Ariana wasn't sure she would survive the days ahead in the Lawson's resident anymore.
It was just two days after Calhoun had left for the business trip grandfather had sent him too and the problems were already starting to gather in their numbers.
"I left my credit card in the kitchen and I can't find it anymore!" Matt, Calhoun's cousin yelled that afternoon.
The entire family, including Ariana were all seated in the dinning having lunch when Matt burst in and started screaming about his credit card.
"Matt, first learn to greet before you start throwing accusations besides can't you see we have a guest?" Grandmother scolded him but his eyes were burning with so much anger none of her words could tame them.
"What guest?" Lilly scoffed from her side of the table and her husband snickered.
Ariana, who had been trying to pay less attention to the embarrassing situation raised her head from her barely touched plate and saw that the entire family were staring back at her. She was confused. What was going on? Did she miss something he said? Or was it grandfather that asked a question? A hundred question roamed in her head, yet she didn't know where to start from.
"Grandfather! You are not saying anything!" Matt yelled again and for a second the attention returned to him and Ariana could breath again.
"Where did you say you lost the card?" Grandfather asked as he resumed chewing his bacon.
"Is that even a question you should be asking father?" Aunt Bianca asked with a scowl on her face.
"If he doesn’t ask that, how do you suggest we solve this problem?" Lily quickly retorted.
"This drama is no good for my mental health! Geez, we have a guest and you all are talking about missing cards like there's a thief in here! I have lost my appetite!" Elsie spat throwing her napkin on the table. She was about leaving the chair when grandfather stopped.
"Elsie, stay back!" He ordered with authority.
"Really, Father?" She asked with her hands in the air.
"I said stay back!" He growled.
Elsie grumbled but just like everyone else, she respected and fear Mr. Lawson Senior a lot. So, despite her irritation she sat back down.
"Good." Grandfather said glaring at each member of the family. "Matt, I ask again, where did you say you last saw your card?"
"I went to the kitchen to get water to drink and when I returned to my room, it wasn't in my pocket anymore," he responded with fire in his words.
"Fine, I will speak to the maids and we will find this card of yours. Who ever is responsible shall be dealt with," grandfather said.
"What —what maids?" Matt spat out.
Grandfather glared at him once again, corking his left brow. "What do you mean?"
"Grandpa, if it were the maids, I would have gone to them myself! The maids weren't in the kitchen when I was there this morning! Only this Ariana girl was!"
Ariana felt her heart jump to throat and an instant throbbing developed on the side of her head. Was he trying to say, she took his credit card?
Oh My God!
"Matt Lawson!" Grandfather growled hitting his fist on the table. He didn't trust Ariana as well but he wouldn't accuse her of such petty theft. "This is a grevious accusation you are trying to insinuate!"
"What was he even doing in the kitchen?" Aunt Bianca asked.
Ariana's breath as started coming in very fast as the whole situation started replaying in her head. She wasn't a thief. She couldn't even remember seeing Matt in the kitchen when she went to make breakfast. She had asked the maids to let her make breakfast for the family, just like Aunt Bianca had requested. Where had she touched him to be accused of this?
"Why were there no maids in the kitchen in the morning?" Lily fired out. This was her plan and the rate at which Bianca kept bringing up excuses was going to ruin their perfect plan if she didn't improvise. "Forgive me mother, but did you give them a break? Who made our breakfast then?"
A frown formed on grandfather's face and he turned to his wife. She also looked very disturbed with the whole seen. Matt was known to be a trouble maker but would he go this far? Besides, she didn't ask the maids to go on a break. Why were they missing from the kitchen at that time?
"I asked the maids to sleep in for breakfast," Aunt Bianca responded clearing everyone's question about the missing maids. It was something she did often. She sometimes made breakfast for everyone and asked the maids to take some time off while she handled things.
"What does all of these have to do with Matt's credit card?" Noah hissed. "We should be searching this woman's room and get the card before she sends the details to her parents or something!"
Ariana felt like the ground should open up in that instant and swallow her alive. She couldn't even raise her face as tears brewed around the corners of her eyes.
"Ariana, did you find Matt's card in the kitchen?" Grandfather asked and grandmother gasped as she held his hand at once.
"Do not ask such shameful questions to the poor girl! She was in the kitchen helping Bianca, and we all enjoyed the meal. Why would you think she took the card?"
"Grandma, I don't care if she was with christ himself! My point is that I went into that kitchen this morning. I only saw this lady in there and boom, my card gets missing!" Matt gritted through his teeth as he glared at her.
Ariana's heart was beating so loud she feared they would hear it and think she was scared because she truly did it. She didn't even see Matt in the kitchen, everything was just so confusing.
"What makes you think, she took it?" Aunt Bianca asked Matt.
But before he could reply, Elsie hissed so loudly everyone turned to her —even Thomas who wasn't paying attention to the whole drama, looked to his sister.
"We have a fucking camera in this house! Let's just go check who took the damn card and stop making Ariana feel like trash!"