She was dressed as elegant as ever, her beautiful skin glowed like luxury itself. If one told you she was the daughter of the queen herself you would Believe. She looked like she had just come out of a hole that consisted of the finest and the freshest leaves.
Ariana stood up to greet the woman in front of her. Her smile was never leaving. She had the face of a goddess.
Ariana found it hard to believe the woman that stared at her was currently human. She was going to make the best pageant queen.
"Tara, have you been to any pageantry before?" Ariana asked out of curiosity.
"You are very funny Ariana," She said before she laughed out loud.
"Well, you are not wrong about that, I was once Miss Kaluna," She said as she placed her bag on the table.
"The only beauty pageant I participated in, trust me, I hated beauty pageants a lot back when I was still in school," Tara said.
"What would you like to have," The waiter asked as he stood close to the table that separated Tara and Ariana.
"I'll just have a beverage, Anything Soda would be fine," Tara said making her order.
"While, I will just have a simple smoothie, no Alcohol please," Ariana added.
The young man wrote out the orders before he hurried back to the door he came from to get them their drinks.
"I know you are surprised or probably questioning yourself, concerning why I asked you to see me," Tara said as she placed her arms on the table.
"Yes, I have been asking myself that literally," Ariana confirmed.
"Well, it's nothing that serious, Ariana. It's just a little talk I want to have about Sofia and Alice," She said.
The call of Sofia's name sent a bitter feeling down her throat. She didn't know the taste of mercury but at this point, it felt as if it was gagged down her throat.
"What about them?" Ariana asked as she leaned on the chair.
"Do you remember Irene?" She asked
Irene, the name had a familiar call to it, She heard the name somewhere but she could not make it out. Then it clicked in her head. Irene was one of Sofia's friends. They were six.
"Yeah I remember Irene, she blasted me one time claiming I stole Ethan away from her friend, Sofia tried to calm her down but it seemed impossible, She kept calling me a bitch," Ariana said.
The day that event took place, Ariana was quite embarrassed. The stares people gave her and the way they nodded their heads when they saw Sofia begging Irene to shut up. She said Ariana had cast a spell on Sofia and Ethan. That was why they couldn't think straight they were obviously under her charms. But as Ariana ventured deeper into her thoughts she realize that it might have been a trap. Sofia must have lied to her and she believed.
"I can assure you that she isn't your enemy I was there that day, Sofia said something deceitful... on purpose that was why she got angry and blasted you, I bet she would apologize when she sees you," Tara said before she took the drink from the waiter that approached them.
She placed Ariana's smoothie on her side and the waiter placed her Soda on her table.
"I will be back with your bill," He said with a smile on his face before he walked away.
"Anyways let's forget about that, I just want to let you know that the people you work for are dangerous. They can harm you at any time. Alice does care about you, And I can tell you that Sofia would go to any extent to have Ethan. Even if it meant stepping on your dead body. I know them like the back of my fingers," Tara said.
"Ariana, Believe me when I say that there is more to come in the future Brentwood industry is not the end of your career, That I can assure you. And I heard about your Father's health, how is he doing now?" She inquired.
"I am not going to ask you how you know about that but He is fine compared to the last time my mom called," Ariana said.
"The weather and his age, The climate play a big role in his health, I wish him a quick recovery," Tara said.
The waiter approached them with a bill in his hands. Ariana already started to check her bag to pay for the bill but Tara stopped her.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"I just want to pay for our drinks," Ariana answered still searching for her card.
"Don't bother yourself, I will pay," Tara said already bringing bills from her bag.
"But that's unfair I also want to pay the bills," Ariana insisted.
"Okay fine let us do it this way, The money you want to use to pay the bills, get your daddy some flowers in my name," Tara finally said.
"How much were the drinks?" Tara asked.
"234$ ma'am," He replied.
Ariana stared at her bag, she barely had up to 150$ in her bag. She watched as Tara brought out Four hundred bill from her bag and handed it to the waiter.
"Keep the change," She said and the man bowed his head. It gestured appreciation in Chinese.
"I guess this is where we say our goodbyes?" Ariana said as Tara stood up.
"Yes, it was nice speaking to you," Tara said.
"Trust me it had been long since I enjoyed such a meeting," Tara added before they shook hands.
"I hope to see you again, Tara," Ariana said.
"Oh you will, take this pass and keep it properly, My fashion show is next week Friday at dawn, please be there," She requested.
"Anything for you Tara," Ariana said before they said their goodbyes.
It was already dark outside, and Ariana doubted if she was going to see any taxi at this hour. She walked outside the restaurant in hopes that she would find one that somehow called out her name.
"Ariana!" The female voice yelled.
Ariana turned to look in the direction of the voice. Then she saw her waving her hands in her direction. Ariana smiled to herself. It somehow felt like a planned appearance.
Irene came down from the car as Ariana walked towards it.
"Ariana's words cannot explain how terribly sorry I am," Irene said as she stood her distance.
"Well a hug will make me forget everything and I will not hate you for the rest of your life," Ariana said as she opened her arms.
Irene didn't miss the opportunity to hug her.
"So where do you want to go at this hour?" Irene asked. They were just two in the car, Irene and Amanda.
"I am definitely exhausted, I actually just want to go home to sleep," Ariana said followed by a yawn.
She had no idea how time passed so fast. It was literally in the blink of an eye. The drive home was short as they barely got to talk properly.
"I will come to visit the queen when I am free from work," Irene said in an attempt to make Ariana blush and it worked perfectly.
"It would be my honor to welcome such beautiful guests," Ariana said as she stood at the door and they all laughed.
She watched them leave her driveway.
It was almost as if whenever she left home her problems stayed behind at the door. And when she came back they crawled back on her body.
The dread and misery were back again. She didn't have time to think again. She just went to her bed to sleep.
After all, a battle was going to be fought tomorrow.