"Hmm, this is actually very good. Aria, I am proud of you," Lisa moaned as she shoved her spoon into her mouth. Aria wasn't really good in the kitchen but it seemed the days she spent at home, she used it wisely.
Ariana glared at her from her end of the table while Zion struggled not to choke on his meal.
"Do you two act this way all the time?" Zion asked laughing. Aria passed him a glass of water and she smiled as well.
"No, we don't. Lisa is just being really annoying. To think she has been quiet all day and then you come in and she starts acting like a brat!" Aria said feigning anger.
"That is what happens when you work for the Brentwood for as long as I have," Lisa responded.
They all started laughing at her response again and Zion raised his hand. "That means, you both met there?" He asked. He always thought Aria had an issue picking her friends back in high school but it seemed the jinx had finally been broken as soon as she met Lisa. He didn't know much about her yet, but he could tell she was not faking her friendship. She truly cared for Ariana and she was beautiful...
"Yeah, I have been working for the Brentwood for two years before Aria got employed and somehow we became friends," Lisa said as she wiped her mouth.
"Liar! You kept buying me coffee every morning! I had no choice but to become your friend!" Aria put in with a smile.
Zion turned his head to Lisa and shook his head as he chuckled. "How about that?"
Lisa raised her hands in surrender. "I did that because I needed a friend, Alice was requesting for my head!"
"Do you think Mr. Lawson is also going to have my head? I heard he is really strict and merciless," Aria suddenly said and the table went silent.
Lisa didn't want the conversation to go to her new job —or what Aria thought was her real job. She wanted Aria to keep smiling about awkward jokes Zion cracked. That was way better than sinking into their reality.
"No, Mr. Lawson is really cool. Just do his job and you will be good. He maintains a respectable relationship with all his workers. You will enjoy working with us, "Zion said proudly.
Lisa frowned as she looked down at her empty plate. Even this guy didn't know that a male was sent already. He was being so optimistic about an impending doom. Lisa found it hard to breathe. She felt like the only one with a mask in a fish tank. She couldn't do it.
She got up and started taking the plates.
"Hey, Lisa, let it go, we can do that later, let's hear about his boss. You will soon join us remember?" Aria said winking sweetly at her.
Lisa tucked a strand of her hair behind her ears and she felt her hands were sweating from all the thinking and holding back she was doing. She clutched the plates tightly as if her life depended on them.
"It's okay, you guys go on. I am listening." Before Aria could stop her. She ran off to the counter just a few feet away from them to drop her plate.
This was the same Lisa that in a normal circumstance she would have to beg before she lifted a finger to get her plates cleaned. Something was definitely not right.
"Zion, do you think Alice works with your boss?" Aria asked in a low voice.
Zion furrowed his brows together as he sat back on his chair and folded his fingers together. "Ariana, you asked me earlier and I told you. You have nothing to worry about. There would have been a problem if my boss didn't sign on your employment paper." Zion explained and Lisa listened in as well from where she stood.
She really hoped he was right and the Lawson was not somehow dependent on the Brentwood.
"There is nothing Alice can do to make my boss change his mind. So relax, get a pretty dress ready and go blow his mind away." Zion raised his glass of water in the air like it was champagne and Aria smiled at his actions.
She just had to believe there was nothing else she could do.
She knew Lisa was worried about her. Obviously, it was because of the rejects she had been getting recently. Everyone was scared of Alice. no one wanted to go against her wishes. She only hoped that the Lawson Group would not be puppets under her fingers.
She and Zion had more chitchat before he left. She then turned her attention to Lisa, who had continued washing the plates like a slow snail ever since.
"Aren't you done yet?" Aria whined as she walked into the kitchen where Lisa stood cleaning the plates.
"I am done now." She placed the last plate in her hand on the plate rack and cleaned her hands with the kitchen napkin before turning to face Ariana. "What's up?"
Aria raised her brows again. Maybe the best approach will be to just go ahead and let it out
"Lisa, what's wrong? You are starting to scare me, what's the problem? Do you think Alice would get to the Lawson too?" Aria asked her.
Lisa slipped her bottom lip between her teeth and tucked her hair behind her ears again.
"Alice is evil, Aria. We need to be careful. We can't be so sure of this job," she finally whispered with her eyes closed.
"Alice, I know that this isn't the final thing until I am certain Mr. Lawson himself assures me otherwise but Lisa, let's stay positive. We'll be fine. She can't rule everywhere," Aria cried out.
"I wrote the email Aria! That bitch made me write the messages that are destroying my friend's life! What do you think that makes me feel? I can't be positive Ariana, I am scared!" Lisa snapped. She turned around and held herself.
Aria jumped down from the counter and came to stand In front of her. "I understand Lisa, Alice has made me do worst. But I don't want you to worry about me. I'll go to the Lawson Group on Monday and then, walk away with a smile on my face if Alice has reached them too."
Lisa becomes overwhelmed with emotions and hugs Ariana tight. She couldn't wait for her friend to just be happy. All these were too much for her alone to handle.