In between: love or hate

Diana leaned into the car seat as the driver sped through the highway accelerating to her father's house. Home. "I've sure missed this place, the scenery, the food and most of all, friends", Diana thought to her self as she looked through the windows and watched the trees and buildings disappear before her sight as new ones came to view. "The weather is perfect for window shopping don't you think Marcus?" she asked the driver. The driver just nodded out of courtesy. Marcus's action didn't faze Diana as he spoke less than hundred words in a day, if one were to count.

The rest of the drive was something Diana couldn't remember as she let sleep wash over her.

....

"Diana must be arriving soon," Kate, Diana's mother said excitedly to the not so amused Sylvester Garcia. Not really surprised by her husband's disposition towards their daughter arrival, Kate ventured into the kitchen to supervise the cooking. She just couldn't sit one place, her daughter has being away from home for the past five years. She missed her terribly.

"We are here young madam", Marcus said to Diana as he tried waking her up. Diana opened her eyes to see her father's mansion come to view. "Nothing has changed, I hope father has though", she thought to her self. She made a mental note to not make assumptions.

Kate heard the honking of the car and stood at the entrance of the house to

welcome her daughter.

"Hello mum",

Diana rushed into her mother's waiting arms as they engulfed in a long silenced hug. Kate was sobbing and sniffing as she held her baby girl. They both walked into the house and went straight to the dining where Mr. Sylvester was sitting at the head table waiting for the food to be served. Diana did not bother to hug her dad. They were never on good terms but they had a mutual understanding.

"Money".

So far Mr. Sylvester gives her money then all is well. She didn't need his love, she needs his money; She tried convincing herself.

Not so long after they've all made themselves comfortable, the food arrived.

They ate in silence with the mother and daughter duo pitching in how they missed each other and what they've been up to.

Diana looked at her father who wiped his mouth with the tablecloth and adjusted his fat self on the seat. Seems like he has something to say.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush Diana", Mr Sylvester said with a serious demeanor. Kate knew what he was about to say but must it be at this moment she thought, their daughter just came back. He didn't even let her finish her meal.

"I sent you to Germany to give you an education befitting for a daughter of the Garcia family. I've invested so much money on you and I expect you to repay me..."

"By marrying into a rich family" Diana completed his sentence for him with a roll of her eyes while picking on her food.

"Good", Mr Sylvester said. "It's good that you know your duties as the daughter of the Garcia family".

Kate could have sworn she saw flicker of pain in those doe like eyes that belonged to her daughter, but at this point she was powerless.

"I know my duties dad", Diana said. "How can I forget it when it's the only thing you say when an opportunity to talk to each other arises".

Mr. Sylvester couldn't refute what she said, though it did not sit well with him, he knew she was right.

"Now that we've reached an understanding, I'll brief you more after you freshen up and gotten some rest", Mr. Sylvester stated as he stood up and went to his study. His fat self making Diana wonder what her beautiful mum saw in him.

Speaking about her mum, Diana met her mother's eyes as she flashed one of her brightest smile and reassured her mother that she was okay with the arrangements. So long the guy was not the stingy type and is willing to let her spend, who is she to refuse marriage. That sounded weird to her ears.

Kate was a mother and just like any other mother Kate could tell her daughter's emotions without her having to voice it out. She reached for Diana's hand and gave her a pat at the back of her palm. She honestly had nothing to say to her baby girl, all she could do was to let her know she was always there for her.

...

In the Fisher's corp.

A man could be seen staring down at people who seemed busy with their daily activities. Humans. How he hated their evil scheming minds.

"Come in" he said after a knock sounded.

'Did you get the information", he asked Clark, his assistant. He was one of his most trusted men.

"Miss Diana just returned and just as you said, her father is already looking for eligible suitors for her,Should I go on with the party sir?" Clark responded.

The man turned, putting his hand in his trouser's pocket, He took out a cigarette and placed it in the middle of his fingers. Without lighting it.

"Nothing has changed with the plan, send out invites to all eligible bachelors of high standing and their families, important business men, those in the entertainment industry should not be excluded, and send to the Garcia family also, though they are not important and worthy, this party is for them", he said with a cunning smirk.

Clark wasted not a minute longer in his boss's office as he went to carry on his assigned task.

As soon as Clark left, the man lit up his cigarette and went back to staring at the city. He likes the feeling of superiority it gives him. He took out a photo from the inner pocket of his crisp suit. It was a family photo. He stared at it for a few seconds before sucking in smoke from his cigarette, allowing it to settle in the deepest part of his chest before releasing it. The smoke made the picture blurry and he could not see a single image on the photo. As the smoke diminished, he placed the photo back into his suit as he kept on smoking his cigarette

...

"You called for me dad",

Diana said as she walked into her father's study in her nighties. "I'm so exhausted and I need rest so make it quick".

Mr. Sylvester was not surprised by the tone his daughter used, he did not care either. It wasn't the first neither will it be the last. Without wasting her time like she requested, Mr. Sylvester took out a card and gave it to Diana.

"Take this card and go shop for the best gown in LA, a party is coming up this Saturday and I need you to look your best. I heard all eligible young men and important business men will be there. This is an opportunity for both me and you: you find an eligible young man for yourself and that'll strengthen my business", Mr Sylvester said.

She knew it was all for his business, but he didn't have to say it out loud, did he?. Diana felt her blood boiling but instead of listening to the voices inside her head, she took the card and stormed out of his office.

As soon as she reached her bed room, she began looking the internet for the best expensive dress in the whole of America. Even though she did not want to go for the party she has to make sure she's the best looking female present. She trusted her looks, but looks alone can't make the upper class take you seriously. She needed an elegant expensive and an attention seeking dress. Yes, that's exactly what she needs. The attention this will bring her is enough to make her want to go to the party with a light heart.

Just then she remembered something. "I need to call Paula and Pauline", she muttered to her self. "I'm sure they don't know of my arrival, we can have a reunion and a shopping spree", she said excitedly as she took her phone to call them.

"Hey guys", Diana said as soon as the Paula picked the call. "Is this really you Ana", Paula screamed from the other side of the call. "Yes it's me" Diana said almost with the same enthusiasm but with her voice a little lower. Ana was the nickname Paula gave her.

"Pauline, you won't believe who's on the phone" Paula said as she hurriedly went up to Pauline's room. As usual, Pauline was there on her reading table with a face mask sitting right on her face, her leg crossed with her eyes roaming intently on the book.

"Who?" She asked, without removing her gaze from the book.

"It's Diana" Paula replied with a little squeal. "Oh my gosh, let me have the phone", Pauline said as she gestured for Paula to place the phone on her outstretched hands.

Immediately Pauline said her greetings to Diana; the trio went on to discuss the happenings in their lives while they were away from each other. Many things happened in that span and as such the trio talked for hours.

Towards the end of the conversation Diana invited the twins out for shopping and Paula was the most excited as the highest squeal came from her.

Diana got into more comfortable position as she prepared to sleep. Their call lasted for a while before they said their goodnight wishes.

How she has missed these friends of her's terribly.