Chapter four: Invitation to an enemies party

'You made my day terrible earlier, I didn't believe we would meet so soon. I can't wait to see that sharp mouth of yours bridled, welcome to my den young lady,' Richard squints his eyes at his cruel thought.

"We will like the three winners of this round to step forward," the commentator said as one of Richard's escorts walked up to him then whispered some words in his left ear.

'What are they saying? I don't think this will be good,' Alexia thought to herself while her eyeballs followed their movements but there was nothing else she could do but watch her world crash.

"Alright," the commentator said as he cleared his throat then turned to Robert. "There was an intervention in the process and our highly esteemed VIP thinks that one of the selected teams is not qualified to proceed to the next round, so I will have him speak for himself,"

Richard shook his jaw as he gently arranged his small wireless microphone on his blue suit then looked forward to Alexia.

"I don't think the F.B.X should make it to the next round," Richard said as those words hit Alexia like a hurricane. "It might be unfair. It's not the team's fault but I think the fault is as a result of one of them who lacks manners and proper home upbringing,"

"What?" Alexia mumbles as her mouth hangs open.

"I really despise it when low class Individuals highly esteem themselves, so I don't think that team should not be qualified. Is there anyone who objects?" Richard asked as everyone held their peace.

Alexia ran her gaze through the crowd down to the VIP table but no one was going to speak. 'Is this how influential power is?'

"Okay," Richard heaved a sigh. "Since there is no objection, I think the HD team should move on to the next round instead of the F.B.X,"

To others it played out like a movie but Alexia knew what was coming, it was her fault because she would have just ignored him and allowed him to walk away earlier at the crossroad

"What! no way it was his fault, if he had apologized this wouldn't have happened, he was the one who acted rudely at first," Alexia muttered while walking down the stage with her team and the other teams who didn't make it to the next round.

When they arrived by the entrance of their preparation room Alexia sluggishly pushed the door open as she and the rest of her team walked in.

"It was you, wasn't it?" Ella said as Alexia turned to Meet her gaze.

"Huh!" Alexia's mouth hung open.

"You were the one who ran into Richard Robertson, you were the one he was talking about earlier," Ella said further as Alexia ran her gaze through the rest of them whose eyes were on her.

"There is no point to deny it now," Ella's words caught Alexia's attention as she turned to her again.

Why would any of you think that? Alexia asked.

"You were the last person to arrive here and that explains your inappropriate look," said Ella as Alexia glanced down at her dress and after a short stare at her dusty shoes Alexia closed her eyes momentarily then lifted her eyes back to Ella.

"Yes, we ran into each other, but you all should not believe everything he said, he was the one at fault…"

"You are fired!" Ella said as Alexia's lips stopped.

Alexia drifts her eyes to Thomas in hopes that he would speak up but he didn't make a move.

"Please you should give me a chance,"

"Enough Alexia!" Ella scolds her. "One problem with you is that you plead too much but lack manners. You are fired and there is nothing else you can say to make me change my mind. Now get out!" Ella said with her hand pointed towards the door.

Alexia swallowed hard then looked sideways as she gently took up her guitar which leaned by the left side of the room. She hesitated when she was about to take hold of the door knob then turned back to see their frowned faces and after she had a glimpse of Thomas' pitiful eyes she left the room.

Some minutes later Alexia walked out of the building with her feeble hands hanging

down as her sad eyes were fixed on the floor and after a few steps forward her legs felt so weak that she had to locate a long bench by her right.

'Why does everything I do turn out so badly? Why does nature choose to visit me with such pain?' She sniffed at her thought as the tears she had been holding back began rolling down her eyes. "I thought today will be one of the happiest days of my life but it's ruined," she glanced at her guitar beside her. "I quit playing, I'm sorry dad but I quit. How would you tell me to deliver a message to someone who is so cruel, whereas even though I wanted to do it, I failed because he will never listen to me," She paused, then covered her face with the palm of her hands and began sobbing.

