Queen Of Heart And Reprisal.

The past 15 years have been hell for me.

"It's your birthday

, what are you thinking about?"

Summer snapped me out of my thoughts.

She is my best friend as well as my roommate.

"Yeah, it is my birthday and a sad day"

I took a sip of my coffee.

"You have to forget about the past and focus on the future"

"How can I possibly do that? The more I try to forget about it, I keep thinking about it"

"You know what? There is a new bar in our street and it's opening tonight, let's go and have fun"

"No"

"You are a fun spoiler"

"You know I need this job, I don't want to be looking like I got hit by a bus tomorrow morning"

She burst into laughter.

"You are a weather reporter, you are just on for a minute every day, it wouldn't hurt to skip a day"

"I need to work hard so I can get to be a full-time staff"

She rolls her eyeballs.

"Ok, whatever"

I looked at my watch.

"It's past lunchtime, you should head back to work"

"Oh, I forgot, my new boss is going to scold me, gosh, I hate her"

She said panicking.

"Well, you need her to like you so you can be on the lip balm project"

"Uh, I don't have a choice. See you after work"

"Yeah"

She drank her coffee and left.

I paid for the coffee and head back to work.

I said today was a sad day because 15 years ago, I was left all alone.

# 17 years ago

"You got first in class again"

My mum said and hugged me.

"I will give you a special gift"

She sat me down on her bed.

She opened her wardrobe and brought something out.

"This is a scarf I made myself"

She handed it over to me.

"It says mum loves Danielle"

I stood up and hugged her.

"I love it, thank you so much mum, I love you too mum"

I said still admiring the scarf.

"I love you more sweetie"

She grabbed my hand and we head to the living room.

"What's the special occasion?"

My grandmother asked.

"Elle got first again in class"

My mum said with excitement.

"Really?"

My grandmother asked looking at me.

"Yes"

I replied.

"I'm proud of you, since tomorrow is your 11th birthday, I will give you my special gift tomorrow"

My grandmother said.

"Thanks, granny"

I said and hugged her.

"You are welcome"

"I'm home"

Mandy, my sister announced her presence.

"What's your position?"

My mom asked her.

She looked at mum with guilty eyes.

"No, don't tell me you got last again".

Mum said with disappointment

"My card was switched"

She hesitated.

"Oh really? Take a look at your sister, focus on your studies"

She looked at me with jealousy in her eyes.

"She will do better next semester, right sweetie?"

My grandmother patted Mandy's shoulders.

"Where is your brother?"

Mum asked.

"I'm not his babysitter"

She left for her room.

"Can you see? She is never going to change"

My mum said.

"Just give her some time, she will"

Granny suggested.

"Ma'am, your phone is ringing"

The housekeeper gave mum her phone.

Mum looked at the caller.

"It's your dad"

She picked it.

"Hello"

She left for her room.

"Will Elle help granny make some cookies?"

Granny asked.

"Of course"

I replied with excitement.

"Ok, let's go"

We left for the kitchen.

"Go to my room, bring my special recipe in my drawer"

"Ok granny"

I left and saw mum heading towards the main door.

"Where are you going, mum?"

"Your dad told me to bring him some documents, I will be back soon"

"Ok"

She kissed me on my forehead and left.

*********

Granny and I finished making the cookies, suddenly we heard screaming coming from the living room, we rushed to see what was wrong, and arriving there it was mum screaming.

"What's going on?"

Granny asked.

Mum looked at me with disgusted eyes.

She left for my room, took the bag I take for vacations, and poured my clothes inside, I went in to stop her and asked what was wrong but she pushed me onto the ground.

"Use your words, woman!"

Granny said angrily.

She knelt sobbing. I stood up and hold her hand to tell me what was wrong.

"Mum"

I looked at her concerned.

"I'm not your mum, don't call me that"

She looked at me with disgust and said. I don't know why she said that, she stood up and left for her room, and granny followed.

I followed but she slammed her door in my face.

"I'm going to ask what's wrong, go back to your room"

She went in.

I couldn't stand mum being angry at me, I stood by the door to eavesdrop on their conversation.

I heard mum crying.

"Could you explain what all this is about"

"I discovered that Elle isn't my daughter"

She said sobbing.

"What do you mean? Of course, she is your daughter, you raised her uptill now"

"I also thought that but I overheard the family detective and your son's conversation. He came to ask my husband for money but he screamed at him saying he has been taking care of his family for a long time and that he also has a family to take care of"

She stopped and whimpered.

"So?"

