Lady Friend

Eight - Her Share

Gently, German rapped on the door. "Can I come in?" Angie said nothing. He knocked again, "Angie -"

Please let me come in. I want to come in.

Abruptly she opened the door. She stood warily in front of him. Unlike her usual self she seemed weak. Not literally but she was... emotional.

Well maybe that was because of -

Her eyes seemed clouded and she didn't say anything. It was like she was too far away even to acknowledge his presence. When she caught his eye, she quickly focused her look on the floor.

"Look at me." Before he spoke she shuffled over to her bed and sat on its edge. He kneeled and clasped his fingers in hers, like she did a few months ago. Patiently he waited. The ticking of the clock indicated that two minutes had gone by but he wasn't really paying attention. All he wanted was for her to look into his eyes. To talk to him, like an adult, to tell him what was wrong.

Every time she met his gaze, she soon broke it. She walked over to dressing table almost making German fall. It was his turn to sit on the bed stuck in his thoughts.

Tick. Tick.

Another minute gone. Two, three... It seemed like hours but the minutes creeped by. Five minutes later and she still hadn't said a word. He looked to her and she said,

"Your girlfriend's downstairs." Her tone of voice was harsh, almost cutting. Did he sense mockery? Was she mocking Esmeralda? Didn't she like her? He thought she was wonderful! Then again, if he didn't, she wouldn't have met all of his family.

"My girlfriend's gone home." He assured her.

Angie turned to him. "Why?" She questioned.

"She had to finish some work." He said casually.

Work. Ah, I'll bet it's anything but work! Angie thought to herself. I don't like this Esmeralda woman. She gets to sing with her before even properly meeting her and I'm her aunt and I didn't even get to see her until a year ago? German's crazy. He can't be in love. He's fallen too quickly.

I wonder what she's really doing....

   *   *   *

After walking a good while, Esmeralda stepped onto the front porch. She checked her watch. Perfectly on time, as usual. Sometimes she was even early, by that was only when she wanted to make them feel awkward. She shouldn't, but she had a certain thrill in seeing people fall under her spell. That's why she loved being an actress.

Jade finally opened the door to reveal Matias sitting on the sofa tucking into a baguette. Typical Matty. Always into his food.

He heard the door click open and he greeted Esmeralda. Reluctantly putting the sandwich down, he invited her to sit. Jade soon followed and they sat on the edge of their seats. They wanted to know everything. Had the seeds of their crazy idea been planted?

"I met German a few days ago." She said sheepishly. It was bad that she hadn't told them that she had started in the job already but the day they met, there was no chemistry there. It was platonic. They wouldn't be interested in that. Luckily, both Jade and her brother stayed silent. She continued, "He was amiable. However, I stayed for dinner at his house last night and I have met all of his family." A smile crawled upon her face. Matias was nodding wildly and Jade's eyes widened.

"So..." There was a brief pause, but then he rattled on with his sentence, "Has anything else happened yet?"

"Matty!" Jade slapped her brother on the arm. She turned to Esmeralda, embarrassed, "Sorry."

Looking at the floor, Esmeralda replied in monotone, "No need."

Matty tried to but in, "I'm sorry, I only meant like -" Sadly, he could not finish his glorious attempt at redeeming himself. Jade sent him to his bedroom.

Apologising for Maty's behaviour, she offered Esmeralda a glass of juice. She took it and briefly thanked her. Jade informed her of her goal and what she would have to do to attain it. Taking notes, Esmeralda nodded. After Jade had finished describing the plan, she asked about the payment. Her employee slash sort of accomplis slash... whatever you want to call her, told her that she would receive a quarter of the money that would be eventually stolen. That would serve as a decent payment. She asked for half but Jade pointed out that there were three people in her family.

Who was the third?

Her father. She answered. Accepting a quarter of the total money taken, Esmeralda decided that she would be on her way. She was shown out and was told to go by German's house as often as she could. Preferably every day were her orders. She checked that everything was in its place in her purse and began walking back to the hotel.

   *   *   *

"Mattyyy!" Jade whined. She needed her brother to come to her immediately but she didn't have the energy to shout. She called again, "Mattyyy!"

Soon enough her brother came rushing to her side. "Yes, sister?"

Jade looked at her slowly chipping manicure and flashed a glance at her brother. "You won't treat Esmeralda like that, you understand? We have to treat her like family if she's going to help us steal all of German's money!"

Matias laughed. "Yes! Soon we'll be rich!"

Jade chuckled happily, "We will be Matty, but she has to be on our side. She can't end up actually liking him and that little brat."

Matty held his sandwich up in agreement. "Exactly. She can't have anything to do with them afterwards. It's her job to fall in love with him. That's why we hired her." They cackled menacingly and quickly phoned Esmeralda of the new condition in her loosely made contract.