CHAPTER 38

I ORDERED A BISCUIT DOUGHNUT WITH ALMOND BUTTER ICE-CREAM. Excited or not, I was proud to be on this trip. I owed it all to Ciara.

I've never been in Oklahoma and this would just about make it all so exciting.

Since I was a kid, visiting New York was always a dream of mine. Living in the big city with beautiful places to go to. Manhattan was my favourite.

On the first of the month of May, every year I'd always be sure to tune into my favourite channel to watch the Met Gala. I wishing I'd be just like the people on the red carpet...

It was beautiful.

"Eleanor....." Ciara beckoned me after she saw me peacefully eating and having a biscuit for that matter. A whole load of extra calories.

"What????" I turned around and looked at her. Her make up was done and she was looking very beautiful. She wore jeans and a maroon leather jacket. Nice.

"Griffin, hasn't come back to me yet. Am worried sick about that witch Jeannine. She hexed us so bad and nothing can be done about it.....we won't get to meet Huda Kattan....." she cried and I sat next to her bitting another biscuit.

A crushing noise came from my mouth when I was chewing down the biscuits. She turned her head to look at me and then at the biscuits. Looking at her, I remembered everything Kelly said. Ciara was engaged to Griffin.

But how? Why didn't the world know about it either? Where they doing it in secret? Or maybe it had something to do with Griffin's royalty. As Kelly said, it was difficult for them to adjust to such changes and rather stuck to their stone printed old traditions.

A royal marries a royal. Selfish.

"When we're you going to tell me about your engagement to Griffin???" I asked and her mood changed. She looked at me and then around us.

"Don't worry...I made sure nobody overhears us...." I whispered back chewing another biscuit and scooping it along with the ice cream.

"Is that why you don't mind extra calories???" she asked softening up.

"Too excited to even think about it...." I added and nodded. I pushed the bowl over to her and she received it gladly.

I was happy that she also had something to eat. From what I knew about her, she probably spent the entire night pondering and thinking about just how to get us out of this mess with Kelly. Despite being linked to her closest friends, I knew for a fact Ciara would never use her connections to get out of a problem. She preferred facing it head on and fighting fair and square.

"Don't worry about anything. You and I are totally going to Oklahoma.... totally!!! Now eat till your full, it's not everyday we eat snacks....." I winked at her and walked into my room from the restaurant.

She looked back at me and followed behind me.

I could tell she had many questions on her mind about what I was talking about. I could read the wrinkles on her face and see just about each and every thought.

She really wanted to go to Oklahoma. And being the friend that understood, I was going to give it to her.

********

According to the itinerary, we were scheduled to leave in the afternoon. Nothing much happening in the morning and I took it as an opportunity to pack up the few things I had dismantled.

A butler came over and had my luggage picked. I spared a handbag and tossed in it a few things I'd love to carry with me.

He escorted me outside the room and I gave the card to him.

We walked to the elevator and pressed the button that would have us dropped on the ground level.

My eye was constantly twitching and I couldn't help but bringing my self to relaxation.

I was anxious and out of breath. I couldn't believe I failed to handle an issue as minute as Jeannine.

This is what happens when you let people get away with their deeds.

I should've just uploaded the video anyway. A cunning woman like her can not be trusted, that much I knew.

But talking to Kelly made me feel better. Her opinion mattered to me and having the host of this whole function on my side was a weapon that was strong enough to defeat Jeannine.

As the elevator doors opened, I pushed my shades up my nose and wore a smile on my face. I held my Prada branded handbag close to me and paraded as though I was on the runway.

The butler carried my bags and I followed behind him.

"Ma'am....please report to the assembly hall....." an attendant summoned me and I followed after him.

The hall was well decorated and full which was not to my surprise.

I walked as guided, to my seat and turned left, locking eyes with Jeannine.

For some reason, she was smiling.

I ignored her and looked ahead only for Kelly to wave at me.

I wasn't dumb enough to miss the highly secret and sophisticated signal by a high class diva. I knew well enough it wasn't just a wave, she was totally telling me she was on my side.

I waved back and smiled.

Next to me was Ciara who looked at me and I gave her an assuring smile.

"Good morning to you all my ladies, I trust the hotel accommodation was to your liking..." Kelly asked folding her hands in modesty. She was wearing black lace gloves and a suit. She looked really amazing.

"Yeah ma'am....Yes....." one after another people in the crowd nodded and smiled.

She smiled back and looked at her assistant who gave her just about an assuring smile.

"As I announced earlier, we are in a trip to Oklahoma today....and we are visiting my famous friend Huda...You all know her very well..." she announced and my cheeks turned scarlet red.

I turned to Ciara and she gave me a very pretty smile.

"You could ask her to use your recent products and she can help promote them for you....." I suggested. That would be a very sick opportunity.

"I would love to...but remember, she's Huda. She runs her own makeup company and also offers services. Obviously she will already want to promote products from her company through this....." Ciara explained and the smile on my face faded. She was right.

How could I not think of that? Obviously this is a God given opportunity even for her to promote her products. A function hosted by the princess herself was more than a lifetime chance to fly to the moon and back. Obviously she would want to use it before it slips off her grip and get just about the publicity she wants.

"Hmm....I understand....but soon enough we will get enough publicity for it....." I assured her and she nodded.

"Thank you. You're all I need to get the best publicity....Lana did a good job....only you.....have to do your part.... we'll have to reaply it for a shoot...."

"Am ready....." I nodded and we bumped our heads.

"Okay ladies....speaking in terms of what happened here last time thus Jeannine's poisoning and rendering the accusation on Eleanor of course with no solid proof....." she rolled her eyes and sighed while looking at us.

I took a deep breath and awaited her words.

"...I earlier on I announced, rather out of rage that the involved parties will not be allowed to participate. But herenow, I revert my decision along with certain consequences. I will allow them to come but only after giving them a close eye....." she said firmly and I looked at Ciara.

Her eyes were glistening and the expression on her face showed no emotion.

I placed my hands on her cheeks and pecked her nose.

"It'll be alright. Trust me....." my smile was wide enough to my ears and she returned it gladly.

I found no reason why she so badly wanted to be at this place and maintain a good reputation.

That was unlike her.

In a second, she would already have this place torn down to shreds and turn all the tables upside down just to put Jeannine to shame.

To my surprise, she did none of those and rather acted like a well-behaved girl.

Was she perhaps doing all this for Griffin?

"...our luggage was loaded prior to this gathering and having seen that we are through, let us report to the boarding area"