chapter twenty two

We drove past the caravans drawing towards the edge of the port. My eyes grew big as l saw a modern luxury cruise ship with giant letters "THE GREAT GREYSON".

The ship looked like an expensive yacht only that it was larger. We drove onboard and straight to the parking lot. There were many expensive cars parked in the space. It could have taken a long time to search for our parking area if there wasn't male chaperone waiting to escort us.

As soon as we stepped out of the car, the man in the black suit walked to us. He stopped a little distance from the car then gave us a small courteous bow. He plastered a dutiful smile across his face before leading us to a wide classy lobby.

We were heading towards the counter but before we had made it halfway there, a  wavery feminine voice called from behind. We turned to see a beautiful young lady in a flirty black ball gown smiling with her hands joined respectfully.

-

"Mrs Charleston, l assume", she said confidently as she led us down the wide staircase. The sound of the violin and the acoustic becoming more audible with each step.

"Yes"

"We are glad you were able to make it here, thank you for coming", she said then looked back, "you are all very welcome, please feel at home".

The stairs led us into a large spacious classy ball room filled with the entire Greyson family. Expensive chandeliers hung on ceiling and illuminating the slippery wooden dance floor.

People were chattering in small groups or pairs, with wine in one hand, the other gesturing or holding a dessert. Not many seemed to have noticed our entry, if they had, they had probably ignored us.

A waiter stopped by, holding a tray of wine. Keisty reached out about to pick one but auntie Yolei slapped her hand off.

"Aw", Keisty yelped then started rubbing the back of her hand.

"No thank you", Auntie Yolei said to the waiter with a polite smile. He smiled understandingly then passed on. I snickered, earning a daring glare from Keisty.

"Mr Greyson asked me to inform him when you arrive, said wanted to talk to you so let me go tell him that you've made it" the young lady who was leading us said.

"Mean while...", she trailed off looking at a waiter who was passing by then she lightly clapped her hands twice calling his attention. He turned then came in our direction.

"Would you get non alcoholic beverages and desserts for the ladies", she said then turned to us, "Meanwhile, make yourself comfortable, mingle and enjoy", she added as the waiter was walking away.

As soon as she walked away, Keisty took my hand and led me to the food table which was at the center of the room. There we grabbed small plates of chocolate cakes and started enjoying as we walked through the sea of people.

"Arielle, look to your left", Keisty said with a mischievous smile on her face. I know that smile.

I quickly glanced over my shoulder and saw a group of boys giving us predator eyes. A shiver ran through my spine. They were nudging each other, daring themselves to approach us.

I hope they don't.

And they did. A tall mascular, way beyond teen-age boy or is it young man, stepped out of the group bracing himself whilst the others patted his back encouragingly. He started to walk in our direction.

I felt like a prey in the predators territory. Without thinking, l grabbed Keisty's hand and quickly started pacing back to where we had left Auntie Yolei and Deborah. To my dismay, they were already leaving the room with the same lady who led us from the lobby leading them.

Keisty lightly tugged my sleeve, l stopped then stared at her. She was stifling a laugh.

"Arielle, you look like you are being chased by a serial killer", she stopped laughing and her features softened into concern. "Arielle, relax. Nothing will happen to you, at least not on my watch". That was reassuring. I calmed a bit.

"Thanks"

"If you want we can walk out, can watch the sea, feel the sea breeze", she suggested.

I nodded without hesitation and she led us to the other end of the hall and out through an exit that led to a large balcony overlooking the sea.

The breeze was cold but calm, the sea looked deep blue because of the overcast but it was still an alluring sight. Much preferable than staying in the sight of toxic masculinity that literary wants to eat you alive.

Keisty leaned on the rails and folded her arms against her chest. She looked at me with a mixture of facial expressions l wasn't sure of. Is it concern, curiosity or anger?. I don't recognize that look but l am almost certain that whatever issue she is about to bring out is serious.

"Arielle, you act like you are afraid of the bad boys but l know you aren't", she said with a sour tone.

"What?"

"You shouldn't pretend to be prude when you are with me, l know what you do when you're alone"

"Keisty what...?", my voice shook, l was confused .

"Arielle cut it out!, don't play coy here. You know what l'm talking about", she hissed with a venomous low voice.

"l know that you go behind my back, l don't know what you even do with Mark, maybe he's the one having you crying and screaming out his name in the auditorium. I don't know what you pay those boys who are always around you with, it's clear they are constantly trying to splay you parted and vulnerable", she seethed.

"Keisty, l-l swear th- that is not...", my stammering was cut off with a harsh tone.

