In between: love or hate

Diana leaned into the car seat as the driver sped through the highway accelerating to her father's house. Home. "I've sure missed this place, the scenery, the food and most of all, friends", Diana thought to her self as she looked through the windows and watched the trees and buildings disappear before her sight as new ones came to view. "The weather is perfect for window shopping don't you think Marcus?" she asked the driver. The driver just nodded out of courtesy. Marcus's action didn't faze Diana as he spoke less than hundred words in a day if one were to count.

The rest of the drive was something Diana couldn't remember as she let sleep wash over her.

....

"Diana must be arriving soon," Kate, Diana's mother said excitedly to the not so amused Sylvester Garcia. Not really surprised by her husband's disposition towards their daughter arrival, Kate ventured into the kitchen to supervise the cooking. She just couldn't sit one place, her daughter has being away from home for the past five years. She missed her terribly.

"We are here young madam", Marcus said to Diana as he tried waking her up. Diana opened her eyes to see her father's mansion come to view. "Nothing has changed, I hope father has though", she thought to her self. She made a mental note to not make assumptions.

Kate heard the honking of the car and stood at the entrance of the house to

welcome her daughter.

"Hello mum",

Diana rushed into her mother's waiting arms as they engulfed in a long silenced hug. Kate was sobbing and sniffing as she held her baby girl. They both walked into the house and went straight to the dining where Mr. Sylvester was sitting at the head table waiting for the food to be served. Diana did not bother to hug her dad. They were never on good terms but they had a mutual understanding.

"Money".

So far Mr. Sylvester gives her money then all is well. She didn't need his love, she needs his money; She tried convincing herself.

Not so long after they've all made themselves comfortable, the food arrived.

They ate in silence with the mother and daughter duo pitching in how they missed each other and what they've been up to.

Diana looked at her father who wiped his mouth with the tablecloth and adjusted his fat self on the seat. Seems like he has something to say.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush Diana", Mr Sylvester said with a serious demeanor. Kate knew what he was about to say but must it be at this moment she thought, their daughter just came back. He didn't even let her finish her meal.

"I sent you to Germany to give you an education befitting for a daughter of the Garcia family. I've invested so much money on you and I expect you to repay me..."

"By marrying into a rich family" Diana completed his sentence for him with a roll of her eyes while picking on her food.

"Good", Mr Sylvester said. "It's good that you know your duties as the daughter of the Garcia family".

Kate could have sworn she saw flicker of pain in those doe like eyes that belonged to her daughter, but at this point she was powerless.

"I know my duties dad", Diana said. "How can I forget it when it's the only thing you say when an opportunity to talk to each other arises".

Mr. Sylvester couldn't refute what she said, though it did not sit well with him, he knew she was right.

"Now that we've reached an understanding, I'll brief you more after you freshen up and gotten some rest", Mr. Sylvester stated as he stood up and went to his study. His fat self making Diana wonder what her beautiful mum saw in him.

Speaking about her mum, Diana met her mother's eyes as she flashed one of her brightest smile and reassured her mother that she was okay with the arrangements. So long the guy was not the stingy type and is willing to let her spend, who is she to refuse marriage. That sounded weird to her ears.

Kate was a mother and just like any other mother Kate could tell her daughter's emotions without her having to voice it out. She reached for Diana's hand and gave her a pat at the back of her palm. She honestly had nothing to say to her baby girl, all she could do was to let her know she was always there for her.

...

In the Fisher's corp.

A man could be seen staring down at people who seemed busy with their daily activities. Humans. How he hated their evil scheming minds.

"Come in" he said after a knock sounded.

'Did you get the information", he asked Clark, his assistant. He was one of his most trusted men.

"Miss Diana just returned and just as you said, her father is already looking for eligible suitors for her,Should I go on with the party sir?" Clark responded.

The man turned, putting his hand in his trouser's pocket, He took out a cigarette and placed it in the middle of his fingers. Without lighting it.

"Nothing has changed with the plan, send out invites to all eligible bachelors of high standing and their families, important business men, those in the entertainment industry should not be excluded, and send to the Garcia family also, though they are not important and worthy, this party is for them", he said with a cunning smirk.

Clark wasted not a minute longer in his boss's office as he went to carry on his assigned task.

