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Ari knew she was entering deep waters asking the woman that but she wanted to test how far she could go. She also observed the woman's change of body language and was now certain she was hiding something.

"Would you look at that?" she faked her tone as she reached for her phone and raised it to 'checked the time' when in actual fact she opened her camera and silently took a couple pictures of the lady. She made it seem as though she was busy with something else and prayed the old lady bought that too.

"I should get going." She no longer felt comfortable around the older woman and the sooner she was out of sight, the better it would be for herself.

She waved goodbye to her before turning and naturally speed walked to her car. Once she got in, she locked her car, raised the windows, unlocked her phone and went to her gallery. She looked at the pictures and a frown appeared on her face.

What are you hiding, she muttered under her breath as she drove away. Kaden on the other side released a breath of relief when Ramona didn't give Ari an answer. He thanked wherever she was in a rush to because had she stayed and pressured Ramona, both he and Ramona would end up in deep trouble.

---

"You want me to search through all the files for what?" Kanti asked, confused. She'd just gotten out of the shower and was preparing for her date with James.

"There's this lady I just saw, and I got a weird feeling about her. Could you look her up sometime when you're free?"

"Sure, what's her name?"

"I don't know."

Kanti facepalmed and rolled her eyes. "How am I supposed to find someone without a name?"

"I have her picture. I can send it, can't I? Or how do these things work?"

"Wow, Ari," Kanti rubbed her forehead thinking of how to start this search. "Okay sis, you may send her picture. Cool if I check her out later tonight though?"

"No problem."

"Alright cool. Bye and text when you're home, okay?" She didn't wait for Ari to respond before cutting the call and jumping out of her towel to and into her outfit.

*

Kanti walked into the usual spot and looked around for a familiar white-haired man. A waitress came towards her with a smile on her face, softening her features.

"Good evening Ms Mahi. May I lead you to your table?" Kanti nodded and followed the waitress as she chatted on about their specialty that night.

Upon seeing the wondering look on Kanti's face, the waitress said, "He said he'll be back soon and that you take your seat. The usual?"

"Yes please," she smiled. The waitress rushed off to the back and Kanti sat back and wondered why James would want to meet her here and now.

During her wondering, which didn't last long, an arm appeared on her right with a glass of bubbly white wine, causing her to look up with a smile at the man.

When they made eye contact, her smile fell off her face as her eyes narrowed at the pair that looked back at her with a smitk she'd love to punch off.

"Good evening, Ms Mahi," he said, still smiling which annoyed Kanti even more.

"Don't tell me I have the displeasure of having dinner with you," she almost whined.

He took a seat across her and fixed his tie. "That you do," he winked. "My, don't you look all dressed up for my dad."

The way he said it made her feel angry more at herself than at him. "Where's James?"

"He's not here."

"Well thanks for clearing that up, Captain Obvious!"

"Why you always got a temper?" he spoke with a disgusted tone.

"You would too if you were talking to yourself."

"Okay, as much as I don't enjoy your presence, I have to come to terms with you-"

"What?"

Nate rolled his eyes and shook his head. He couldn't believe this was happening. "You cut me off just to ask me a question I was planning on telling you the answer to?"

"Just get on with it," she spoke through clenched teeth.

"Slowly now," he teased.

Kanti picked up her glass and examined the bubbles against the inside of the glass. "Wonder what color your shirt will be when I pour this wine on it," she spoke absentmindedly, purposefully. Nate's eyes went wide and he studied her for any signs that she was joking.

He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. He slipped forward a white envelope with gold decorations and glitter -gold as well. "Take a look at these and tell me what you think."

She opened it and a sniff of perfume hit her nostrils as she read the words on the letter. Her eyes shifted from Nate to the letter before standing up with a poker face. Before she could rethink, she took her glass and soon regretted what she was did.

***

"I'm home," Ari yelled at the front door as she carried her suitcase inside. The place has changed since she was last here but she couldn't ignore the feeling of nostalgia in her stomach.

"I'm so glad you're here," Claudia said as she came skipping down the stairs. "Here, let me." She handed her suitcase to Claudia and followed her up the stairs. They walked in a corridor and stopped outside two doors separated by a mirror. Both rooms were cocooned by a wall that gave privacy from the rest of the house.

"You'll be sleeping in here this weekend. My son is coming up soon and he'll have the room across yours."

"Alright, I can't wait to meet him."

"Get some rest and then join us downstairs," she said before leaving, making sure to close the door behind her. Ari took a look around and let her arms fall by her sides.

"I had to let one bad day get me in this, huh?" she asked herself out loud. She opened her suitcase and quickly unpacked her stuff in the clothing cabinet before washing her face, moisturising it and changing into a pair of cotton shorts and a loose t-shirt.

She walked into the kitchen and her eyes went around the place. Old, old, old, not so old, old. Just when she was starting to think she was going to spend a weekend with old people, a girl round about her age walked in with a large plastic bowl of potatoes.

She couldn't help but beam at the only other young soul around. "May I help you?"

The girl looked up and smiled at Ari before nodding. "Yeah, sure. I'm Chelsea. You?"

***

A/N Please make me happy by pressing that star and sharing your thoughts with me. Also, guys, I was editing and realised I interused Nate and Nash. So just know it's one person. I believe I gave his full name in one of the earlier chapters.

And for clarification, he's a different Nate from the one found in Until She Left