"Buzz… Buzz…" Alexia's cell phone vibrated as she sniffed then reached out for her phone which was in her side pocket and when she took it out she realized it was an unknown number.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Who in the world is this?" she soliloquized then swiped her thumb across the screen taking the phone to her left ear.

"Hello… am I speaking with Alexia Chaney?" A deep male voice came through the phone as Alexia sat upright.

"Yes, this Is Alexia Chaney," She clears her throat.

"I heard you can play the guitar and I hope you will like a day's job, you will be paid handsomely for it. Are you interested?" said the man again over the phone as Alexia blinked.

"Okay, I am interested. What is the occasion and venue?" She asked.

"SBE wine corporation will be launching a new wine tomorrow alongside the birthday celebration of the president, Richard Robertson, and there will be a night party at his Estate," The man said as Alexia's eyes popped wide open and she parted her lips.

She couldn't believe she just accepted an invitation to perform for a man who just wrecked her show.

"I will text you the address, first thing in the morning. Get prepared because it is a big party and Richard loves something exceptional," said the man as he hung up.

'What!' Alexia exclaimed in her mind as she clenched her fist and teeth then screamed out shaking herself angrily and after a while she looked forward only to realize that people had already started staring at her.

"Not again please," she mumbled, shyly rolling her gaze to her guitar as she picked it up then walked down to her bicycle which was by her right and when she had taken it up she dragged it towards the crossroad in silence.

…………

Some minutes later, Alexia arrived home as she leaned her bicycle on the wall of their three bedroom flat Then walked towards the front door.

When she walked In she Spotted Max seated on the long Sofa chair directly opposite their flat screen television towards the left.

Of course, what else would he be watching if not his favourite cartoon.

"Alexia," Max called when he saw her as he hopped down the chair then ran to meet her by the door. "How did the audition go?" He asked.

"It didn't go as expected Max," She answered.

"Did you meet up with the show?" Max asked again.

"I didn't, but I was so close to getting the Job if not for a crazy man I had encountered earlier on the crossroad," She replied as Max lingered. "Where is mom?" Alexia asked again as she looked towards a short sofa chair by the right of the long one which their mother loved sitting.

"She isn't back from work yet but I think she will be back soon," Said Max then looked down at her shoes. "Why are your shoes dusty?"

At a glimpse of her shoes Alexia lifted her eyes again to Max. "That Is right, I need you to do me a favour," she squats down with her hands placed on her brothers shoulders.

"What is that?" Max asked as his brown eyes searched hers.

"I wrecked my bike earlier today but I don't want mom to find out about it," Alexia said.

"What! How did that happen?" Max said as he furrowed his eyebrows.

"It's complicated, but will you promise not to tell mom about it?"

"I will tell her if you don't tell me who spoiled your bike. Whereas how would you get it fixed If you don't tell her? You didn't even get the job," he replied.

Alexia heaves a sigh. "Okay, I promise to tell you what happened if only you don't say a thing to Mom," she said as he shook his head In disagreement.

"First, I would like to know what happened. I won't let anyone mess with my big sis," Max said as Alexia laughs gently.

"It's beyond what you can handle but earlier today I was knocked down by a car,"

"What!" Max exclaimed.

"It's no big deal since I didn't get injured but that crazy man didn't even apologize, nevertheless you don't have to worry about it. I know how to get back at him and also repair my ride," Alexia said as Max stared at her curiously.

"How will you do it?" Max asked.

"I was invited to play the guitar in a big night party and I am going to get handsomely paid for it and as for getting back at that man, I heard he will also be present at the party," She curled a wicked smile.

"I am coming with you," Max said.

"No Max," Alexia stopped him swiftly. "You can't come, I don't want you to get into trouble…" She stopped her lips as if something popped into her mind.

"Is there a problem?" Max asked with an instantaneous stare.

"I think you are right. You will follow me to the birthday party, but on one condition, I will choose an outfit for you and you will do all I instruct you to do. Are you in?"

"Hmm…" Max lingered with his lips pressed together and after a while he looked straight into Alexia's eyes. "Deal."