As soon as Clark left, the man lit up his cigarette and went back to staring at the city. He likes the feeling of superiority it gives him. He took out a photo from the inner pocket of his crisp suit. It was a family photo. He stared at it for a few seconds before sucking in smoke from his cigarette, allowing it to settle in the deepest part of his chest before releasing it. The smoke made the picture blurry and he could not see a single image on the photo. As the smoke diminished, he placed the photo back into his suit as he kept on smoking his cigarette

...

"You called for me dad",

Diana said as she walked into her father's study in her nighties. "I'm so exhausted and I need rest so make it quick".

Mr. Sylvester was not surprised by the tone his daughter used, he did not care either. It wasn't the first neither will it be the last. Without wasting her time like she requested, Mr. Sylvester took out a card and gave it to Diana.

"Take this card and go shop for the best gown in LA, a party is coming up this Saturday and I need you to look your best. I heard all eligible young men and important business men will be there. This is an opportunity for both me and you: you find an eligible young man for yourself and that'll strengthen my business", Mr Sylvester said.

She knew it was all for his business, but he didn't have to say it out loud, did he?. Diana felt her blood boiling but instead of listening to the voices inside her head, she took the card and stormed out of his office.

As soon as she reached her bed room, she began looking the internet for the best expensive dress in the whole of America. Even though she did not want to go for the party she has to make sure she's the best looking female present. She trusted her looks, but looks alone can't make the upper class take you seriously. She needed an elegant expensive and an attention seeking dress. Yes, that's exactly what she needs. The attention this will bring her is enough to make her want to go to the party with a light heart.

Just then she remembered something. "I need to call Paula and Pauline", she muttered to her self. "I'm sure they don't know of my arrival, we can have a reunion and a shopping spree", she said excitedly as she took her phone to call them.

"Hey guys", Diana said as soon as the Paula picked the call. "Is this really you Ana", Paula screamed from the other side of the call. "Yes it's me" Diana said almost with the same enthusiasm but with her voice a little lower. Ana was the nickname Paula gave her.

"Pauline, you won't believe who's on the phone" Paula said as she hurriedly went up to Pauline's room. As usual, Pauline was there on her reading table with a face mask sitting right on her face, her leg crossed with her eyes roaming intently on the book.

"Who?" She asked, without removing her gaze from the book.

"It's Diana" Paula replied with a little squeal. "Oh my gosh, let me have the phone", Pauline said as she gestured for Paula to place the phone on her outstretched hands.

Immediately Pauline said her greetings to Diana; the trio went on to discuss the happenings in their lives while they were away from each other. Many things happened in that span and as such the trio talked for hours.

Towards the end of the conversation Diana invited the twins out for shopping and Paula was the most excited as the highest squeal came from her.

Diana got into more comfortable position as she prepared to sleep. Their call lasted for a while before they said their goodnight wishes.

How she has missed these friends of her's terribly.

Fisher's company

"Everything Is ready sir", Clark said to his boss as he handed him a report. "The number of guests is limited to five hundred people and majority of them are bachelors from top tier families around the country. Some influential business men were handed invites also".

The man hummed as he skimmed through the list of guests with a serious face and a tobacco stick between his teeth hanging on the left side of his lips. Clark tried to read his boss's face to decipher what was going through his mind as he kept his gaze focused on him but to no avail. This very unpredictable human was planning on revealing his face to the whole world on the day of this event.

Yes, the Fisher global company is a world renowned company. It's one of the top business company in not only LA but also in the country as a whole. It is the country's leading company in all aspects, be it medicine, entertainment, the engineering sector and many other sectors. It has even made plans of entering into other countries market.

Everything about this company could be found online except for one thing; the owner of the company. No one, not even the highest investors has gotten a wind or a clue of who this mysterious man is. They are indeed speculations from reporters and even shareholders them selves. Many suggest that he might be amongst them, many suggest he is an old cripple and he's scared of showing his weakness, some even suggest that he might be dead and they are keeping it a secret so as to continue the company legacy in his name, but the last option has been ruled due to Clark being the messenger between Mr. Fisher and members of the board.

What many see is the success of the company, but what they don't know is how young Mr. Fisher worked endlessly morning and night to bring the company to where it is now. While his generation were drinking their lives away with friends at different bars and clubs he was building the foundation of his company. He went through much humiliation and suffering to get to where he his now. All for the sake of one thing. His only motivation to rise to the top is the joy he will get in punishing those who are responsible for his suffering. His revenge is the last string keeping him in the lane of sanity.

He has waited so long to start implementing his plan. He had it in his head for a long time. He could already see how everything will play out. And the very first step in his revenge will be revealing his face....