"The family detective threatened him to do what he wants or he will expose his secret. He said he is fed up with him threatening him and he told him to go ahead, the detective said he will tell me first that Elle isn't my daughter, I came inside and asked him what the detective was talking about, and he hesitated"

"What?"

Granny asked shocked.

"Yes, the detective told me everything, he told me she was from my husband's affair, it hurts so much, I raised her for 11 years"

She cried.

I went back to my room, my mum who I loved for years isn't my mum.

I knelt ept.

Someone came in.

"Isn't this good news?"

Mandy slowly clapped in.

"You are not my sister, you were mum's favorite but you are not anymore since you are not her daughter"**

She laughed, and I couldn't control my tears.

"Well, it's a sad day for you and a happy day for me"

She left my room.

I took the scarf mum gave me. She told me she loves me, does it matter if I'm her daughter or not?

I kept thinking about it and slept off.

******

After 2hours nap, I woke up and heard dad's voice, I went to the living room.

"She is still my blood so take care of her"

He yelled.

"Since she isn't my daughter, I will not treat her the way I treat my kids"

She left the living room.

He noticed my presence.

"Come here, don't listen to whatever she is saying, you are still my daughter"

Will she treat me differently from now on?

******

I woke up the next day and left for school, I wasn't able to take breakfast cause I was told not to eat with the family again so the housekeeper packed some food for me.

On my way back from school, I saw an ambulance car in our compound and I heard people wailing, I rushed to see what was wrong.

I was surprised, it was mum, she was unconscious.

I was confused, I didn't know what happened to her

"What happened?"

I tried asking the housekeeper.

"She drank poison"

"What?"

"She drank it because of you, leave us alone, if anything happens to my mother, I will never forgive you"

Mandy cried out.

"What? Why would she do that?"

I asked myself.

I wanted to follow them but the housekeeper said she would go instead and told me to wait, I couldn't wait cause I want to be by her side.

I took my bike and followed the car.

I got to the hospital and went to her room, she was still unconscious, I took her hand.

"Mum, please wake up"

I was so scared.

"Elle"

She opened her eyes.

"Yes mum"

She looked at me with her arms stretched out

For a hug, I came closer.

"Get away from me"

She looked the other way.

"Mum, talk to me, I hate seeing you like this"

"If you don't want this to happen again, don't let me see you again"

"I don't want to see you like this again"

I turned my back to her and left the room crying, I don't want to lose her, if she will stay alive without me then I will stay away from her.

I saw granny sitting outside the room.

"Granny, please take me far away from here"

"What do you mean? I know you are shocked, just be patient, your mum's surgery was successful"

"She is not my mum, she said she will try to kill herself again if I don't stay away from here"

"Elle"

She pats my shoulder.

"I've made up my mind, if you won't help me then I will leave on my own"

"Wait, I will help you"

Granny gave the housekeeper, Sophia, some money to run away with me cause she didn't want me to leave alone.

We arrived in Canada.

I kept crying cause I don't know whether I will be able to see mum or not.

"It's ok, you have me"

Sophia said wiping away the tears in my eyes with her hand.

"Granny gave me some money to make a death certificate for you, you won't be known as Danielle anymore"

I couldn't control my tears, it was like the whole world was crumbling on me.

"We will sleep at the hotel tonight when we wake up tomorrow, we will know what to do"

She booked a room and the staff gave us keys and lead us there.

********

I woke up the next morning feeling weak.

"Elle, you are awake, what do you want for breakfast?"

She asked.

"Anything"

"I'll be right back"

She touched my forehead.

"Oh my, you are burning up, I think there is a pharmacist down the street, let me get you something to eat and drugs, don't go anywhere, I will be right back"

"Ok"

I sat down on the bed waiting for her, I was extremely weak.

I slept off.

# 30 minutes later

A voice woke me up.

"Come out, your money is due"

I think it's one of the staff yelling.

I stood up from the bed and opened the door.

"Where is your guardian?"

"She left a few minutes ago to get something, she will be back soon"

"Wait for her outside, the money she paid was just for one night and it's due"

I packed our luggage and left the room.

I looked for somewhere to sit and waited for Sophia.

I was sweating and burning up. where is she?

I left our luggage somewhere to look for her, I searched for 20 minutes, but I couldn't find her.

I kept walking till I passed out.

***********

"She is waking up"

I heard a man's voice as I opened my eyes slowly.

"Where am I?"

I asked still clearing my eyes.

"You passed out in front of my apartment and we brought you in and got you treated, what is a little girl doing outside all alone?"

He asked me.

It was a man and a woman standing in front of me, I'm guessing they are a couple.

