Twisted

CHAPTER NINETEEN

     "Testing, testing, Leah can you hear me?" Kayla said through the hidden earpiece at my right ear.

    "Copy that. I can hear you loud and Clear!" I said as calmly as I could, trying to conceal my excitement.

    "Leah, you need to focus. This is jo longer child's play." Jason said sternly, I could imagine how he'll look saying that, hhh.

    As you know, it's now been over a month since last time, all our preparations shall blosson today, hopefully. As dad promised, I got the invite a week before the exhibition. I am now at Madam Éclair's exhibition with the other invited guests who are now busy mingling with each other. Everyone is beautifully dressed in mostly black suites for the men and different coloured dresses for the women. Some are wearing formal wears while others are wearing suites, but most of the dresses light colours. I am dressed in a a comfortable blue gown which is light blue at the top, and changes colour as it flows down, with the end in purple.

       I wanted to wear something black like ninjas but kayla argued against it, saying that we are trying to lay low and not gather attention, not to become the star of the show by making Everyone stare at us weirdly. Hah! I know she's right but still won't that have been awesome! I mean imagine wearing black with a dark shade on top!

      The venue's wall are coloured white, which is spacious and bright, showcasing the different art collections of Madam Éclair.

      Jason and kayla are in the nearest cafe closed to this gallery, Jason jacked into their security camera so that they can get a view of what's happening. I have been mingling with the others waiting for their instructions on where Madam Éclair is and the painting for a while now.

...

On the other side.

       Jason and kayla were sitting at the far corner of the cafe, away from people's preying eyes. They had been their for a while now. They made sure to order when they came so as to avoid further suspicion and to blend. The cafe had circular tables with walls every here and there, making it had to see what others were doing a few tables away. This was the perfect setting for both of them.

    "How's the security camera?" Kayla asked Jason.

     "Yes, all four." He said, showing her what was happening inside the gallery right now through the four cameras that was being showed on his computers screen.

     "Leah, be extremely careful. Don't get into any trouble or alert the security guards. Who knows, they might send you out if you a disturbance.

     "All right! Don't worry. Just keep am eye for Madam Éclair and the art piece. I've checked all the present arts here but I don't see the one we are looking for. " Leah's voice was heard from the other side through their own set of earpiece.

     "It's the highlight of the show, it will take some time before they bring it out." Jason said.

      "Do you think the password is really on that art? I mean won't many have gotten the chance see it or get a hold of it? Is this just a scam?" Kayla asked the question that had been bugging her a since a while back.

     "Hmm... well, I don't think so." Jason said, facing her. " I'm not sure about the password but think of it, why would it be hidden the painting didn't have something of importance in it? They didn't let it get to the public eye and bought it immediately after **** had painted it. Only a few selected number of people were allowed to see it and that too, it was only showcased ones. This being the second time. So I don't think its a scam judging by the number of security guards in there." He reasoned out.

      "OK, let's hope there is really is a clue in it." Kayla said while Jason nodded in agreement with her. They both continued to survey the exhibition from their seats.

...

     "It's been two hours now guys, do you think she's a no show?" I asked them. Leaning at a side of the wall that there's not much people.

    It's currently eleven o'clock in the morning, the exhibition started nine o'clock in the morning, but Madam Éclair has still been a no show.

    "Don't worry, just keep an eye out. " Jason said from the other side.

      "Try to see if you can get any sort of information from the others. " Kayla said.

      "OK, copy that." Leah said, excitedly looking around for any guest to get information from and glad to finally be able to move around.  'Aha,' I thought to myself, seeing a guest that I knew well. Then stared walking to her.

     "Leah? Do you have a plan?" Kayla asked.

     "Yes!" I replied with a smile.

...

     "Auntie!" I called her name upon reaching her.

   She stopped speaking with the three other women and turned around, seeing me she said with smiles.

    "Leah? Is that you?"  I smiled at her, "Yes Auntie. "

   "Oh, it's been long! I can't believe how all grown up you are now." She held my cheeks with her hand and squeeze it. " The last time I saw you, you were just thirteen. A little munchkin. "

     " Awnty, I'm no longer a little girl now, you can't continue to squeeze my cheeks like this!" I protested.

   "All right, all right!" She said with a smile then left my cheeks, making me rub them. I think it's swollen now.

      "Auntie? Who are this fellow women's?" I asked her nicely when I saw them staring at me.

     "Oh pardon my manners." She laughed then looked at them.

     "This is my friend's daughter, Leah, but she's more like a daughter to me." She said with a smile. "Leah, say hi to them."

    "Hi! Good morning, I'm Leah!" I said cheerily.

    "Hahaha, she's as enthusiastic as always. " Auntie said. "Leah, this is Mrs Miles,"she pointed at the woman at her right, who was standing closest to her. "Her Husband owns a mining company and we've seen each other quite a few time in tea parties."

     "Hi Leah." She said and I greeted back in response.

      "This is Mrs Johnson," she pointed at the next woman, the one at the middle. "She owns a beauty parlor all over the country. We met when I went to one of them." Mrs Johnson smiled at me to which I responded.

     "And finally, this is Miss Wendy," she introduced the last one, who was standing close to me. "The soon to be daughter-in-law of Mrs Miles here."

    We both greeted each other. They were all in their mid fifties apart from Wendy, who looked to be in her early twenty. Auntie started telling us the story of Mrs Miles and Wendy.

    This was why I was dreading having to asked Auntie Ruth about the others, this is always what happens. Auntie Ruth is like a news station. Any information you want that is hundred percent accurate about the women of the high society then Auntie Ruth is the first and best place you can get them.

    The problem is that she not only tells you about it! But she also gives you a full history on it! Sometimes if your not lucky, you will have to find what you asked for inside her story. It's really tiring!