CHAPTER 36

I felt an ache on my chest and realised that's where my heart was. I rubbed it gently trying to decipher the evidence to get into the depths of this mystery.

"It's you" the accuser repeated, cursing like an assaulted girl unto the man responsible. She was rolling in the floor with her hands and legs brought up to her stomach. She was crying. Crying wildly like a woman in labour for the first time.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes after it felt like we've lived this moment for an eon.

"Are you joking right now?? How can you accuse someone of such a vile thing??" A beautiful lady in orange asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"Am not joking....am serious....she poisoned me...." Jeannine continued to lay allegations against me and I stood there silent.

So this was her comeback.

"Eleanor DeLaRue, what the heck is she talking about???" Kelly asked seemingly frustrated. In all honesty, I would be too.

"I have no idea what she's talking about. Poison her? Why would I do that???" I asked defensively.

"Don't act innocent. I overheard your conversation with Ciara back in the jet...." Hearing her say that, my feet became rooted to the ground. Did she overhear all of our entire conversation? We thought she was sleeping...

"You two agreed to bribe one of the cooks to spike my food..!!!...." She raised her voice and I shook her head in pity.

"Hey!!!!!" Kelly yelled at her. "I will not tolerate a single word against this catering service, do you hear me??? This are the most trusted people on the planet. They're the ones that cook for us in my father's house and we've been with them for over three generations....do not dare even in the slightest allow such a thought cross your mind. Or else....I will pull your tongue out...."

The whole place became silent and I looked at Ciara who looked at me. I shook my head telling her I didn't do it and she nodded agreeably. I felt better.

Ciara was the only close friend I had here and only she would understand me.

"Well...do you have proof that they premeditated this assault??" Ayesha asked calmly helping Jeannine sit on a nearby chair.

A waiter brought a glass of water and gave it to her. She was shaking but still managed to drink from it.

This was unbelievable. Whatever was going on she had to keep it between us. Why would she go and sabotage someone else's wedding?

Was that why she came here in the first place? To humiliate me?

After all, her name was never on the final list. She was just a last minute ensemble. She's up to something and I have to be careful with her.

"Yeah!! Do you have proof? Do you really think that I would dare to poison a leech like you?" Ciara asked angrily but to our surprise, Jeannine grinned wickedly.

"I heard you.....I heard you talk....." She insisted. I rubbed my face in anger.

"Alright then, why don't we get the surveillance footage from the jet and listen to the entire recording....that will be enough proof we need to see who's who...." I suggested and Jeannine's face became white.

She knew she was busted.

"That's a brilliant idea...." The last in orange asked.

"It's not possible. The jet was scheduled to go back to England and it'll take two days for it to come back. In anyway....we have another plane booked for tomorrow but the three of you aren't going with us to Oklahoma until this matter's resolved...." An angry Kelly burst and my heart sank.

I was really looking forward to going to Oklahoma. I've never been there before and this would be a really great time to. Like a girls outing.

I had no idea Jeannine was going to be a bitch and ruin it for me.

I was so angry and booking with rage.

"Me....why won't I go???" Jeannine asked a bit angered. I hated the fact that I wasn't going but her not going along too was just sweetness.

If I wasn't then neither was She.

"Aren't you sick?" Kelly asked suspiciously.

"I....I..am...but tomorrow...I might be fine...I will be fine...." Jeannine explained. She was so desperate and we all knew she had no other option.

"Am not going to take this lightly. You just got poisoned at a dinner that was hosted by me. If something happens to you, I'll be to blame....I've actually called the medics and they'll be here soon...."

"What???" Jeannine's eyes flashed with fear. She wasn't expecting things to take such a turn and am happy we've taken her by surprise.

"Uh-huh...." Ciara nodded with an angry expression.

"That's not necessary.....I'll be fine....just throw these two people out....." Jeannine insisted but Kelly was quiet smarter.

"This is my function and I decide who gets thrown out. Not you. In a moment, they'll take your blood sample and you'll undergo gastric suckage if indicated to suck out the poison....then, you can go into a deep sleep to give your body sometime to heal...." Kelly said holding her phone.

"I just called in the police and an interrogator. They should be here in a moment....." she took a deep breath and sat on one of the dinning chairs.

"Umm...I can assure you, your highness.... I'll be fine...it's no big deal..." Jeannine went on pressing hard.

"No big deal? You just claimed to have been poisoned....it's a big deal...." Ayesha joined in and Jeannine became restless.

"For someone who's sick, you quiet do talk a lot....." Ciara raised an eyebrow and Jeannine bit her tongue. She became confused and incoherent that her actions and words were like fire and ice.

This was really embarrassing.

Everything was going on so well until Jeannine came in with her idiotic plan. What was she thinking exactly?

Throwing me out of this dinner wasn't going to happen whether through thick or thin.

Even better, I wasn't leaving this wedding midway. I came here to attend it and I was surely going to attend it. No matter what.....

"Come with me....." Ciara dragged me out of the place and into a nearby bathroom.

"Hey....take it easy will you ?" I snatched my hand and rubbed it.

"Why are you mad at me? Am just trying to help you....."

"Am sorry...it's Jeannine am mad at. What was the need to involve Kelly in all this? She overhead us plan to poison her? She's a fool....why would I do that???" I asked away in anger. She could not be serious. She was rude, manipulative and inferno.

How did her friends and family live with her?

"Calm down....I know a way out....." Ciara calmed me. I closed the toilet behind me and sat on it constantly rubbing against my temples. A technique I learnt to help me distress.

"You do??" I asked anxiously.

"Yes my love...don't worry okay...." She smiled and I smiled back, nodding.

"What will we do it then? How??" I asked.

"With this...." She gestured at her phone.

I have her a quizzical look wondering how her cellphone was supposed to help us.

"Am gonna make a phonecall....." She grinned and walked to the mirror.

She tapped the ceramic sink while dialing someone's contact.

I buried my face in my hands wondering what exactly was going on.

Maybe I shouldn't have come to this wedding. I should've just gone on vacation with Adam to celebrate our fifteenth anniversary.

But then, a thought occured to me. Lana Washington.

She wouldn't have been helped if I never came. That would mean no salon and no meeting her. Poor girl.

It's good I came, and I knew I highly needed to drop the thunder on someone. And it was Jeannine.

I raised my head to look at Ciara and she seemed to not be getting through to whoever she was calling.

She hung up and dialed it again.

"It's about time....." She barked angrily as threw her clutch on the bench. She was quiet for a moment and then talked. From the tone of it, it seemed rather disturbing.

"Okay okay....I don't care about her. I only called because I need you to do me a favour....."

"Yes favour....and you'll be highly rewarded....." An evil smile speaker through her face and I immediately knew she was up to no good.