Chapter 11: Sister in disguise

The drive to the hotel was quiet as Ayo was occupied with his thoughts and the road while Tiwa was focused on her work. When they arrived, Ayo said

“We are here, you workaholic.”

“I think you have forgotten that it’s the same money I make that I used to buy you those sneakers last year.”

Ayo gave her an innocent grin and said

“And did I mention how much I love you for them?”

“Yeah sure you did.” She said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. They came out of the car and headed towards the receptionist. As Ayo was wondering how he would get the receptionist to call Tireni again without her being suspicious, Tiwa pointed towards the cafeteria and said

“Is that her?”

Ayo followed her finger and saw Patricia and Tireni sitting and laughing as they ate at a table at the far end of the room.

“See! Even you recognize her! I told you!”

Tiwa’s eyes conveyed shock as she mumbled “Wow”

They quickly went towards the table they were seating on. The girls didn’t notice them coming towards them. Tiwa was searching for her phone in her handbag as she slowly approached them. Ayo, who had gotten to the table, said

“Hi Tireni! Welcome back!”

Tireni gave him a tight smile. He then continued

“I would like you to meet my sister and best friend, Tiwa.”

Tiwa had finally reached them and she lifted her head when Ayo said that. When her eyes made contact with those of Tireni, the only sound that echoed through the cafeteria was the drop of a spoon on the cold tiled floor.

Tireni was in so much shock as she looked at Tiwa, who had a neutral expression on her face. Ayo and Patricia looked between them for some moments before Patricia said

“Do you know her, Tireni?”

Tireni still didn’t reply. Tiwa then looked at Patricia and said

“I have never met her before.”

Ayo smirked in his mind when Tiwa said that. He was happy that she was sticking to the plan. Tiwa’s words snapped Tireni out of her trance and then she said sorry as she picked her spoon from the ground.

Tiwa stretched out her hand towards Sophia and then said with a cheerful smile playing on her lips.

“Nice to meet you, Tireni,” she paused, “I hope we can be friends.”

With shaky hands, Tireni returned the handshake and then faced her food. Patricia still looked at Tireni suspiciously.

“Is everything alright, Tireni?” Ayo asked

“Yeah yeah” she mumbled as she continued looking at her food.

“Oh you must need a new spoon, Tireni. Why don’t we go get one from the hotel kitchen? Like a quick bonding trip?” Tiwa said and smiled at her.

Before Tireni could reply, Ayo spoke up

“Oh that would be nice. Take all the time you need. I need to quickly speak with Patricia.”

“Me?” Patricia questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“Great. It’s settled.” Tiwa then gently lifted Tireni from her chair and they casually walked towards the kitchen. Once Tiwa was sure that they were out of Ayo and Patricia’s view and there was no one around, she pushed Tireni against the wall and tightly positioned her arm against Tireni’s neck.

“Miss me?” she said with a wicked smirk on her face.

Tireni closed her eyes in fear as tears slowly fell down her face.

“Please… don’t hurt me.” She whimpered

“Shut up before I make you. Now listen and listen well. If I ever, ever! suspect that you tell anyone, and I mean anyone, anything that happened, I promise you Tireni Bankole, you will regret it.” She then lowered her face until it was right beside Tireni and then whispered in her ear “You would finally have new scars to add to your collection.”

Tiwa then further pressed her arm into Tireni’s neck and then suddenly let go. Once she did, Tireni bent over and started coughing and crying. Tiwa simply looked at her in disdain.

“Don’t move” Tiwa said and then went to get a spoon from the kitchen. Once she came back, she forcefully raised Tireni from her bent over position and told her to wipe the tears from her face. After she had obeyed her, Tiwa pulled her to start walking back with her and whispered before they turned the corner to the cafeteria.

“Now place a smile on your face and act natural. If you screw all this up Tireni, your whole family including Alex will suffer for it. I promise you that.

Tireni nodded her head quickly and wiped away the fresh batch of tears that threatened to fall. She hated how messed up and complicated the situation was getting. She wished now more than ever that she had never met Ayo.

Once they were a step away from the cafeteria, Tiwa put on her fake smile and said

“Now smile for the crowd, darling.”

THE END…for now

Hope you liked it!

Chapter 12: http://www.olabisiwrites.home.blog/finding-sophia-chapter-12