Chapter 48: Frenemies and guts.

KIKI.

“I knew it!” Rose swore triumphantly, giggling loudly as she danced on her seat like a hungry child who had just been offered candy. I allowed her to bask in the euphoria that she may be right.

“Who knows,” She started, her eyes twinkling as she leaned in. “The boss might like you too.” She whispered. I gasped exaggeratedly as she had just spewed the biggest secret.

“Now, don't get ahead of yourself,” I warned her.

“If I like somebody for instance,” She started, taking another sip of her drink. It was high time I ordered mine. So, I signaled to the barman. She stopped me in time to pour me strawberry juice from the carton she had brought along with her. I was starting to wonder how she got strawberry juice in the strip club anyway.

“And I'm in the same space as the person, Kiki. I would make sure I see the person or that I have the person around me more than I need the person. More than I intend to.” She continued.

“What do you mean?” I raised a brow.

“Who knows?” She shrugged casually. I would have believed her if the smile on her face wasn't twitching with mischief like she had discovered America's secret.

So, I glared at her.

“Okay okay!” She chuckled, her hands up in a surrendering style after my hard glares at her. “I was just saying that what if the boss demands more from you just to keep you around him? Like he makes you come to his office every time cos he likes having you around. Maybe cos he feels the same way.” She clapped excitedly like her theory was right. Everything she had said made sense.

“That's nonsense." I dismissed it easily even with the heavy tug in my heart saying otherwise.

“It is true and you know it, Kiki.” She told me.

I took in a breath. “Look Rose, me liking him is disastrous. It makes no sense.” I started.

She humored me by placing her hand on the table, propelling it upwards to place her head on her palms. She hummed and I started to speak again.

“I am not supposed to feel this way, honestly. It's not part of the agreement. I don't think I'm ready for this too. Rose, I don't want this feeling. It's going to distract and pull me down a lot." I told her.

“Feelings can't be buried, Kiki. I understand you might be scared. Julian did what he wanted to. He is a beast. He didn't deserve you. You shouldn't let that deter you. This feeling, you should nurture like a flower and watch it blossom. Don't try to stop it." She advised. I shook my head.

“You don't get it. I and Giovanni are worlds apart. He is up, way up, and way below. We are worlds apart, Rose. There is no use keeping a feeling that will never be actualized. I'm hundred percent sure I'm not his type. He already made it clear.”

She rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink. I did the same.

“Why don't you just try?" She started again and I sighed. “You can never know. Love comes in different forms and times. It can happen anywhere and at any time, okay?” She said.

I opened my mouth to speak when I caught someone's silhouette from my peripheral sight. The person was walking toward us so I stopped and turned, giving the person my attention.

“Hello, ladies!” She waved, greeting us, her nose flared up in a cynical smile. She was beaming at us like we were still friends like she hadn't betrayed me. Like I hadn't caught her with my ex-boyfriend in bed.

I looked away from her and took a sip of my juice. I heard slurs of cusses from Rose as she passed her a tight-lipped smile.

She stood in front of us, towering over us with the heels clad on her feet. She wasn't dressed in her regular striper wear. I had even forgotten that she worked here cos I had deleted her from my mind, tucked her away in a box, and lock it. Then, I threw the mew away.

My eyes crawled over her. Due to the sunny nature, she had on a red thin strapped tube top over black shorts that stopped on her mid-thigh. She matched this with heels.

“I haven't seen you here in a while, Kiki.” She began like she was my employer. “Oh, I heard you gave up your shot girl job.” She added with a chuckle. Then, she bent forward, her breast in full display to my view.

“I didn't know you were so scared of me.” She pouted like I was really scared of her. I tried to keep my tongue in check.

“And you think she would give up her job for you,” Rose snapped. I had forgotten that I wasn't the only one trying to keep my tongue in check.

Rose chuckled, short mirthless laughter that was filled with anger. “Kiki would never give up her job for you.” She laughed.

Claire's nose flared up and I could tell that she was angry.

“Who knows Rose?” She shrugged, regaining her composure. “Since she has heavy debts burden on her neck to pay for.” She mocked.

“True.” Rose smiled. “But I know that she doesn't eat half-eaten loaves of bread. She doesn't eat leftovers.” Rose spat with a smile.

She may have not mentioned it but I knew Claire wasn't dumb. Julian was my left whom she had taken over from me.

“I didn't know you are here spokeswoman now.” She tried to redeem herself though it was evident that she was pained. I sighed in contentment, passing Rose a small smile before I took my glass and downed everything in a gulp.

When I raised my head and brought my glass down, I noticed Rose's eyes were fixed on something...rather someone at the entrance. When I took a look, a familiar face struck me as she waved at someone in our midst. The wave was more like a command.

I stared at the face, the familiarity striking me again and again.

“Is...Is this not Fifi?”