Sophia is nowhere to be found, I don't have any money, how will I survive?

"What's your name dear?"

The woman asked.

"I don't know"

I have to pretend I don't know anything so I can survive.

"What? You don't remember anything"

The woman said with concern.

"What should we do? She doesn't remember anything"

The woman said to the man.

"See me in my room"

Her husband said to her and left.

"Ok, what would you like to eat? Miranda!!"

She yelled, and a lady appeared.

"Prepare anything she wants"

She told her and left.

"What would you like to eat?"

She asked me.

I couldn't think of anything, I'm so hungry, I could do anything as long it was food.

"Anything"

I replied.

A few minutes later, the couple came back.

"We can't let you go back to the streets so we concluded to stay with us till you remember where you come from"

She said with excitement.

"Ok"

"We are Mr. and Mrs. Campbell"

"Thank you so much for saving my life"

I have nowhere to go, I will live with them until I have somewhere to go.

Fifteen years later, I'm still living with them, They gave me the name Drea Campbell. They sponsored my education and made me what I am today.

# Present day

"Miss Drea, Mrs. Shapen wants you in her office now"

Mrs. Shapen's secretary told me.

I work as a weather reporter on capital tv, we have various branches in the city and, Mrs. Shapen is the managing director of the branch in Los Angeles, where I work in.

"You called for me?"

I closed the door behind me.

"Drea, I have good news for you and bad news"

I got nervous.

"What's that?"

She stood up from her chair.

"I've noticed how hard you work to become a full-time reporter so I've moved you to our main branch in Chicago, you will work there as a full-time reporter"

"Are you serious?"

"Of course"

I jumped out of excitement and hugged her so tight.

"Can't......breath"

She gasped.

I let go of her.

"I'm so sorry, I was excited, thank you so much"

"Don't thank me, you deserve it and one more thing, don't make me regret it"

"Of course not"

"You can leave work early today since it's your birthday"

"Thank you so much"

I left her office. I'm so happy I get to work as a full-time reporter, let me share the news.

I took my phone from my desk and called mum.

"Birthday girl, how is your day going"

She said with excitement.

"I have great news"

I sandwiched my phone between my ear and shoulder as I packed my bag and left the office.

"And what could that be?"

She asked with curiosity in her voice.

"I'm a full-time reporter now"

"Oh my, you did it, I'm so proud of you"

"Thanks, mum"

"We have to celebrate this, come home tonight, don't tell me you are busy"

"I got off work early so yes, I'm coming"

"This is great news, have you told your father?"

"Not yet, I figured he will be busy"

"Yeah, he will, we will break it to him late than that d bring Summer along"

"Ok then see you later"

"I love you"

"I love you too"

I hung up.

I haven't told Summer yet, I'll just drop a message and tell her to meet me at home, she will be busy at the moment.

I stopped by a taxi and left.

********

"Drea! Drea!! Drea!!!"

Summer yelled.

I came rush out of the bathroom with a towel on me and took a stick with me

"What happened? Where is the bad guy?"

I said looking around.

Summer laughed.

"There is no bad guy, you got promoted!"

She said with excitement.

"Is that why you yelled?"

"Of course, I am so proud of you"

She clapped my hands with her hands.

"Victory dance!"

"No no, I will be late for the dinner"

"Oh right the dinner, I will get dressed"

She left for her room and I went back to mine.

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell owns a company that lends money to people without asking them to sign their body parts instead they will tell them to sign their treasured property.

They also have a son but he studied in Germany, he is a businessman that owns a lip balm company, and he visits his parents during Christmas, they were fine without him cause they had me but I'm leaving for Chicago which is 2,015 miles away from Los Angeles.

Summer and I arrived at my parents' place.

And rang the bell.

"My daughter is here"

Mum said as she opened the gate.

She hugged me.

"I'm also someone's daughter"

Summer said almost crying.

"You are my daughter too"

She hugged Summer.

Summer has been with me for 5 years now.

If I can remember clearly, it was Christmas, mum sent me to pick up some Christmas decorations, and Summer bumped into me and spilled coffee on my white blazer, she apologized and gave me her sweater, we met again where I buy coffee almost every day, we became friends since then.

Her parents died and she was put up for adoption, luckily for her, she was adopted into a nice family, they are not wealthy but they are fine. She works at la belle beauty company, which makes facial masks, face cream, and others.

"That's enough, let go inside"

"Yeah, let's go"

Mum agreed.

We strolled into the house.

"Dad is inside right?"

I asked mum.

