Chapter Six

Gabrielle. "Do I really have to come with you?" Mia sulked for the umpteenth time, still trying to get out of coming with me to see Gabriella. "Yes, you have to come with me Mia and I already told you this a thousand times. I don't think I can go there by myself and I need you to help me keep up with the pretence," I respond, feeling sick and tired of having to repeat myself. "Why me though? You know I hate her just as much as you do!" she said and I scowled. "Really Mia? Really?" I asked and she rolled her eyes. "Okay, maybe not as much as you do but I still hate her and I'm not exactly the best at pretending. I don't even get why we need to go see her. Do you really need to keep pretending that you actually like her?" She asks. "This has nothing to do with pretending to like her, Mia. No matter how terrible our relationship is, I can't have her suspecting that I have something to do with Martin's accident and for me to avoid that, I need to pretend like I actually feel sorry for her current predicament," I explained and she sighed. "I still don't get why I need to tag along though. This is solely your business and it has absolutely nothing to do with me," S she whined childishly and frankly, I was starting to get irritated. "Aren't you supposed to be my best friend Mia? I mean, I'm about to see my sister who I loathe and I need you to be there so I don't act out of character. You don't even have to say anything, just mind your business and help me to avoid acting out so I don't appear suspicious," I explained myself for the umpteenth time. "Okay fine but you better make it short or I swear, I'm walking out," She said and I rolled my eyes at her. "You wouldn't dare besides, I don't plan to take forever," I replied. "Where is she though? You know where she lives?" she asked. "Not exactly, I don't but I'm pretty sure she stays with Liam. I'm actually heading to the cafe I got for her because I confirmed that she's still working there," I replied. "Are you for real? Shouldn't she be avoiding anywhere public for now? I mean, her name and her face is on every tabloid possible and she's getting criticised by the public as a terrible human being. Does she really have no brain? Also, now that I think about it, you really shouldn't be seen with her publicly so you're not associated with her and criticised as well," she advised and although she had a point, I couldn't agree with her. "It'd be really weird if I don't pay her a visit and since I have no idea where she lives, I'll just have to deal with seeing her in public. Besides, I doubt she'll put herself out there where she'll be seen. She'll probably just be behind or something so she doesn't ruin her own business. I'll just walk in with my head low, meet with her and keep it as brief as possible," I assured her and when she attempts to complain again, I'm quick to change the subject. **** Mia and I walked into the cafe with our heads low since the cafe was far more crowded than we expected. "Isn't this place supposed to be partly empty or something? Why the hell are there so many people?" Mia hissed and I looked around for a bit, trying to understand why in the world the cafe was this crowded and that was when I saw it. "Look over there," I nudged Mia to look behind her and she immediately scoffed. "Isn't that Tyler Helton? What in the world is he doing here?" she hissed and I chuckled. "He's Liam's brother Mia, have you forgotten? Now, I get why most of the people here are females," I replied, not exactly surprised by the crowd anymore. Tyler Helton is a pretty popular model, actor and designer and he has a reputation of rarely showing up at random places like cafes, clubs, and the likes, so when he does show up, girls completely lose their minds and start to hover around him like flies asking for pictures, autographs and basically just screaming and making a fool of themselves. The worst part is, there's a rumor that he's actually gay but ninety five percent of his female fans refuse to believe it. "Hold on Elle, if Liam's brother is here, doesn't that mean he's also here?" Mia voiced out suddenly. "Well, that's definitely a huge possibility but why do you ask? Don't tell me you actually think I'd be bothered seeing them together?" I asked and she frowned. "Wouldn't you be bothered? I mean, you say you like the guy so you're most likely gonna be bothered by him being with her and since my main purpose here is to do the thinking and the correcting in case you're about to act out, I'd suggest you come back another day so your jealousy doesn't consume your thoughts and let you act out of character," she said. "I get what you mean Mia but you don't have to worry about me acting out because of Liam. I know for a fact that I currently hold no place in his life and that he's with my sister so I can't be mad. Besides, if I act out, I'd be ruining my chances with him. For now, I'm just gonna keep pretending like I'm completely unbothered by them being together and when Ella is convicted and sent to rot in jail, I'll be there to comfort and love him," I replied her with a smile plastered on my face and she gives me an irritated look before walking right past me and towards the counter that had a long line of customers. We walk right past them, earning displeased glares from the people on the line but we ignore them anyways and immediately move towards the girls who were busy taking the orders. "Hi, can we see the owner of this place?" Mia asked the short girl on the left, who stared back at her with a disgusted expression. "Unfortunately miss, you can't see her at the moment cause she's not available and I'd also appreciate it if you don't cut the line miss. It wouldn't be fair to other customers who came in before you," she replied sharply and Mia's jaw dropped in embarrassment. "Wait, are you telling me