Chapter 8 The name Freya

CHAPTER EIGHT

AUDREY'S POV

"That's all?... facial hair and lavender?".

"That could be anyone, Audrey," Christian said.

"I've got facial hair you know and I most times wear my wife's lavender scent" he shrugged nonchalantly.

"I know sir but I swear that's all I know" I was desperate.

Meanwhile something was going on in Vivianna's mind.

"Did you say, he mentioned the name Freya?" Say said, tapping her index finger on her chin. She looked serious and lost in thought.

"Yes ma'am"

"Hmmm" she was looking me dead in the eyes.

"Alright Maria, let's have you transformed" she had a naughty look in her eyes.

"Alright, that's my queue to leave" Christian announced putting his hands up in mock surrender.

"But we just got here," Vivianna whined. How cute.

"We'll see at home my love" he tucked a strand of her hair away from her. And took her lips in a kiss that felt like hours.

I looked everywhere but at them. I didn't have anything like that and from the looks of it, I wouldn't. Ever.

"Yeah about that, baby can she stay with us for now" she said, batting her eyelashes while wiping imaginary dust off of his coat.

My eyes grew wide as saucers at her statement. Stay with them?, she really took project makeover to the next level. This is really happening.

Christian had his eyes on hers and without hesitation....

"I'm cool, if she's cool"

"Yaayyy" she said, clapping her hands together.

"It's settled then"

"Thank you ma'am and sir" I said genuinely.

"Call me Christian please" he offered.

"Thank you Christian, thank you ma"

"It's Vivianna dear or you can call me Vee," she said, smiling widely.

She seemed so young at that moment, so carefree, her white teeth were on display, her smile so wide and real, it reached her eyes.

I watched them from afar, they found it difficult to stay apart and it was sweet. But I didn't do sweet anymore, I was violated and there was nothing sweet or romantic about it. It was hell.

"Let go babe"

"No you let go first". They were hugging and they didn't want to break the hug. Again, cute. But I didn't do cute. I wanted enough power to crush my assailant.

"Ladies first, my love let go". Funny

"Alright, I miss you already" vee whined.

"Bye honey" he kissed her forehead.

"I love you"

"I love you too". They're so sweet, they give me a toothache.

"Alright, where were we? She quizzed. Straight to business mode. How cool. This woman was everything I wanted to be and I would be her.

"My transformation" I said, very determined.

"So tell me Maria, what skills do you have?What can you do for me?" She was serious now.

This was the moment I needed to impress.

"Accounts ma'am, I'm really good at that. I wanted to be a doctor when I was younger but while working as a waitress and a bartender, I got very fascinated with keeping accounts' '. I'm a good accountant, personal assistant, secretary, also a good babysitter and most importantly a fast learner.

"Well said Maria, you impress me" she smiled at me but not a wide smile like earlier.

I was proud of myself.

"Do you have any relatives?"

"No ma'am, my---" I was cut off

"Vivianna, Anna, Vee or even Mrs Dawn are fine with me". Mrs. Dawn, then.

"Sorry Mrs. Dawn".

"Good, now continue"

"I'm an orphan, I just lost my mother to cancer a few weeks ago".

The water works were here now. I was crying. I still missed my mother. With her gone now, it reminded me of dad too. I was alone.

"Are you done?". What?

"Wipe your tears, Maria. You're past that already, you should be out for blood instead". She was right, I needed to be strong. And crying made me weak.

"Yes Mrs Dawn".

"Any relatives?" She asked

"No, I don't, just Ms Penelope. She was our neighbor and very kind to me" I said, remembering the sweet old lady.

"Are you sure", she knew something. She looked at me like she had read my file and knew I was lying.

"My late father had 2 siblings but they hated my mom and did not want her for dad. They said she was useless and just a pretty face. They wanted him to marry an heiress. She once met my mom and I at the cinema and created a scene. I can remember everything like it was yesterday.

FLASHBACK

It was Christmas and winter was my favorite time of the year. I loved the snow and Christmas decorations. It was pure and beautiful. The season of love. I was sixteen then. Dad was on a business trip.

