10 Advantage

Unedited

"Hello, Ciara." Kim spoke into the phone.

"Hi! You remember me!! Oh, I'm blushing!!!" Ciara's excited voice came through the phone.

Kimberly looked around her room in confusion. "Why shouldn't I remember you?"

At the other end Ciara sighed, "you know you guys are busy people, but me, I sit around all day looking into my phone. That's how I saw your number. I know you are busy, but I decided to distract you a bit."

"I'm home today watching a movie."

"No work today?"

Actually the events of the other day left her drained and she had no desire whatsoever, to go to the company any time soon. She was the bus, who would question her?

But she wasn't ready to talk about it.

"The thing is.... I actually.... I don't feel like working. You gotta be lazy sometimes." She stammered and she was sure not even Billy Thunderman would believe that.

Ciara expectedly didn't. "Look," she said gently into the phone, "we're as good as sisters. You can tell me everything and anything. Talking about it helps more."

Kimberly hesitated, "it's not something to say on the phone. Maybe one day we cou..."

"I'm free right now. And you're free too. Let's meet up."

"Sounds great." Although Kimberly was tired, she didn't wanna disappoint the excited girl.

They set the, place and time.

-----

In a park

Thirty minutes later

Kimberley walked into the park and spotted Ciara. Looks like she didn't want to make it hard her to find her.

Ciara was standing with her back to Kimberly, so she went and tapped her on her shoulder.

Ciara turned and raised her brow to greet her because her mouth was filled with ice cream.

When she swallowed it, she gave Kimberly a very bright smile,

"You're late." Then she noticed Kimberly wasn't wearing any of the masks she wore when she was in public, "where's your mask?"

"A lot of people know me with the mask. And you know I'm more into the entertainment industry than business."

Ciara hummed. Then, as if remembering something, she asked Kimberly, "but Jasmine is more famous than you are, and she's in the business...."

"Can this just....." Kimberly almost screamed, but composed herself when some people turned to look at her. "Can this just be about us?"

Ciara looked at her with a bewildered expression first. Her eyes opened wildly looking like someone about to cry. Then, she slowly nodded.

"Thank you."

Ciara who was speechless at first recovered from shock. "Wow." She exclaimed. "There's really something wrong. You never spoke like that." She went closer to Kimberly and laid a hand on her shoulder, and said in a softer voice, "that's why we're here, right? C'mon, tell me." She led her to a seat.

Kimberly told the story, and in some places she clenched her fists.

When she was done, Ciara intertwined her hands with hers, and said in a low tone, "It was that little phone call, right? She shouldn't have done that. I'm sure you spent a lot on those.

It's because you're too lenient, she's taking advantage of your leniency. She should respect you..."

"I went to her office yesterday and tried to make it clear that I'm the older one, but she turned me away."

"You let her turn you away, you have to fight for your rights. You have to stop being too lenient!! Show her her place, at least, make her experience the kind of pain you did. She's richer than you anyway, she has a lot of things to loose more than you do." She lowered her voice conspirationally, "I heard my sister- in- law's brother talking about some project with your sister's company, star.

They are signing famous stars to join the company. The company they're shooting a movie with is flying here for the shoot." She lowered her voice more, "If something goes wrong, like the plane crashes, somethings can go wrong."

Kimberly looked at her, then burst into laughter. She laughed till her ribs hurt, but when she didn't hear Ciara laughing along, she stopped, "oh, you're serious."

Ciara just looked at her head on.

She shook her head continuously. "Ciara look, I can't do that, okay? A plane crash? No, no, no no no. No. Because she did that to me doesn't mean I should do something worse. And she compensated me. And yes, you named it, she's richer and more successful than I am. If something goes wrong, I don't know if I can repay her."

"You won't tell her, even if she finds out...."

"Ciara, no. You're involved in this too, your brother- in-law."

"That's to show you I care...."

"Ciara." Kimberly interrupted. "Drop that."

"Fine." Ciara's shoulders dropped in a resigned tone.

They changed the topic, walked round the park, bought things and soon it became nightfall.

"It's been fun." Kimberly appreciated coming out with Ciara today. And she also felt better after telling Ciara everything.

"My pleasure. Remember if you need anything, just call." Ciara hurried to finish everything she was saying in between yawns and stretches.

"I don't think so. You look like you're ready to sleep while falling off a mountain."

It was almost midnight, so of course, everyone was tired.

"Don't mind that. And where's your driver?" Ciara suddenly realized she didn't see Elvin all day.

"No worries. He'd be here in any minute. I just told him to leave us alone for sometime. You go home, I see your car."

"Oh no." Ciara hurriedly refused. "I will wait till your driver comes." Saying this, she took the bag Kimberly was holding and stood beside her, looking around like she did nothing.

"Give me the bag. It's not that heavy, I can carry it."

"But I just wanna hold it. No argument." Ciara declared with a tone of finality.

Almost immediately Elvin pulled up in front of them.

"Hand them over." Kimberly gestured to Ciara with her hand outstretched.

"Nightie." Ciara said walking towards Kimberly's car with the bags. She didn't have to open the door because the driver already opened it.

"Thanks." Kimberly said to Ciara then turned to Elvin, "where's Erin?" Erin is her closest bodyguard.

"Miss Reign called him for something." He reported bowing as a sign of greeting.

"Jasmine? Why would Jasmine call him?"

"I don't know, ma'am."

This was a normal thing, they often exchanged bodyguards. One of Kimberly's ideas, but Kimberly after all that happened, she thought it a bit awkward to do somethings they did before.

"Tell Erin to come back. Right now." Of course, after everything she still bore something close to a grudge.

Kimberly had many good sides, but she had bad sides too.

Elvin called Erin, but he didn't answer. He called again and again, but the same result. "He's not picking up, ma'am."

"What do you mean he's not answering? Try again."

"He's not." He reported again.

Kimberly pulled out her phone and called Jasmine. She didn't pick up.

It was not surprising. Jasmine was a classy and busy woman, she never picked up the phone on the first or second ring if she doesn't think it's important.

She called again, then again and again.

"Where the fuck is Erin?" She almost screamed frustratedly when Jasmine picked up.

Jasmine cut the call. If you're ready to talk to her, you don't scream.

She called again, when Jasmine picked up, she bit her lip and smiled a stiff, sarcastic smile. In between clenched teeth, she asked sweetly, "where's Erin?"

Jasmine took her time to respond, she crossed one ankle over the other on her office desk. "That's not the right question."

She took in a deep, frustrated breath. This annoying sister of hers. She bit her lip and let out a stiff smile. "How are you doing, sis?"

"Get to the point."

Kimberly wanted to laugh. The bad laugh. This sister of hers is really pushing her to the wall.

"Where's Erin?"

"Somewhere."

"Where?"

"I just told you."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Didn't you learn English?"

"I need the exact place."

"No can do."

"I need to know whe....."

"No time for small talk."

"Jasmine, Jasmine." Kimberly screamed into the phone, but she already cut.

'The idiot. You will pay for this in this life or the next.' Kimberly thought.

"'If the plane crashes.""For a moment Ciara's words rang in her head.

She shook her head vigorously to get that evil thought out her head.