STEP-AUNT RHEA II

Mary walk into the restaurant with her scarf on her head and walk over to someone she recognised to be Carl.

"Who are you?"Carl asked as she sits opposite him

"Avia's Nanny and the interim CEO of Simpson company"Mary replied removing her sunshade

"Did she ask you to come here?"Carl asked recognising her

"No, I want to know what happened between three of you, I don't want to keep supporting the wrong while hurting Avia" Mary replied sternly

"Actually, it is all my fault and Avia is to be blamed also. I proposed my love to her, we did intimate things that day, we kissed then the next day she was sick. After camp, she did not say anything about the night or her feelings for me. In my attempt to get closer to her, I fell for Rita who was also seeking for her attention" Carl explained

"If I can hear you right, you mean you did not cause whatever distance is between the two"Mary said to be sure she heard him right and he nod

"I only know Katy separated them during the camp, Rita wasn't there for her till after camp. I guess Avia didn't take it well because she needed her best friend at that moment, those moments I was confessing to her, those moments we kissed and those moments she wasn't sure of her feelings for me. I truly do understand her but she went too far as to ignoring Rita then I came in the picture proposing to Rita after proposing to her. I somehow extended the space between the two but it wasn't me at first." Carl explained further

"Rita is neither the victim nor Avia, this issue has caused a great rift between I and Avia" Mary said realising it was all a misunderstanding from both side

"My advice for you ma'am is not to involve yourself. Avia made the decision already and I don't think she will go back on what she has decided." Carl advised seeing how determined Mary is to bring them back.

"I want them to be cool and no hatred whatsoever towards each other" Mary replied not wanting to believe they can't be back together.

"They can't be cool if I'm still in the picture, I did not cause whatever happened but I'm involved. I can't leave the picture because Rita is my girl" Carl said overthinking before Mary ask him to leave the picture

"I won't ask you to do that. I really just want them to be cool and Rita is angry at me same with Avia" Mary said sadly

"A friendly advice once again, let them solve it themselves that's if they want to. Don't get too involved in the issue especially with Avia, don't ruin what you've shared for ages for mere friendship" Carl advised again knowing she's not ready to give up

"You are right, thank you for your time" Mary said and leave. Carl watch her leave knowing she's still going to try to bring them together and it will cost her the relationship she shares with Avia, he shrug as he has done his part.

****

Madeline watch how miserable her stepsister looks and could only shake her head in pity.

"Why did I drop that juice there? Our plan backfired because of me, I should have known better. Stupid you Madeline, anyone could have drank that juice and it will be the end of me in this house" Madeline said to herself still looking at Rhea who is now sleeping peacefully not knowing she has constituted a lot of nuisance and she won't be awake till the next day.

****

Mary came home that night feeling the need to talk to Avia about their misunderstanding but she was fast asleep.

The next morning, Rhea woke up with terrible headache, she stands up from the bed rubbing her temple and was about to leave the room when the door opened.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Madeline asked

"What happened to me? I don't remember drinking" Rhea replied not remembering what happened

"You caught the bait" Madeline replied walking inside the room to drop the soup with her

"What bait Sissy?" Rhea asked not understanding what she meant and picked the soup up to drink

"I thought you are the life of the party, the smart one and the classic girl with the street vibe" Madeline said folding her arms

"Yes, I'm all that, what does that have to do with what happened to me?" Rhea asked not getting what Madeline is talking about

"Who drinks an unattended drink if not a fool, uneducated idiot" Madeline said angrily

"What do you mean?" Rhea asked still not getting what Madeline is talking about

"You drank the orange juice meant for Mary" Madeline said as low as possible and Rhea covers her mouth with her palm

"Holy crap! I was so engrossed in the conversation I was having with Katy" Rhea replied still not believing she stupidly picked a drink up

"And you said a lot about your relationship with Emmett, everyone including Avia heard. You cursed the teenager a lot that Avia became uncomfortable hearing them, you're screwed" Madeline said sitting on the bed

"OMG! I'm screwed for real." Rhea said panicking then her phone ring which scared her to death after seeing the caller

"Sissy, it's Emmett" Rhea said staring at the screen with fear

"Pick it up girl" Madeline encouraged seeing the fear in her eyes

"I would have proudly picked it if what happened yesterday didn't happen" Rhea said and Madeline gave her hand gesture to pick it

"The great Emmett called" Rhea said after picking up with fear, she couldn't let her guard down.