"Hey mom, look , it's santa!" I screeched, tugging at her sleeves.

"Calm down little one, Christmas comes every year, you'll always see it. No need for the rush". Ever so graceful.

"I know, I know, I know"

"Look mom look"

Time square's beauty shines the brightest during Christmas. It's the most beautiful sight.

"Hello Mrs. Ray, hello Audrey". Ugh, Joseph Coleman. Quarterback for the football team at school, jock and a narcissistic rich kid. Eye roll.

"Hello Joseph, compliments of the season my dear. My, that's a lovely sweater you have on". My mother was the embodiment of grace and class. Ever so angelic.

"Wish you the same ma'am and thank you ". He was blushing. Creep.

I was the spitting image of my mother, just so you know.

"Hello Joseph". I was being civil.

"Hello Audrey". He was smirking, the nerve.

"Mom look there's a singer!" I was so excited.

"So sorry Joseph, Audrey gets very excited this time of the year".

"That's alright. I'll be on my way now. Ma'am, Audrey, do have a wonderful holidays". Pfft, so well mannered my ass. This guy was an asshole at school.

"Thank you so much darling, Audrey let's go".

"Finally". I muttered

"I thought you were friends, wasn't he from your school?"

"Yes he is"

"He seems well mannered". Nope

"He isn't mom, trust me that was all pretend. And please don't talk to him next time". I pleaded.

To me, Joseph was bad news. He'd tried to grope me more than once at school.

"You should've given me a sign earlier, I wouldn't have been so nice, I thought you were friends". My mom was my biggest cheerleader. So supportive.

"Don't worry Audrey, I doubt I'd remember him if I encountered him again.". And she really didn't. How strange, she predicted the future.

We went to watch a Christmas movie at the cinema.

"Mom, hurry, it's about to start". I was so excited

"Calm down Audrey," mom said, smiling.

"YOU WHORE". Someone yelled out.

We both halted and looked around before noticing people were looking at us.

"YOU BLOODY WHORE" she yelled again.

We both turned to see a blond haired woman in a dress, a tad too short and a tad too small. Her breasts were literally spilling out.

"YOU FUCKING WHORE"

"THAT'S RIGHT, I'M TALKING TO YOU GLORIA". She screamed pointing at my mom.

People were gathering and watching us.

I looked attentively at the crazy woman, she was young, pretty, definitely rich and educated and this is what she reduced herself to?. What a pity.

"DO I KNOW YOU?" my mom replied so calmly.

"WHO CARES IF YOU KNOW ME, WHAT MATTERS IS I KNOW YOU"

"EVERYBODY! LOOK AT ME, THIS LADY, GLORIA RAY TOOK MY MAN, ALFRED RAY FROM ME. SHE MARRIED HIM AND BORE THIS HARLOT HERE". she ended up pointing at me.

It's been more than 16 years and she was still hung up on dad.

"Never you ever, insult my daughter. Ever. It's been 17 years, sweetheart get a life already".

"YOU SLUT" she screeched

"That's my mother, not you madam" I spoke up for the first time.

"DID YOU JUST CALL ME A SLUT?". She was furious now. I wasn't scared though.

"You said that, not me".

"Mom let's go home, my excitement has died down, besides, time square is already infested". I said, eyeing her up and down.

"HOW DARE YOU" she charged at me but my mom blocked her. I wasn't scared of her.

"Touch a single hair on her body and I will rip you apart. And I don't make empty threats". My mom seemed dangerous now. Wow.

That seemed to make her back off. Mommy scared the shit out of her.

"Let's go baby". We turned to leave.

"You might have married him and bore him that, but his family will always be behind me. They told me you'd be here" she referred to me as that. How mannerless.

She started walking towards us, till she stopped beside my mom.

"I'd be careful and watch my back if I were you, some secrets don't stay hidden forever you know." she whispered devilishly into my mother's ears before strutting away.

"Just ignore her rantings baby, she's a crazy lady"

"Your daddy chose us over her and that's all that matters". She said hugging me while rubbing my back.

"But mom who is she?Do you know her personally??"