Chapter 5 Five

"Jordan proposed!" Penelope said over dinner, while every other person was busy with their food. No one said anything when we began to eat. She just decided to pop up the news of her useless proposal all of a sudden.

"Yes I did. We would love to take our relationship to the next step. I would love for your daughter to be my wife." Jordan said, and smiled at Penelope. He went further to drop his cutlery to hold her hands. They were sitting opposite each other.

"I knew you were a good person and the best option for my daughter from the first time I met you. We have approved even before you spoke." My dad said.

"Why won't you approve? He's a fucking billionaire! Disgusting people." I thought in my head.

"We support you hundred percent, Jordan. We know she is in safe hands with you." My mother said,

I just sat there, watching them as they spoke one after another. I don't know what I was feeling. If I was jealous, happy or just there. I however knew I wanted to leave the table. I was not even surprised. I knew he would propose to her. They have been all lovey-dovey. Even though something smelt fishy. Besides, I've not seen her so happy around any man.

I remembered when she first spoke about him. She came home one evening, and was smiling more than usual. My mum inquired. She was the type that told my parents everything. Usually, children did not tell their parents everything. But Penelope did. Well. Maybe not everything. The sneaky ones were buried inside of her. But she told them almost everything in her life. Maybe it was because she was the cherished one, so whatever she says will be accepted.

They did not know much about me. They did not care. And I loved it that way. They only knew my name, and also that I was an occupant in the house. Obviously.

So she came back that day, telling my mum about the man she met. She is an architect. So the Company she works for was going to design a building for him and she was one of the representatives. I was there in the kitchen too, helping out with dinner while I listened quietly as she told my mum the story of how they met and how she was already falling in love.

She went on to describe how handsome he was and all. How they exchanged contacts and also how he would take her to dinner the next day. The whole thing felt awkward to me though. Events happening too fast were usually suspicious. Why would he ask her out on a date on the first day? But then, I knew things like that happen. Besides, there was something called "love at first sight." Maybe I was just jealous. Or not. I don't know.

"That is impressive. You are indeed irresistible." My mum told her. I laughed silently. "Irresistible indeed."

"Some others can not say the same about themselves." I heard my mother say. I knew she was talking to me indirectly. So I pretended not to hear and continued what I was doing. She was used to doing that. I can't even remember if she has ever been nice to me since I was born. It has always been about Penelope. "Laura, do this for your sister." "Laura, do that for your sister." "She's younger. She wouldn't know if you don't teach her." And all the other rubbish. I was literally her slave.

Weeks and months passed, and the relationship was getting stronger. I was a bit envious. Not in a bad way. I just wanted to experience love like that too. I have never seen her so happy with any man. She never spoke so much about any man like she spoke about Jordan.

At some point, I thought she bewitched him. How did he not see her terrible sides? Or she changed because of him. No. I did not believe it. A Leopard cannot change its spots. But he had love in his eyes. It was genuine.

She introduced me to him one day when he came to the house.

"My sister." she told him. And then he stretched his hand to me for a handshake. She dragged him immediately to look like they were in a hurry and needed to go. Lie. She just did not want me to have a handshake with her god of a boyfriend.

"He's not even that cute," I said to myself, to feel better. Because he was actually cute.

I coughed, as the water I was drinking was about to choke me. I suddenly realized my mum and dad had been looking at me. They were sending me signals to say something. They did not want to give their new found in law any bad interpretation. I smiled.

"Erm.. congratulations to you both." I said, unsure if that came out well. My mum was not satisfied. She was still looking at me. She wanted me to say more. But I had nothing else to say. So I kept quiet.

Jordan excused himself to make a call.

"If you don't behave yourself, you'll regret it!" My mother said in a whisper.

I laughed. "Y'all need to stop hiding your true selves. He'll find out eventually. That you've been patching up Penelope for him."

"Shut the fuck up, you bitch!" Penelope said, almost shouting. I smiled and continued eating.

"Respect yourself Laura. Mind your words." My father said,

My mother was about to talk when Jordan showed up. He had finished making his call.

"Is everything alright? I heard..." he was trying to say.

"Well, we..." I was about to say.

"Everything is fine sweetheart." Penelope interrupted me immediately. Fool. She thought I was going to say something to jeopardise her chances with him.