Niara Robin sat in her office, listening to her client rant about the outcome of his last court hearing.
She wished she could tell him that it was not her fault that he didn't stick to the story he had initially given the court and that he had a past record of drunk driving. The judge had adjourned the case of the bank manager to two months later. If only she could find a most polite way to tell him to buzz off.
When the client had left, she pulled open her drawer and brought out a bottle of aspirin. One pill after, she massaged her temples, thinking the day might not be so bad after all. Until her secretary called.
"Good afternoon ma'am." the ever professional voice of her secretary rang through the phone.
"What is it?" Niara asked, already feeling grouchy.
"Mrs Anderson is here to see you."
Ugh! Her sister in law was here. Niara wasn't sure she was ready to hear a lot of chatter after all she had dealt with today. Yet she couldn't turn her away, because the stubborn mule wouldn't leave. Or worse, she would retaliate in her own special way.
Niara never like Elora one bit ever since she got married to her brother twenty-five years ago. Was it the flamboyant and extravagant lifestyle, the lack of direction in life or the flirtatious attitude? Niara was sure she didn't like neither. But she had to entertain her because she was her husband's elder sister.
Niara couldn't believe she was saying this.
"Sure. Let her in." She was going to regret this afterwards.
A few seconds later, a middle aged blonde, dressed in designer clothing and jewelry so much it hurt the eye, walked into the office.
"Hi Niara." Her voice permanently sounded like a taunt. "Long time no see."
"We saw at the Payton's grand opening last week, Elora." Niara said pulling on a straight face.
Elora took a seat and crossed her legs.
"That...is right. But asides that, you're as scarce as a green plant in Antarctica."
Niara nearly laughed at that. At least the dummy knew that green plants were scarcely found in Antarctica.
"What brings you to my office today?" She asked then she brought out a stack of files and pretended to go through it. Maybe if Elora thought she was busy, she would state her business quickly enough and go away.
"I came to check up on my boutique down the street and I thought I should stop by." Elora stated it so simply. But Niara doubted it was that simple. There was more to this impromptu visit.
But Niara's brows drew together. "You have a boutique in this street?"
Elora's smile widened at the question like she had been waiting for it.
"Of course, my newest acquisition. I got it a week ago." She said with her hand dramatically resting on her chest.
"Isn't it like the seventh one you've 'acquired' in the past eight months?" Niara asked incredulously.
Elora nodded, glad that Niara could keep up due to her excellent memory.
"Yes. My husband got it for me as an early anniversary present."
Of course, Niara thought to herself. It wouldn't be Elora if she didn't brag about it. This must be her way of reminding Niara that her anniversary with her third husband was close by. In fact, in two days time.
"Which reminds me..." she began in her usual nasal voice. "It's my wedding anniversary in two days. Donald is throwing a lavish party. You have to be there Niara."
Niara didn't look up and kept flipping pages.
"Sure, if I have time."
A moment of silence passed which Niara was grateful for.
"So, what's been going on with you, Sister? No one knows what you're up to anymore."
"That's because no one needs to know, Elora. Unless they're keeping tabs on me." Niara commented with a shrug.
"But if you really want to know, there isn't much going on. It's just from one lawsuit to another."
"And what about your daughter?" Elora asked.
Niara paused her flipping. "What about her?"
"Come on Niara, don't play dumb with me. Why didn't you tell us she was engaged?"
Niara looked at her sister in law who seemed to be spouting nonsense.
"That's because she's not engaged. And with that attitude of hers, she probably won't be engaged till the next twenty years."
Elora laughed. "You mean the attitude she inherited from you?"
Niara clenched her fist underneath her desk at that.
Elora's eyes seemed to widen with realization as she leaned forward to whisper to Niara.
"It seems you don't know your daughter is engaged, Nia."
"What nonsense are you saying?"
"Why," Elora said leaning back on her seat to have a good look at Niara's face. Was she playing dumb or did she really not know about her daughter's engagement.
"It's all over the news and social media. She's marrying the son of Clifford Sterling."
Niara sharply glanced at that piece of news. Elora should probably get her facts straight because there was no way that Leia was engaged to anyone, let alone one of the Sterling grandsons.
Did she just say Clifford Sterling? He was the chairman of Sterling's Holdings. So if Leia was engaged to his son, that meant she would be marrying the CEO of Sterling's Holdings.
"There is no way that is true." Niara croaked out. "
Elora whipped out her phone and with a few taps, she found the article. She put the screen close to Niara's face so she could read it.
'CEO Ethan Sterling's Engagement to school teacher Leia Sanders is confirmed.'
"This can't be true." The lawyer shook her head in disbelief.
"It's staring you right in the face." Elora pointed out. "That's why Leia will always be my favorite niece. She knows how to aim pretty high."
Niara scrunched up her face at Elora's words. "She's your only niece."
"Even better." The older woman threw her hands in the air with a cackle. "That way I don't have to choose."