TOOL

Anne couldn't find any means of hiding her fears. She was worried, thinking of what Mirabella planned on doing to her as a punishment for her sins. The young girl knows how terrible her foster mother can get when she is unhappy. "Where are you taking me to?" she finally summoned the courage to ask.

"Hang in there, Don't be in a rush, we'll soon be there." Neo replied instead.

"If you harm a single hair on my head, I will tell the whole world about the dirty things you both always do together." Her eyes widened as she threatened.

"Didn't I tell you she already knewew about us? I told you that was what she was about to say yesterday." Neo's eyes were still fixed on the highway.

"Well, she just proved how stupid and unreasonable she is." Mirabella turned her head to face her. "How do you still have the effrontery to open that piece of thrash you call a mouth to threaten me?" She scoffed. "Me, Mirabella Williams?"

"Mirabella Williams?" Anne asked sarcastically. "Who gave you the last name? Were you legally married?"

"Anne!" Mirabella was shocked to her marrow. She had never seen her speak in such a manner before.

"Calm down Bella, she is going to learn her lesson soon." Neo said with a lot of confidence.

"You are both shameless, I hope I will be there to see John's reaction when he finds out about your dirty and shameful acts. You did those silly stuff right under his father's roof. I'd rather not have a mother than to call someone like you one."

Those words hit Mirabella hard, it was as if Anne had watched her from afar and had been disgusted by her all along.

"Bella?" Neo called but still tried to keep his eyes on the highway.

"Keep driving." Mirabella's voice was low and sad.

"Don't fall for her dirty tricks, she is trying to hold you back." Neo tried to talk her out of her own head.

"Keep quiet and just keep driving Neo, for my own sake."

He obeyed her and didn't make any more utterances until they arrived at Richard's house.

**********

At first, she thought it was a joke until she went downstairs and Felicia couldn't almost believe her own eyes when she saw Mirabella standing right in front of her with her look to kill for. "Whay aren't you seated?" She asked as she moved closer to her.

"Ever since the death of my husband, your husband has never sat in my house." Mirabella smiled. "So why should I sit in his?"

"Did I hear you say husband?" she laughed maniacally. "Who married you? You keep forgetting all these things you are holding on to now is because you had a son for my brother-in-law."

"At least I have a son that is worthy." Mirabella ran her eyes round. "Where is your son? What is he up to this time around? Still claiming to be an entertainer?" She frowned. "You are here, claiming I wasn't legally married to him while I am busy running the company and paying your husband who is his brother."

Felicia could no longer continue the fight that she started. "Why are you here?"

"I came here to have a discussion with the man of this house, where is he?"

"Mirabella Williams! Do not test my patience."

"Do you wish to die?!" Mirabella asked in her loudest voice. "I didn't come here to test your patience nor toy with you." She said quietly. "Call your husband out for me."

"Is it polite for the Chief Executive Officer of a company to constitute a nuisance in someone's house this early?" Richard Joined them downstairs.

"Oh come on!" Mirabella giggled. "I brought you a gift today. Neo!"

Neo walked in with Anne.

Richard's face was filled with shock and surprise. "What is this?" He finally summoned courage.

"I see she is an important tool for you and the piece of thrash you call wife, so I brought her here for you." Mirabella sighed. "You know, she already accused me of not being a good mother, because I won't allow her to be an actress, but you will allow that, I brought her so you can take full responsibility for your tool."

"When did she find out?" Richard asked Anne.

"Last night." She replied with her head down.

"It was whose idea from the onset?" Mirabella asked no one in particular.

"It was my idea," Felicia said with a devilish smile. "Why? You are so unhappy that she realizes the type of witch that you really are?"

Mirabella smiled and slapped her, twice. "You pathetic bastard!" she cursed with her teeth put together.

Richard tried to stand up for his wife by retaliating but Neo held his hand firmly. "Let go of me!"

"Don't think of it, sir," Neo advised as he forcefully released his hand.

Mirabella pushed Anne to her rivals, "Here she is, you can treat her however you wish."

"Take her back." Felicia retorts. "No one has the time to babysit anyone."

"Anee is fifteen years of age, she needs no baby sitting." Mirabella scoffed and walked out.

"I'll see you later at work sir." Neo bowed his head and walked out too.

"Anne, go with her and apologize." Richard said almost quietly.

"Apologize?" She was amazed. "I thought you said that you were ready to take me in as your own."

He closed his eyes in disappointment. "Look, I said all of that because I was looking for ways to make you work for me, not like I really meant it from the depth of my heart. Me and wife are very busy people, we might almost not have any time to take care of you if you stay here."

"You don't need to take care of me." Anne whispered. "All I need is a room."

"A room?" Felicia chuckled. "In whose house?"

A maid walks in with two traveling bags. "The people who were here just now asked me to give the bags to the young lady." Said the maid.

"She even packed your things?" Felicia chuckled again.

"Are you both going to throw me out? Just like that?" Anne was confused with Felicia's actions.

"You can occupy any vacant rooms." He faced the maid. "Show her to the vacant rooms and make her feel comfortable."