"Because I was asked to. Heard you constituted nuisance last night" Emmett said bringing down her pride making her gasp after his last sentence

"How did he find out?" Madeline mouthed and Rhea did the 'I don't know' gesture

"Anyways Rhea, I've been saying it and I will still say it today, we were both having fun with each other and it was nothing more than that, I can't deny the fact that you are special to me but not that I love you like you think I do" Emmett added making Rhea weak in the knee, she knows she had mistaken their relationship for love but did not want to hear it from the horse's mouth

"So you called me to tell me that?" Rhea asked not ready to let her guard down

"Your step-niece is so kind to have asked me to call you and clarify things because you're hurting" Emmett replied giving both Rhea and Madeline the shock of their life

"Avia?" Rhea asked, calling the name flashed her memory back to the night she and Emmett were caught having sex and she could hear Emmett shouting Avia, she gasp.

"Yes, she seems so concerned about you" Emmett replied thinking she hasn't realised who Avia is

"Emmett, she was the girl, it was Avia right?" Rhea asked with her voice now shaking and showing how scared she is. Madeline shake her head in disbelief.

"Yes, the girl you destroyed our relationship. She didn't know you until last night" Emmett replied

"No wonder she was uncomfortable" Madeline mouthed in disbelief

"Thank you for clarifying things" Rhea who is not interested in the conversation anymore said and hang up

"This is a lot to register" Madeline said consoling Rhea who is about to cry

"How I wish last night didn't happen, I really don't want to discover who the girl is or who I am in Emmett's life even if I do already, I didn't want to hear it from the horse's mouth" Rhea said with tears

"I understand you just let it go. You should be thinking of how to face Avia and not this" Madeline said consoling her

"I don't have to face her, I will be out for a week" Rhea said not sure she wants to face Avia

"When did you start planning this?" Madeline asked with surprise

"That was the conversation I was engrossed with, Katy wants to have a nice time in a beach house and needs company since her baby father won't be there" Rhea said

"Okay, have fun." Madeline replied not sure of what to say to her. Rhea stand up and pack her clothes and necessity inside her box as Madeline who is missing her already watch.

****

Mary who was walking to Avia's room saw her sitting in the study with her legs crossed.

"Princess" She called as she enter closing the door behind her

"Good morning Princess, how are you this morning?" She asked sitting in front of Avia who seems to be asleep

"You are in the study this early even when you are sick" She said more to herself than Avia

"Good morning" Avia who heard her voice from her sleep greeted

"Princess, why are you sleeping in the study?" Mary asked with worry in her voice

"I was here to meditate so I slept off" Avia replied rubbing her sleepy eyes gently

"I want us to talk Princess" Mary said

"I'm all ears" Avia replied

"I don't like the fact that we're not in good terms, it hurting me" Mary said hoping to get a good response from Avia

"I don't like it either but you chose it" Avia said coldly

"How princess?" Mary asked even after knowing why

"I don't mind you proposing decisions obviously you've been taking care of me all your life but I hate the fact that you are making it look like its a must I do whatever you say especially when it comes to my friendship. Nanny, if you're the one will you still be friends with Rita? No answer needed because I know what you're about to say." Avia replied as calm as she can

"But you can be cool with her even if it is not friendship, I'm only trying to train you that you don't dispose your old toys just because you have a new one" Mary said

"My old toy has spoilt beyond repair so I'm allowed to throw it out and about me being cool with her, I was until yesterday and that's the end of humiliation" Avia replied and Mary became speechless

"Nanny, the only way we can be peaceful again is to accept Mimi, I'm not asking you to like her but if you don't give her a chance, how will you know she's an amazing person and a great friend" Avia added making Mary more speechless and all she could do was nod. Their issue isn't settle yet but for it to be settled Mary did herself a favor by not arguing with her.