Chapter 82
The house was quiet after Antonio left for the office. Even the helpers were done with their tasks and they had left.
Zabelle sat on the couch, flipping through a magazine she was reading. Her eyes glanced at the clock every few minutes, and it felt like time was moving slowly.
Back in the day she used to wish for times like this when she didn’t have to work to make money and now that it was happening, she was bored out of her mind.
At least back when she worked, she had human interaction which made her conveniently ignore the fact that she had not friends, but now it was glaring
The sound of her phone vibrating broke the silence, and she sawit light up.
Wanting to escape her boring day, she picked it up quickly, and small smile formed when she saw it was a message from Nivera..
She had texted her after Antonio had left, but she wasn’t online, and so she didn’t get a response.
“Hi, what are you up to today?” It was what Nivera’s text read.
Zabelle sighed, and her fingers started moving quickly over the screen as she typed out a response.
“Absolutely nothing. Antonio’s at work, and I’m reading a magazine.”
“Sounds like fun.” Nivera’s message came in almost immediately and Zabelle could tell she was being sarcastic.
“It’s not.” Zabelle told her.
“I’m going shopping for some clothes. Will you come with me?”
Zabelle blinked at the invitation, her stomach flipping with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
She’d never gone shopping with a friend before, as she never had them, and she hardly went shopping.
If it wasn’t necessary, she wouldn’t go.
“I wouldn’t want to intrude…” Zabelle however said.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Meet me at the Grand Avenue Boutique in half an hour.”
After reading the messages, Zabelle hesitated for a moment before typing back, “Alright, see you there.”
Without wasting time, she immediately got up to get ready. She was beyond excited and could barely contain it. She was going to hang out with a friend and it felt surreal.
“Yes!” she said to herself as she got into the shower.
“Ma’am, we’re here,” she heard the driver say, and she turned her attention from the phone to look at the boutique.
It was just as luxurious as Zabelle had imagined, and she had second thoughts about going in there, as she didn’t want to be pressured into buying something expensive.
Even though she was with Antonio’s card, she felt weird using it. The rich life wasn’t for her, and she felt out of place the moment she stepped inside.
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Chapter 82
“Zabelle,” Nivera waved her over with a unile on her lare, and the smile was so contagious that Zabelle smiled as well.
Good, you’re here. I’m having dinner with my family, and I need to find something stunning to wear there tonight. I need a second opinion, which is why I called you. You can get something while you’re at it,” Nivera went on, and Zabelle smiled nervously as she followed Nivera deeper into the boutique.
The shimmering dresses and elegant accessories immediately caught her attention, but the price tags made her stomach
Who would spend this much on a dress?!
“I’m not really a fashion expert,” she warned Nivera who waved her hands dismissively.
“That doesn’t matter. You have eyes and can’t tell what looks good and what doesn’t Nivera responded, and the two set out to find the perfect dress.
“Ok, this has to be the one,” Zabelle stated after some time had gone by. There were a lot of options, but something always prevented them from being the perfect dress.
“Yes, you’re right!” Nivera agreed as she looked at herself in the mirror.
“Now let’s get out of here before we change our minds,” Nivera sad and Zabelle chuckled.
“Aren’t you getting anything?” Nivera then inquired as they made their way over to the counter.
“No, I’m good. My mother–in–law took me out shopping and almost bought the whole store.”
Zabelle turned when she heard a familiar laughter and her eyes met with Vanessa, who was talking to the person beside her. Her sister’s perfectly glossed lips curled into a smirk, and she iramediately approached her.
“Well, well,” Vanessa drawled, her tone dripping with mockery. “If it isn’t the one and only Zabelle.”
Zabelle stiffened, and she clutched the bag in her hand a little tighter. One would have thought being kidnapped would have made Vanessa less insufferable, but it was Vanessa, after all..
“You know,” Vanessa continued, inspecting her perfectly manicured nails, “this isn’t exactly the kind of place you’d normally shop, is it? Must be nice having Antonio’s money to play dress–up with”
Zabelle’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment, and she opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat as she didn’t know what to say.
Vanessa was right, she was only here because of Antonio’s money on a normal day she wouldn’t have dreamt of coming here.
“Vanessa, we meet again” Nivera said sharply, stepping between the two women.
Her calm demeanor was replaced with an icy gaze. “Do you ever get tired of being such an insufferable bitch!” She fired at
Vanessa
The smile on Vanessa’s face immediately disappeared, and she glared back at Nivera. “And do you ever get tired of being ugly.”
From their interaction Zabelle concluded that they knew each other. She wondered how
“Touché, coming from the ugliest one here,” Nivera replied smoothly, “Normally, I’d stay just for the fun of it, but today, 1 don’t have the patience to listen to your petty insecurities.”
“Insecurities Vanessa scoffed, her voice going higher.
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Chapter 82
“Yes,” Nivera nodded, crossing her arms, “Because only someone sleeply insecure would come into a store like this and spend their time tearing down someone else. It’s pathetic, really
Zabelle stared at Nivera, her heart thudding in her chest as she’d never seen anyone speak to Vanessa like that.
“Stay out of this,” Vanessa snapped, her confidence faltering “This is between me and her,” she pointed to Zabelle
“No,” Nivera said coolly. “I won’t. Because Zabelle doesn’t deserve your venom. She’s here because I invited her and if you’re irritated at the fact that she is spending her husband’s money, why not go land yours and spend his money,” Nivera suggested.
“Oh wait, you can’t, seeing as Jeremy, the man who is in every woman’s skirt is refusing to pop the question,” she jabbed and Zabelle couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped from her mouth.
Vanessa’s jaw clenched, her face turning red. Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the boutique, her lackeys scrambling to follow her.
Nivera turned back to Zabelle with a small, satisfied smile. “Are you okay?”
Zabelle nodded, though her hands still trembled slightly.“, I–I didn’t expect you to stand up for me like that.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Nivera said, resting a hand on Zabelle’s shoulder. “Vanessa is all bark, no bite. Someone needed to remind her of that.
A hesitant smile spread across Zabelle’s lips. “Thank you. Really
Nivera waved her off. “There’s no need to thank me but quick question, how do you know her?”
clean.
“Well,” Zabelle hesitated, and she scratched the back of her neck as she wondered whether or not to come d “She’s my sister,” Zabelle replied. Nivera had stood up for her and she didn’t want to lie to her.
“What?!” Nivera’s eyes went wide with shock. “You’re joking, righe
“I wish I was,” Zabelle smiled.
“You two look nothing alike. Plus if she’s your sister, that would make you…
“Zabelle Pierce, the first child of the Pierce family”
“Oh my goodness, that means the rumours were true,” Nivera commented and Zabelle nodded, confirming it
“I’ve met Vanessa multiple times when I worked on ads, but I didn’t think she’d be a bitch even to her own sister. No offence. “None taken,” Zabelle smiled. “I’m used to it by now. It’s better to just ignore her.”
“No, sometimes you have to show her that you can be just as crazy. You allowing her is why she has allowed it to go on for too long.” Nivera argued. “But thankfully, you have me now, and I’m just what Vanessa needs.”
Where had Nivera been all her life? Zabelle couldn’t help but wonder. She was never losing Nivera as a friend!
18-22 Sat, Dec 28