"Yes, he came back a few minutes ago, he is in the study room"

"Ok, I want to see him"

"Ok, Summer, help me set the table"

"Sure"

Summer said.

I went into the study room.

"Who do we have here?"

I laughed.

"My princess"

"Dad, I missed you so much"

I said hugging him.

"I still don't know why you choose to be a reporter at channel tv, there are lots of stations here"

He asked.

"I have my reasons"

"If you say so, you hardly come home again, your mum tears up anytime she remembers you, and it takes a while to calm her down"

"I know but I have good news"

"What is that?"

"I'm going to be a full-time reporter"

I said in excitement.

"I'm so happy for you"

Here comes the bad news.

"I'm leaving for Chicago"

"Chicago?"

"Yes, I will be working there"

"Does your mum know?"

"Yes"

"Ok then, when are you leaving?"

"In two days"

"Ok"

"The table is set"

Summer announced.

"Let's go"

We left for the dining room.

"Will you be able to visit once in a while?"

Mum asked.

"I don't know yet but I should be able, don't worry Summer is here"

"Yeah, I know, I'm going to miss you"

Mum said in a sad tone.

"I'm always here"

Summer hold hands with mum and smiled at her.

"Let's talk about something else, your mum will make everyone emotional so you do need anything?"

Dad asked.

"No, I have everything I need"

"Ok, always tell me whenever you need something"

"Yes, I know I can count on you, thanks dad"

"You are always welcome"

We finished eating dinner.

"We will be on our way home now"

I said.

"Wait, I made you a present for you, let me get it"

Mum rushed in and brought out a box.

"Here, I made some brownies"

She said giving the box to me.

"Awen, thanks mum"

"You are welcome"

"I will take some when I get home"

"Ok, don't stress yourself"

Mum said and hugged me and Summer.

"Goodbye"

We waved at them and left.

**

I arrived at Sunnyville in Chicago.

My accommodation was taken care of.

I unpacked my luggage, took a shower, and ate mac and cheese.

I slept off early so I can wake up early to prepare for my first day at work.

**

"Mum, please don't leave me"

I said sobbing

"I'm not your mother, stop calling me that"

"Please"

I cried and heard a noise.

I opened my eyes, it was my alarm, I turned it off.

I'm having that dream again, I miss mum a lot.

I took my phone and checked the time, it was 7:00 am.

I rushed to the bathroom, took a shower, and wore a pair of pants and a matching top with a blazer and my hair packed in a bun.

I don't have a car yet, but I will buy one today.

I left the hotel I'm staying for a while till I get my own space.

I took my phone and checked GooglMapsap. I hurried to the nearest bus stop and waited for the bus.

Checked my phone again while waiting for the bus, it was almost 8:00 am, and I'm late, I should be at work already on my first day, and I think I need to change my alarm.

Finally, the bus arrived.

**

I rushed into the huge building.

I saw the reception, I don't know where to go, I will ask them.

"Good morning, I'm new here and I'm looking for Mrs. Denver William"

Mrs. Shapen told me to ask for that name, she will help me with what I needed.

"What's your name?"

The lady asked.

"Drea Campbell"

"Ok, one second"

She made a call.

"She will be down in a second, take a sit"

I sat down and waited.

"Where is she?"

A woman in a

"She is sitting there"

The receptionist pointed at me.

I stood up and approached her.

"Mrs. Denver?"

"Follow me, I will show you what is needed"

She said as she was walking and I followed her.

After a while of talking and walking

"This is where you will be working"

She pointed at an office with three people, the Isawvacantntt desk, and I figured it was mine.

"Meet your new reporter"

Mrs. Denver announced.

"Welcome, my name is Michelle"

A lady among the people welcomed me.

"Drea"

I said with a smile.

"Ok, I will be on my way"

Mrs. Denver left.

The other two are guys.

"Take your seat"

A guy with black hair said to me.

"I'm interviewing Chris Holland so you will be there to learn also my name is Micheal"

"I'm Drea, um, Chris Holland?"

I asked out of curiosity cause I don't know celebrities.

"Yeah, Chris Holland"

He said burying his face in his computer.

"I'm a fan of his, he was the main lead in Royal engagement Christmas, and he looked so cool"

Michelle said.

"That's enough Michelle"

The guy with black hair said.

"Ok, when is the interview?

I asked.

"In five minutes"

He said and stood up from his desk and handed me some files.

"Here are the question I will be asking him, take a brief look"

Micheal said.

How will I read almost 20 pages within 4 minutes? life of a reporter.

I signed and started scanning the pages with my eyes.