Kiara's mall

"We missed you some much", the twins said as they hugged Diana as soon as she entered the cafè located on the second floor of the mall.

"I missed you both as well", Diana said with the same energy. She looked at the twins and noticed that they've not changed a bit except for Paula who dyed her hair blonde. They still look as Identical as ever. Same cat like eyes,their nose a little high bridged nose and butterfly lips. If there was one thing Diana loved the most about these friends of her's it will be their lips. Full and plump.

The three girls set out to go shop for the best dinner gown they could find, turns out the twins were invited as well. Diana was ecstatic when she found out her closest friends will be there with her, she thought it'll be her and those pot bellied men trying to match make her and some guy she hoped will be handsome.

Pauline didn't say much, but she definitely observed much. Ever since Diana came in she had been keeping her eyes on her, she was wary of her. Diana had always been pretty but after a long time of not seeing her, all she had to say was that this girl had gotten more prettier over the years. The twins were not overshadowed by Diana's beauty but Pauline always hated the fact that Diana was prettier, not that she could do anything about it.

"Oh my god, what the hell is wrong with me", Pauline face palmed herself mentally as came out of her reverie. I'm doing it again she sighed."What's wrong with me, I thought I've gotten over all this jealousy and stuff", Pauline murmured to her self as she saw the other two girls laughing and picking out clothes. She closed all negative thoughts as she approached them and joined them in gown searching.

Just then, Diana saw what she'll call the most beautiful gown her eyes were to set on in her whole twenty- three years of walking this earth. From the neckline to the tail of the dress Diana was sure the gown was screaming her name. The gown was a matte colored dress with bits of unevenly shaped diamonds placed scarcely on the surface of the dress giving it a sparkling look. Long to the point that even with heels it'll still sweep the floor, fitted with a slit that starts from the mid thigh of the dress. The dress was an off shoulder gown with flare hands that also had a slit. All in all the dress was beautiful and Diana was sure she was wearing that to the party.

"Girls I think I've found my dress ",Diana said as she pointed her hands to the gown of her choice. The twins were entranced by the dress as well. They checked the price tag on the dress and it came out as a whooping five hundred thousand US dollars. This has to be the priciest dress Diana will purchase but she was sure she wanted that dress for the party so she might as well get it

Diana went to the counter to pay for the dress and have it delivered to her door step as well. The twins picked beautiful dresses as well and they all left the mall premises. They were all deciding on the next place to go when suddenly Pauline spoke;

"I need to go the rest room I'm really pressed, can you guys just wait her for me" Pauline said hurriedly as she went back into the mall. She went to the counter and the cashier recognized her immediately. They bought one of the priciest dress in their mall so why not. Remember the matte that the other girl picked, I'm willing to pay double for it, Pauline said while the cashier looked at her dumbstruck.

...

Not long after, Pauline caught up with them and they headed towards a restaurant Diana and Paula picked while Pauline was away. Pauline and Paula rode the same car while Diana rode in her car.

They got to the restaurant and ordered thier favorite dishes. Paula kept on talking about Diana's dress while Pauline ate quietly. Diana herself could not stop imagining how beautiful she would look and how she'll be the star of the night, she was sure all eyes will be on her. A pang of guilt flashed past Pauline eyes as she listened to them babbling but she was sure there was no going back...

"Hello mum "Diana said as she walked in with loads of shopping bag that was later carried by a maid who took it to her room. She kissed her mum on her cheek and laid tiredly on the couch in the living room.

Kate was reading a magazine when her daughter came back. She was not the least surprised by the enormous load in the name of shopping bags her daughter brought home. "She still haven't changed," Kate thought to her self. Always spending money on things an average man would consider useless. "How was your day darling?" Kate asked Diana as she placed the magazine on a side stool beside the couch she was sitting on." I had loads and loads of fun," Diana sat up as she started narrating her day. "The twins got more prettier mum," Diana raved on and on about how beautiful they looked today especially their lips. "Did Pauline give you a hard time", Kate said with a serious look on her face." No mum "Diana was quick to defend Pauline . "We've past that mum and she's really sorry for everything, she said so herself right?, and it's been ages since she's been that way to me. She's one of the most sweetest soul now mum," Diana continued. "Before I forget did any package come for me mum", Diana tried changing the topic." What package?", Kate asked obviously confused. "I'm sure no package came in unless I wasn't informed". Diana was confused as well. She was sure she gave the cashier the right address. "Oh my god the party is tomorrow and I have no dress," Diana ranted and was on the verge of screaming. It's 6pm in the evening already, and getting another exquisite dress for the party will not be that hard but she wanted that dress and she paid for it already.

