LIA POV
I turned my face slightly to the back to be sure he was staring at someone or something else but I was wrong. His intense gaze was on me.
“Where are my manners? I'm Nate,” he said, extending his hand for a handshake. Introduction to a stranger whom he knew nothing about? Awkward!
“Lia,” I responded, taking his hand. “Sorry about your wallet,” I said, withdrawing my hand. As I made to leave, he stopped me. “I guess you're waiting for someone here. Mind if I get your contact number? You see, it’s been years since I visited and a lot would have changed,” Nate said, playing with his hand on his traveling bag.
“I —” I was just about to turn his offer down when a call came in on his phone. Perfect timing! I watched as he begged to be excused while he spoke gently to the other person on the line. When I noticed he was a bit distracted to notice me, I walked away from him into the crowd. I was only there to meet Celine and not to make small talks or act as a tourist for a stranger. I bet his jaw would drop when he notices that I already left him there but I could not be in a discussion with another guy. As a woman, I could sense when a man wants to create a sort of connection with a woman for romantic reasons. Greg and I had not spoken since the day I left his apartment. He could not locate me because I did not spend another day at my apartment. I found a lesser hotel and stayed there till I got a new apartment a few days after. I got several calls and text messages from him but I ignored them. I needed to clear my head and cool off. For once, I wanted to stay away from the men in my life and Celine was a good distraction for that. She came at the right time.
“Holy moly! Is that you, Lia?” Celine asked, wrapping me in a warm embrace. I returned the gesture, smiling at every word she said.
“We have a lot to talk about, Lia. I'm so surprised that you aren't married. Your father has been making lots of waves in the political scene here in America. I won't be surprised if you've got too many suitors and don't know whom to choose,” she said while we chatted during our drive home, munching on some candies and laughing our sorrows away.
“It isn't so easy like you've said,” I replied, chewing a candy.
“Come off it, Lia. Mr. Richardson said he'd carefully scrutinize those that would be joining your family once you guys started getting married. You didn't watch the interview?” she asked.
I let out a pretentious laugh, “I must have missed that part.”
“You're really so lucky to have Mr. Richardson as your father. That man is intellectually loaded. I'm sure he'd get an impressive approval rating as senator without an aggressive campaign,” she said, giggling like a child. I smiled back even though I sobbed inside, knowing that Pat was the most deceitful man ever. I wished I could expose his misdeeds to the world so that they can know his true color.
“So who's the lucky guy? Don't tell me you've got no one. You're too pretty to be single,” Celine teased and I laughed heartily. It felt great to have someone of the same age and gender to play and joke with.
We arrived at my new apartment and I prepared the meal while she settled down. I bet she'd wonder why I was living below standard like everyone who knew me wondered. I didn't have a car of my own nor did I live in a fancy house. Some would say I was an ingrate because I was adopted so they had to stay away from me. Others would say I was rebelling - all sorts of notions to justify my current status. While I made dinner, I got a message on my phone that almost made me fry my hands along with the food I was cooking.
“What the hell! What have I done to deserve this?” I cried, sobbing gently in the kitchen.
“Is something wrong?” Celine asked, walking into the room.
“It's nothing. The onions got into my eyes as they always did,” I lied, trying to let out a smile.
“Sorry about that. I'll just be in the living room. Don't worry about breakfast tomorrow. I'll take over it,” she said, drying her hair with a towel.
“You don't have to. Cooking is no bother at all. You had a long flight and must be jet-lagged. I'll be done in a few minutes,” I said and she grinned then moved out of the kitchen.
Phew! I had to come up with the onion tale because the peels were still over the sink. I was making a local Asian recipe she had taught me in college just to celebrate and welcome her. I can't have her see me in tears when she just arrived. That would make me something else. I held the tears in as I continued cooking. While I pretended everything was fine and served dinner, I received another message from the same unknown number. I wanted to scream but I kept mute so as not to alarm Celine. My nudes! It was clearly photographed and packaged for me to see. The new message was sex tape of me, moaning while I was intimate with Fred but his face was blurred. I trembled violently, racing into the restroom as if I had an urinary emergency. Then another message popped up on my screen.
If you don't want these pictures and videos all over the place by midnight, hurry to the house as fast you can. Comment, I'm on my way to be sure you got and understood this message.
Fred
I wiped the tears off my face then flushed the toilet to finalize my pretense.
“Can you manage to be by yourself while I get something from the convenience store just down the street?” I asked Celine who was deeply engrossed in the series she was watching.
“Come clean already. Your man wants to see you tonight right? I can see the look on your face that you've got nothing to get from the convenience store,” she giggled excitedly. All I could do was nod my head in affirmation. Then I went into my room and got into a close outfit. By all means necessary, I'd stop any of the men from forcing themselves on me that night.
“What are you wearing?” Celine asked, with her mouth slightly ajar the moment I came into the living room.
“An outfit,” I answered.
“Do I have to teach you these little things? You can't wear this to meet your man. How will anything steamy happen if you're wearing this?!” she exclaimed while trying to take off the cloth.