"Save it to yourself!, l have believed you enough to know that you don't mean what you promise", she said it with her eyes glistening as an after effect of vented anger.

I didn't know what to say anymore. I tried to blink back the tears that had gathered in my eyes but the dam wall broke still. My lips quivered, but no words were coming out.

It wasn't the accusations that hurt me, it was the way Keisty was talking to me. I had never heard Keisty use that tone before or at least l never thought she had use it on me.

She slowly turned away and walked towards the entrance, leaving me shivering, vision blurred with the tears.

I could almost sense the conflict and hesitation that was haunting her at the same time. I know she didn't mean to be harsh with me and she was already regretting it. She was contemplating whether she should comfort me or not.

She also didn't want to leave me, l could see the strain in her steps but, it would have been too awkward if we stand in the same space with the tension hanging between us.

She stopped walking. Probably thought better than having us separated in a place like this. Auntie Yolei might not be too understanding for that.

"l'm not one to pry into family matters but may l ask if you ladies are okay?"We turned in the direction of the voice and saw Stewart uncertainly standing by the entrance.

Through my teary eyes, l saw Keisty worriedly looking at me, waiting for me to reply to Stewart's question. Stewart shifted his gaze from Keisty's worried face to my teary one. He made a few steps in and walked to the rails trying to not get involved in the lingering tension.

I didn't want to stay there anymore, just for them to pity me. I knew that Keisty would eventually want to apologize and l didn't want her to do that. I deserved every word she said to me. It was my fault for creating such perceptions of myself to her. If l had put myself in her position how would I not suspect that someone was doing something behind my back. I promised to tell her everything and l broke that promise.

I wanted to leave before she would take back her words. I headed for the entrance.

"Arielle wait!",  Keisty and Stewart both called at the same time. I turned around.

"Arielle can we talk?", they both said again at the same time. This time they looked at each other. Although l was still a bit overwhelmed, l had to restrain myself from laughing.

"Okay, you can start", Stewart said to Keisty. Without a second thought she walked to me.

"Keisty no", l raised my hand to stop her, "you don't have to", l whispered.

I saw a flash of bewilderment cross her face for a second before she nodded reluctantly. I didn't want her to end up all the time feeling guilty when it was always my fault. She didn't deserve that.

Keisty is so caring for me that it sometimes drives her insane. Come to think of it, she is in consistent worry for me, always trying to protect me from the rough edges of reality.

The few times l see her at total ease is when she is with me, us alone. The things this girl goes through because of me...

Stewart was now looking at his shiney glass shoes like he was seeing them for the first time. Maybe trying to avoid being engaged in what was happening.

"Um, Stewart", l said catching back his attention.

"Oh ah yes l wanted to talk with you about something in private, if you don't mind. I hope l didn't come at the wrong time but l can still come back later, it's still okay", he said almost moving away to give us space.

At that moment l immediately remembered about our break into the principal's office. I also remembered how he was supposed to send me the pictures. But come to think of it, he hadn't sent me the pictures yet. Maybe the information in the file was too risky to send through the phone.

"Oh no l think it's a good time, where can we go and talk ", l asked.

Suddenly l remembered that l was with Keisty. I looked at her apologetically, "Keisty l..."

"No its okay, I'll be in the ballroom if you would ever look for me". I nodded then she walked around us and disappeared through the sliding doors.

I walked back to the rails and leaned on them. Stewart came and stood a few feet beside me. For some reason, he was looking at me worriedly, as though he was trying to carefully phrase out his next words.

"Did you find anything interesting on me, Stewart?", l mischievously asked with an innocent smile. He had been looking at me for a while, all that time l had pretended not to notice.

The intended pun made him shake his head, a bit taken aback by the implicated meaning of it. He looked away to hide the surprised expressions on his face.

"Loires, you are something else", he chuckled. He dipped his hand in his trousers pocket and took out his phone.

"Why didn't you just send the pictures?", l asked him as he was swiping up to unlock the screen.

"I'm sorry, l was tempted to read your file last night. I was still deciding wether l should send the pictures or not when my father told me that he had invited you". "Here", he said handing me his phone.

"Wait!", he stopped me when I was just about to look into the screen. "You have to calm down first, are you sure you are ready for this?"

Now that he said it, l started feeling nervous. "Is it that bad?", l whispered.

"No it's just that, you passing out on me is all romantic but... Keisty might kill me ", he half humored. I smiled at him, knowing that it was true.

I took a deep breath to calm my pounding heart before looking at the screen. My eyes scanned the screen and my heart stopped beating for a few seconds. My eyes widened with shock. Stewart was right, l almost passed out.