" Why don't you just pick another dress and we will go find out what happened to your dress after the party" Kate tried coercing her daughter but she wasn't budging. "I want that dress mum, I paid for it, I set my eyes on it first and so it's mine". Her voice went up a little higher this time around and Kate knew she had to do something right away. "Here's what we'll do, I have the number of the manager of Kiara's mall and I'll surely get an explanation on what occured so calm down okay,"Kate reassured Diana. Kate picked up her phone and dialed the Manager's number who was quick to answer.

"Good evening, I wanted to Inquire on what went wrong with my daughter's order today, she bought a dress and paid for it in full before requesting it to be delivered to her home and she still hasn't received her dress yet"' Kate said ever so politely with a calm voice.

" Can you tell me the details of the dress ma'am", the manager requested.

"It's a matte colored gown with diamonds and a slit, I heard there are only few pieces of the gown was made," Kate said.

"Oh, I know the gown ma'am" the manager said.

"I hope you find out what happened to the dress soon, my daughter is really mad about it and she has a party to attend tomorrow".

"Yes ma'am, I'll get on it right away and get back to you immediately, "the manger said after which kate cut the call.

"It'll be alright, I just spoke to the manager and we'll get a feedback soon," Kate told her daughter. Diana calmed down immediately she heard her mum.

"Okay mum, I'll be going up to my room to take a shower, I hope we'll get the feedback", Diana said hopefully.

What she doesn't know is that all hope is lost as the dress will never belong to her again.

"The manager is calling", Kate told Diana who was eating a plate of freshly cut apples. Diana kept the plate and rushed to her mum's side.

"I'm sorry ma'am but the dress had been bought by another customer for a more higher price", the manager voice rang out, "but we will send a more exquisite and beautiful dress that'll will leave every one you pass by in awe". Diana was shocked when she heard what the manager said but as much as Diana wanted to refuse she couldn't because she really needed a dress for the party.

"You have to make sure it's really as you said else I'll sue you and your stupid mall" Diana screamed into the phone before going back to her plates of apples.

" I'm really sorry about that but what I don't understand is how you will sell an already bought dress to another customer, no matter the status of the person, so far someone has bought it, it is that person's property not the property of the mall anymore", Kate tried reasoning with the manager. "I'm really sorry ma'am, I was not informed of whatever transpired this afternoon with the dress but what I can assure you is that her new dress will be what will make headlines tomorrow", the manager said while looking at the intimidating man in front of him. "I'll take your word for it then", Kate said and she hung up the call.

"I did as you said, can you let me go now please", the manager said to the tall man in a black tuxedo. Clark signaled for his men to let him go as he walked of the mall.

Mr. Fisher's villa

Skylar, Skylar.

The old lady called as she knocked on his bedroom. It's been long since someone called him by his first name; "it's always Mr. Fisher", Skylar thought to himself as he closed his laptop and went to open the door. Linda, the nanny, stood there with loving eyes as she informed him that dinner was ready. "I'll be right down as soon as I save the document I'm working on" he said as he gave her a warm pat on her shoulder. Saving the document, he went down to eat dinner as he promised.

It's been a long time since he had home cooked meals as well. He really missed this. He just returned back to his home town after fifteen years of being away. Fifteen whole years of planning his revenge. Nanny Linda has been his nanny since the time of his childhood and they only got separated when a fire killed his whole family, leaving him as the only survivor with unforgettable scars: physically and emotionally. Using his connections he found her living in poor conditions but comfortable. She was so happy to see that she shed tears uncontrollably, tears of joy. One thing led to another and Skylar convinced her to come live with him.

Skyler was happy he looked for her as soon as he took a first bite out of the meal, it tasted the same as he remembered in his childhood. Just as he was getting into his meal Clark came to disrupt him but never will he let anything separate him from this delicacy in front of him. "Wait for me in the study I'm busy right now", Skylar said. Clark bowed his head and carried out his instruction. He went into room and sat down on the chair there. "That guy really has no emotions, even when eating I couldn't depict the slightest bit of emotion to know if he was even enjoying his meal", Clark thought aloud as he crossed his feet while crossing his legs.

A little while later Skylar came in. Clark stood up and waited for Skylar to sit down before getting seated himself. What happened to the dress, Skylar asked as he lit his stick of cigarette.

