deal of mental strength. All I could imagine was David lifting her chin up and kissing her, I felt chills and numbness as I rubbed her chin, most of my fingers didn't agree with my plan leaving the bulk of the work to the index and thumb.
“You don't have to lie, Aud. It happened two years ago and you couldn't remember past events but you can remember present ones. Why do I have to remind you of this?” I cackled, relishing her struggle to hide the horror on her face. Quickly, she stood up to meet me coming straight to my face.
She groaned, “What the fuck do you want?” She forced words out through clenched teeth but I ignored her, humming silently under my breath and picking my nails. I wanted whatever plan she had up her sleeve to portray me as nervous. Slapping my fingers away from each other, she stared deeper into my eyes.
“What's all this? Why are you here?” The panic in her eyes made them bulge out and she looked a bit maniacal. I walked past her and settled into the chair beside her then leaned in with an almost innocent expression on my face to whisper back to her.
“Is it a crime to pay my elder sister a visit?” I smirked mischievously this time then drew back into my seat, “Oh! That performance was Oscar Worthy. When did you get that good, sis? Ouch! I forgot… You acted chill and happy for me for four years when it was all a gallant plan to use and dump me. How do you like seeing me hurt, sis?” Inside of me burned like hot coals were poured through my throat but outwardly, I had this cold and nonchalant look that a shallow person like Audrey will not care to overlook.
“I wasn't acting.” She quipped then drew closer, “Of course, you can visit your sister unless we're now frenemies and we should be wary of each other.” She said with a dead look in her eyes. The kind she had whenever she was about to hurt someone.
“Did you see the news? How did your slutty legs grab Damien Crawford's heart? Or did you? No. I doubt you can make any man fall in love with you and be aware that you're nothing but a tall and pathetic sex toy.” She snorted, her eyes showing flames of fury and hate. I gulped, looking away from her murderous gaze.
“Don't be scared, little one.” She reached out and rubbed my chin, making my skin crawl. “You're still going to be my little sister but you'll always be under. You can't do much with the Crawford name, do you know who a Nelson is?! Even the least member of the Woods is greater than Damien Crawford.” She spat bitterly, jumbling over her words throughout her speech.
I faked a gag, temporarily hating my chin. I'd need an hour of scrubbing to get her touch off my body and possibly, my mind.
“Aww, don't cry. Can you see how harmless your comeback is to me? I have Daddy and David fucking Nelsons on my side, do you think a twig like Damien will beat that? Huh?” Her voice was calm but her face said otherwise, she was doing all she could not to hit me. How Audrey hated being challenged but would push every single person she came across to their wit's end. The mad irony!
She's not just an obsessive little bitch, she's also very fucked up with a possessive mentality. She feels everything is for her and everyone is made to serve her. She's not also what you'd pass off as a spoilt brat, she's one person who needs psychological help but her mother would rather die than have the media announce that her daughter was suffering from some psychological issues.
“Let go of my chin.” I snapped when I couldn't take the torture anymore. She smirked but kept on, I grabbed her wrist very tightly which made her unable to move it. “Will ya?” I completed my sentence and she nodded solemnly, her eyes teary. What a sucker for pain.
I stood to my feet. “Come down from your high horse, Aud. Damien Crawford has grown from the one you'd crushed on throughout your high school and college days. He's no longer struggling, he's a few million richer than our beloved David, but you wouldn't know because you've made a covenant with ignorance.” I tossed my phone on her lap, letting her see the result of my research. Not some off random Google articles and gossip news of inside information on these men after valuing their companies and large assets.
Surprise made her lips part in a gasp. She looked more mortified than surprised. “This can't be true! I didn't sleep with David for nothing?!”
There! Jackpot!
There was silence. I didn't want her to know what she'd just confessed.
“Shit! What the hell did I see in those articles then?” She lamented and I cautiously bent and picked up my phone.
“There! Get better information, big sis and have a lovely day!” I concluded, chugged a bit of the wine from the glass on the table, did my practiced dramatic turn and sashayed away.
I'd have brought out the information at the beginning of our conversation if I knew that would give me a confession no matter how random or prompted. She'll realize her mistake when the 8 pm news will be all about her and how she'd just calmly confessed like she'd been daydreaming about it.