to get back on the line just because I want to see your boss? I'm not even interested in placing an order!" she hissed loudly, attracting the attention of a few people on the line. "Just get back on the line lady!" a little girl about sixteen years of age yells at Mia, with a bored and irritated look on her face. "Elle, did you see that? Did you see how that brat just spoke to me? This is your fault!" She hissed at me and I rolled my eyes before pinching her to remain quiet so no one would recognise my face. "I knew coming to see your sister was a bad idea. You should have just listened to me from the beginning," she whined and I scowled. "Just be quiet and let me speak to the girl," I snap, she scoffs. "Why don't you just call her? Wouldn't that be easier?" she suggested. "Don't you think I already did that? I think she deactivated her number or something," I replied and she sighed. "If that stupid, disrespectful wrench doesn't let us in even after you speak to her, then I'm leaving this place with or without you," Mia threatened but I ignored her and approached the same girl again. "Hi. Good afternoon," I greeted. "I'm sorry Miss but you can't cut in line. I won't attend to you until you join the queue," she says immediately without even letting me speak and boy was I irritated immediately. "The least you can do is look up to see who's talking to you. Is this how you react to every customer?" I asked in a slightly irritated tone and I could tell she was getting ready to talk shit again until she looked up at me and her eyes grew slightly wider when she realised who I was. "Oh my goodness, madam, I'm so sorry. I didn't realise who you were, I apologise. Please forgive me," she apologised and judging by how scared she looked, I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm Gabriella. "Calm down young lady, I'm not who you think I am. I'm her sister and I need you to take my friend and I to my sister," I instructed and she stared at me for a few long seconds first before finally opening her mouth to speak. "Hold on, you're not Miss Ella?" she asked the obvious and I rolled my eyes. "I believe I just said that miss. Now stop wasting my time and let Ella know here to see her," I hissed sharply, getting very irritated by her attitude. "I apologise, but you cannot see her," she replies and my blood boils. "What do you mean by I cannot see her? What the hell are you talking about?" I asked as calmly as I could to avoid drawing too much attention to myself. "Miss Ella doesn't permit your visitation miss, so if you're not going to order anything, please leave so I can get back to attending to the customers," she says and furious would be an understatement to describe how I felt right this moment. "So what you're telling me is, Ella told you that I'm not allowed in here?" I asked once again, hoping I heard wrong. "What's happening here Elle?" Mia walked towards me and asked. "I'm very sorry miss but those were the instructions that she gave. You're only allowed here as a customer but if you're not then, I'll have to ask you to leave," she repeated and my jaw dropped. "Wait what? Did I just hear correctly? Did Ella really ban you from seeing her or are my ears fucking with me?" Mia asked. "Let's get out of here Mia," I said to Mia, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I just got kicked out of the very cafe I bought for Gabriella. That ungrateful bitch! "Are we really just going to leave like this? Are you going to let that insignificant piece of shit you call your sister embarrass you like this? God forbid Elle, I refuse to be embarrassed by that useless criminal," Mia snapped and I quickly held her down before she did something crazy. "Let's just go Mia. Give me a second please," I say to her quickly before turning back to the waitress who had the effrontery to insult me. "Katherine Jones…," I read out the name printed on her uniform. "Katherine, is that your name miss?" I ask, she frowns. "As you can clearly see, it is and if your plan is to threaten me, then please don't bother cause I'm only following my boss's instructions," she blurted out and I chuckled. "You don't have to worry about that. Have a good day," I told her before turning around and walking away with Mia right beside me. "So you're just gonna let them get away with treating you like that? You should have torn that place apart until that bitch showed her face and explained why the hell she banned you from a place you bought!" She yells furiously, I smirk. "Just wait and see Mia," I replied to her before bringing out my phone and dialling a number I didn't think I'd be needing anytime soon. "Who are you calling?" Mia asked and I quickly hushed her up. "Hello," His deep voice greeted me and I froze for a few long seconds before finally speaking up. "It's me. I have a job for you," I say to him, not bothering to mention my name since he'll probably know who I am already. "I'm listening," he replied. "I'll text to an address soon, it's a cafe and I need you to get someone for me. I'll text you her name but just in case, she's pretty short and she has short black hair. Don't kill her, just let me know when you have her," I instructed. "Understood," and with that, he hung up and I immediately texted him her name and the cafe address. "Are you going to kill her?" Mia whispered with a shocked expression on her face. "Just pretend like you didn't hear anything Mia. I'll only be using that brat as a scapegoat for daring to talk brashly to me and you can just pretend like you know nothing," I advised and luckily, she does. "Don't worry bestie, I heard absolutely nothing. Did you say something?" she asked jokingly and I chuckled a bit before getting into the car but not before turning to look back at the cafe one last time because the next time I'll be seeing this place, it'll be in ashes.