"It turns out that Diana's friend bought the dress at a higher price and the dress ended up going to her, the manager obviously knew about it and he took half of the money while giving the cashier some percentage from it. Just as you ordered I gave the manager the dress made by Johnny to be delivered to Diana's house. Your plan won't be disrupted in any way, Ms. Diana will still shine the brightest tomorrow" Clark reported

"Do you want to know what's going to happen tomorrow Clarky", Skylar said with a little curve on the left side of his lips.

The best part of seeing a person's downfall is to make them believe they are at the highest without knowing that when they'll fall, they'll be crushed into pieces. And that's where I'll come in, I'll be their knight in shining armor. I'll lift them so high that they'll fall harder like never before. They'll fall never to rise again. Whoever tries to pull them back up will be crushed all the same. And me, I'll reel in their demise, sitting high as always I'll watch them perish.

"Let's play a game Clarky", Skylar said as he took a puff out of his cigarette. "Let's give the Garcia's a reason to be desperate tomorrow, the actors in my revenge game needs a little push to make them work hard, right?"

...

What!!!

"What do you mean the stock prices went down. It was fine this morning so how come",Mr. Sylvester went into panic mode immediately he received the call from his assistant. "It seems like someone is unto us, do everything you can to find out who it is and do everything to make it rise again", He then hung up frustratingly.

He went into the living room and saw his wife and daughter seemingly tensed about something but he didn't care a bit. Have you gotten a dress for the party, he asked. Diana knew he was talking to her so she shook her head while in turn explaining everything that happened regarding the dress.

"I don't honestly want to know what happened to the dress, your incompetence made you lose it. I gave you the money and resources to get an exquisite gown and yet you couldn't perform such a simple task", Mr. Sylvester said with a sneer. Diana kept quiet cause she knew speaking will blow this out of proportion with her being on the receiving ends of her dad's abuse. Mr, Sylvester stood up to go but not before reminding her of their goal tomorrow. "I don't know how but stock prices has gone tremendously low, and I need a good relationship with other business men at this point so please be on your best behavior else I'll block all your credit cards", and with this will went back to his study.

"What do I do now mum, the dress is yet to arrive and dad is already pretty mad about something I do not want to know of and is threatening to block all my cards", Diana said pitifully to her mum. "Don't worry the dress will.......", Kate was interupted by the door bell ringing. The maid rushed from the kitchen to get the door and a delivery man was waiting with a huge rectangle box. The door was left open so Kate and Diana could see who it was and what the man was holding. Diana immediately walked as fast as she could to the door, almost running. "Is that package for me"? she asked the delivery man to be sure it was hers, she does not want any misunderstanding concerning her dress anymore.

"Are you miss Diana Gracia", the delivery man asked the young lady he assumed to be Diana. "Yes I am", Diana replied. "The management apologizes for the misunderstanding that occured with your dress this afternoon, and this is the replacement". The delivery man rendered to the Garcia's the exact same words the manager told him. "Whatever", Diana said as she took the notepad and pen and signed on it. She walked briskly to her room to check the dress and her mum followed after her. Sitting on the bed she undid the wraps a little bit forcefully.

"You'll ruin the dress" Kate said as she took over from Diana. "What difference does it make, it's definitely not going to be better than the one earlier this afternoon" Diana said as she rolled her eyes. "But still you don't want to wear a ruined dress to the party or do you"? Kate said with a soft voice. "Nope", Diana said popping the "P". Guess she came to terms with not looking the most beautiful at the party tomorrow.

Just then Kate removed the upper lid if the box and if Diana taught the dress she saw at mall was beautiful then this one looked completely heavenlyl. Diana froze for a moment while admiring the dress, with her eyes roaming each and every inch of the dress as it laid in the box.

...

"Stupid, useless,ugly piece of f**king fabric", Pauline screamed as she cut the matte dress she with a scissor. After she was done screaming she sat weakly on her bed while the dress laid somewhere on the floor. "Why did I do that, I could get any dress I wanted so why did I do that" Pauline thought as she quietly sobbed. After some few minutes she got up and taking a metal bin to the balcony of her room, she picked up the dress and placed it inside the bin to later burn it with a lighter she found in her drawer. She sat on a bench watching her one million dollars burn. "What a waste" she thought to her self as the flame kept getting bigger, this time around the sobbing had seized completely leaving her face dry with the streak of tears that had turned white.

She laid down on the bench and began star gazing going over the events of today and soon she found herself asleep.