Joanne-
‘If you’re nervous just imagine everybody naked’
I almost snorted out a weird laugh when Tina and I got inside the gazebo and then to a huge door that had a plate at the door that wrote ‘private area’.
The fact that Trinity’s words had to strike me at that moment.
Was I nervous? hell yeah I was… but thinking about Trinity now is patching up my nervousness a bit.
Tina placed a light knock on the door and breathed out a sigh of patience.
“And we wait” She flashed a smile at me.
I looked around the gazebo one more time and the amount of greens from the plants and the warmth of the place, made me smile, and somehow it eased up half of my nervousness. You could see the quiet garden outside through the roof to floor windows, and the ray of sunshine hitting the window glasses and then the plants makes you just want to stare at the scene until dusk and then have a nap in here.
Speaking of naps, I really need one.
The door opened about ten seconds later and Aneesa popped up with her brimming smile.
And immediately Tina walked away.
“Oh my Goodness, really sorry to keep you waiting Joanne… please come in” She beamed, taking my hand in hers and pulling me in.
If our cars got to the place the same time, when the hell did they get in here before me.
I walked into the private room and the sound of Joanne slamming the door behind us almost sent my ghost flying.
She gave a low apologetic giggle for scaring me, but I just gave a fake smile to brush it off.
I gave my attention to the room filled with the ladies.
But… Holy sh*t
The place was amazingly beautiful. And Felt so unreal.
Ignoring the pretty women in the room looking all dolled up and having tea. I invested my time in taking in the room. From the high walls to the golden table, to the unique cushions and interior designs.
Everything was just in place and felt like a perfect place to really chat over tea and maybe take a nap.
“Hey ladies… She’s here” Aneesa beamed, walking closer.
I held my breath as I decided to give my attention to the ladies in room.
My lips stretched into a faux smile.
All the ladies rose in unison, dropping whatever was in their hands. Like a way of showing respect for my presence.
Okay that’s nice of them.
Aneesa gestured for me to come closer to the table and take up the empty seat that was meant for me.
The table is oval shaped and decorated with linearts of flowers and in front of each chairs are cute teapots and teacups.
I took the seat and every one of the ladies took their seats, making me seat with them too.
What exactly happens here? What do I say?
They all look so extravagant I feel out of place.
Aneesa cleared her throat and got on her feet.
“As the inviter, I’ll do the introduction… ladies this is Joanne Bensimon, the lady I have been talking about for ages now… isn’t she just dashing.”
The ladies gave no other reaction than an unrelenting stare.
“Joanne… this is Anna shaw, the founder of this club and the youngest, Asher Black, CEO of Lyon shares”
Anna, the ginger haired lady, gave a cocky smile as she tucked that voluminous hair behind her ear, loving how well Aneesa introduced her.
You can already tell her ego would be greater than mountains.
And who the hell is Asher black and what is Lyon shares.
I nodded with a smile .
My face was sure hurting from all fake smiles. And the fact that she’s the one Hardy instructed me to get close to. I don’t like her already .
The introduction went on as fast as Aneesa made it seem and bless her for doing so. Because these women couldn’t wait to be introduced as either the wife or fiancé of such wealthy men to give that egoistic stare or cocky smile.
It was getting annoying.
Well thank goodness I was already given this information from Hardy to Trinity, so knowing this women is no big deal.
Anna, ginger hair, chestnut eyes, twenty six and she is certainly not down to earth. Loves the fact that she’s engaged to her fiancé Asher, proud of herself, would not care to hop on another man if he’s more wealthier than Asher.
Talk about shallow.
Chloe. Golden brown hair, dark brown eyes, Twenty nine and married to Xavier. An ambitious man who owns a small firm and loves cars. He is wealthy enough to tend to Chloe who loves Jewelries with all her life.
Sasha, dark black hair, hazel eyes and Ruby, dirty blonde hair ocean blue eyes. Both of them once fought over Spenser Hugh – the CEO of mercury limited, but Spenser chose Ruby at the end after announcing their engagement and now Sasha is married to foreman a wealthy man whose wealth source has remained unknown till this day.
Both Sasha and Ruby are both slowitted, but Ruby is down to earth.
Jane, short curly brown hair, dark brown eyes is married to Vincent, an old wealthy man lying on his death bed and waiting to give up his ghost. Jane believes in money and not love, she is selfish and hates everyone.
And that leaves it all to Aneesa, Thirty six, of course married to Jeffery. According to the information Hardy passed to Trinity, Aneesa cares more about her reputation than anything else. Doesn’t love Jeff and is only married to him because he approached her first and is wealthy.
Well she’s nice to me so no biggie.
“So Joanne… such peculiar name”
Jane cleared her throat taking a bite from her biscuit.
How the hell is Joanne peculiar and Jane isn’t?
“Yeah. we don’t just let anyone in… the last time we let just anyone in we regretted it after sh-
“Be quiet Sasha” Aneesa shunned dark haired Sasha. Which took me off guard.
“What she was trying to say is… this is an extremely unique club and we don’t let low class ladies join us” Ruby added and the other ladies nodded in unison.
“Okay” I breathed out a smile.
“The fact that Aneesa introduced you to us means you’re nothing including low class or a lady that would bring any bad luck to our club” Golden brown haired Chloe shrugged.
I nodded, like I was filled with nothing but elegance.
“And the fact that you’re married to Hardy bensimon” Anna cleared her throat.
“Hardy… Who is exactly like his name” Jane shakes her head. “Good thing Vincent isn’t like that”
“What can Vincent actually do if not lie all day” Chloe backfired making half the ladies including me, almost bursted out laughing.
It would never occur to them how I know every single detail about their lives.
How did Hardy obtain such in the first place.
“Okay Chloe… that’s enough” Jane seethed, getting an almost invisible eye roll from chloe.
“But how did you manage to pull someone like Hardy Joanne… if I may ask?” Anna’s voice caught everyone’s attention.
Okay what sort of question was that?
And with everyone’s eyes on me now, How do I reply a question like that when I’m nothing but Hardy’s captive. Playing the role of his fiancé and an undercover lovable partner finding clues for his dead ex wife.
“Um…” I briefly glanced at the empty teacup in front of me, before constantly shifting my gaze.
Shit, this is harder than I thought.
I was starting to get nervous.
“You know, considering how dark Hardy became after Lisa died” Anna shrugged, picking up her teapot and pouring herself another tea.
Aneesa’s forehead suddenly puckered as she snapped her head towards Anna.
“I thought we promised not to talk about Lisa… it’s her first time here and you’re Al-
“She’ll be fine” Lisa interrupted Aneesa while staring at me, her eyes gleaming of deviltry.
“Right… Joanne? You don’t mind if we talk about Lisa right?” Anna titled her head, a soft but yet rough smile on her face as she awaited my reply.
I ignored the huge orbs gawking at my direction and let out a nod.
“It’s okay… I don’t really know Lisa that much and I don’t care honestly”
“See” Anna beamed.
Aneesa’s brows knitted in worry, but she said nothing much as she breathed out a sigh.
These women…
No wonder Hardy wanted me here, did they have anything to do with Lisa? They all don’t seem to like her.
I don’t know about Aneesa but she’s right. Because talking about a man’s dead ex wife in front of his fiancé isn’t nice . But Anna doesn’t seem to care and as the head of the place.
And I would love to care to, but sadly I am just being used by Hardy and this is not my place.
And, none of these women should ever find out I am being held captive by Hardy.
Because the way they all looked like they’re hungry to find out something about me, anything at all about me.
.
.*