I stare at the image. It is my mother on her wedding day. Her lips are curved in the most beautiful smile. Sophie is standing beside her, as a maid of honour.
"You look so much alike." Sophie speaks.
I can't bring myself to tear my eyes away from the photo. A million emotions are boiling Inside me.
"Do you know her?" My voice breaks as I ask.
"She was my best friend since college." She puts her tea aside.
It comes as a shock because my mother never told me about Sophie. I knew Andre's mother as her best friend.
"Do you know her?" Sophie repeats my question.
Am tempted to lie but I nod instead, "She was my mother."
I just feel this strong motherly connection with Sophie. I can trust her.
"Figured that at the Gala, that's why I asked Ryan to invite you over."
I get agitated. "This wasn't a get to know you dinner but a manipulation to interrogate me!"
I remember Ryan telling me his parents can be nosy. I immediately regret admitting that the woman on the photo is my mother.
In a blink am on my feet. Why do I keep forgetting the world we live in and the extent people are willing to go for personal motives.
"This is part of me trying to get to know you." She says softly.
"Do you even like me, or it was just a pretense? And why did my mother never talk about you?"
"Because..." She opens her mouth and shuts it again. After a short while she finally speaks. "Because I stole the man she loved."
****
"Did something happen between you and my mum?" Ryan asks as we wait for Quinn.
"Nothing. We just talked." I shrug.
"Well you don't seem okay, neither does she."
"I would have appreciated if you took me home instead of Quinn." I change the topic.
With the revelation the night has brought. Quinn is the last person I want to deal with and his twisted mind games. And tomorrow is Wednesday. The day am supposed to steal God knows what for Mr. Marcelo. So I need a good rest before I die or go to jail .
"My mom needs me. Next time, I promise." He gives me a sly look beneath his eyelashes.
"You are such a mama's boy." I tease him.
"No, am not. Am just considerate."
"So you would choose to stay with mom than take your girlfriend home?" I taunt him more.
"Is that you saying yes to being my girl?" His green eyes sparkle with hope.
"Did I say that?"
"You have no idea what you are missing out."
"Like what?"
"All of this will be yours." He gestures his entire body. Which I must admit looks delicious. "And I will chauffeur you anywhere, anytime."
"Me above all?"
"Yes."
"Even mom? "
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but yes." He smiles softly.
I break into a laugh and Ryan joins in. I even feel a little bit better. He so much easy to hang out with.
After my confrontation with Sophie and the confession she made. I felt more confused. Was my mother in love with Ryan's father. Did she love my father? And most of all now that Sophie knows who I am, what happens to me and my brother?
In that happy moment, the devil decides to show up.
"Let's go. Have better places to be." Quinn announces walking past us.
"Has he always been a dick?" I ask Ryan.
"That is his best version."
Quinn hoots his car, "Can we go or I show my dick version?" So he heard me.
I roll my eyes and hug Ryan goodbye.
Quinn opens the door to his red Lamborghini. He's so obsessed with red. If there was one colour he could paint the world with, is red.
He speeds away before Ryan can finish waving.
"You should stay away from him." Quinn says once we hit the main road.
"You are not my father to tell me what to do." I snap at him.
"You have never objected with me telling you what to do, you always call me daddy like an obedient child."
The sexual innuendo doesn't go unnoticed. He's right and that should come to an end, now.
When am about to give him a piece of my mind and ask if he was spying at me.It is not a coincidence he just shows up at Ryan's house unannounced. His phone rings, it is on the console so I steal a glance. The caller is saved as Panda. He casts it a grimace glance, let's it ring for a while before picking it up.
The moment he answers it, I turn my attention outside and watch the city.
***
"Who was she?" I can't help but ask as he pulls into my apartment building.
"None of your business." He answers and kill the engine.
"Okay." I say in a care less tone.
"That's new." He says surprised.
"What is?" I enquire.
"Am used to your endless questions. Why now?"
"Cause am tired of your games Quinn." I mean everything.
"Is this because of Ryan?"
"Maybe but it is a personal choice." I set myself ready to get out of his car.
"You don't know him like I do so don't get your hopes up." He says slowly.
"Jealous of your friend?"
"Am just steering you away from trouble. He just wants one thing from you."
"How is that different from you?"
"At least we were both honest with what we wanted from each other from the start. I didn't have to take you to my family to get into your pants."
"Well he wants more, and am willing to give it a try."
I reach for the car door, but he places his hand on top of mine, stopping me.
"I don't want you to continue seeing him."
"I will do as I please."
"That doesn't please me."
"Well, lucky me that's just an added bonus."
The next action is unexpected. I find myself flying high and landing gently on top of Quinn's laps, straddling him.
"You have a big mouth."
He leans forward until our lips are close. I can smell his cologne. It smells of money and arrogance. I pluck my lips. His Adam apple blob up and down. My heart starts pounding, my mouth going dry. He stares at me intensely, almost threatening. I make a mistake of leaning forward. Our lips touch, lighting a wildfire in me. He pulls me closer as a way of telling me what he wants. His lips brush mine slightly, he repeats the process. Tortouring me. He is a sadist!
I wrap my hands round his neck and bring his lips down to mine. He kisses me with fire and vigor. I was born for this. I forget where we are and the building security guard can walk on us any minute. He cups my breast over my dress. His other hand moving to lift my dress up.
At that moment his phone starts to ring. We try to ignore it and continue kissing and caressing, however the caller is persistent. I break the kissing and glance at it. It is Panda, again.
Finally Quinn answers it. He nods a "mmh".
"I will be there shortly." He ends the call.
"I have to go." He can barely look at me as he speaks.
Is that his new Booty call? Was she the reason he ended our agreement.
Devastated already, I manage to get off his lap and out of his car. He doesn't say anything, he just drives away. He is never getting a second of my time ever.
I get to my apartment. Oliver already left but left food in the microwave in case I was hungry. I just love him. Then I catch a glance of a box I had not seen earlier. I quickly open it, it is a black super short bandaged dress and a note that says.
'Wear that tomorrow.' Your loving teacher, Mr. Marcelo.