MISSION

‎CLEOPATRA'S POV

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‎ It was now 4 am.

‎I laid in bed, my eyes heavy with tiredness as I tried forcing myself to sleep, but my alarmed brain wouldn't let me. All the thought of the night still feels fresh in my mind, combined with hunger. It was as though a newly found wound was implanted in my chest, and my stomach. Hope I wouldn't end up with a stomach ulcer. I mean I could always mend my broken heart, but how will I cope with a bursted stomach in this economy.

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‎Finally, I forced my eyes shut.

‎“I would atleast get some rest. Atleast now it would be morning in no time and I can finally eat the pain away,” I thought but I couldn't have been more wrong.

‎Just then I felt a splash of ice cold water against my skin.

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‎In shock, I jilted awake, rising to sitting position, as I coughed out water from my nostrils.

‎My nose felt like it had been severely bruised from the inside, my body shivering from the cold.

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‎“Good! You are awake,” A familiar voice echoed next to me.

‎I immediately diverted my attention towards the sound only to see Velma standing there with a sick smile engraved on her face.

‎The bowl of water still in her hand.

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‎My blood boiled, my eyes blazing red as I glanced up at her with immerse bitterness.

‎“What is the meaning of this mom? Are you trying to kill me?” I doubted, as I clinged on to my knees.

‎At this point goosebumps had began forming, and it felt like my heart was now a staggering ice cube. Why couldn't she just use warm water, why ice water in this terrible weather. Atleast even if she wanted to use ice, couldn't she have used ice cream.

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‎“If it isn't already obvious Caitlin? Yes I am trying to kill you” She said with a straight face and I froze.

‎The hate in her eyes was twice, the hate I saw last night. She wasn't kidding she was willing to kill me if it saved her the problem of see my annoying face.

‎“If I were you I would start locking my door from now on. I mean even the pillows nowadays have feet and they could just walk out at anytime and decide to sleep on your face, and when that happens who knows you might just sleep forever” She added with a chuckle, and my mind immediately fell into chaos.

‎Pillows can't walk, so how were they supposed to walk over, and sleep on my face?

‎‘or were their pillows possessed?’– I wondered, staring at the pillow lying beside me with suspicion.

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‎ Just then, mom Velma's voice cut through the air once again.

‎“Are you scared? You should be, considering that you don't belong here. You are trash, my son deserves better...” She added with a nemesing smirk and I was immediately forced to intervene. I could take anything from her, but for her to suggest her son deserved better was just wishful thinking. I mean sure I wasn't worthy of him, but the Caitlin I am impersonating is way too good for him.

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‎“Enough!” I commanded, my voice thunderous as I rose to my feet, going head on with her, Her eyes widened as she stared back at me with utter nonplussement in her eyes.

‎“I very well know that you don't like me mother, and I am not going to force you. I understand that people have the right to decide if they like others or not, and maybe it's my fault why you don't like me but you don't have the right to make my life a living hell just because I am married to your son. In case you have forgotten he asked for my hand in marriage and not the other way around,” I spat out, and immediately regretted it.

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‎I think I over spoke again. My parents always said my large mouth would get me into trouble, and I feared today was that day, who am I kidding it has gotten me in trouble everyday for the past year. I shouldn't have confronted Caitlin's husband's mother like that. Caitlin would never had done that, she is a quiet person. What if she reports to her son and he decides to demand my parents return all the money he lent us for Caitlin's kidney transplant.

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‎“Wow!” She exclaimed with a broad smile, clapping her hands like she had just watched an amazing movie, “Finally showing your true colors I see”

‎“I'm sorry about what I said. I wasn't thinking...” I tried apologizing but she impatiently cuts in.

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‎“I have no interest in whatever fake apology you are trying to sell Caitlin, so don't bother wasting your breath” She said through gritting teeth, circling me like a predator does it's prey, “You might have fooled my son but I assure you, you can't fool me, after all I am not the one eating from your honey pot.

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‎“Honey pot? Mom, I don't have any honey pot...” I explained. I dislike force accusation, if I had a honey pot why would I go to bed hungry when I could just have eaten it.

‎“Shut up moron,” She commanded with a hand gesture. “I didn't come here to exchange words with you. Change up quickly and meet me in the kitchen in five minutes" She added firmly, her tone absolute, as she exited the room.

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‎What does she want to do with me in the kitchen? Hope she doesn't want to cook me, cause I don't trust these old women who look way younger than their actual age, they could do anything for beauty.

‎I bet she wants to kill me now cause I talk to much.

‎“This is all your fault mouth," I said to myself, pointing at my lips. “Try working with Mr Brain for a change.”

‎With that I hurried into the bathroom, cleaning myself as fast as I could, blindly grabbed an outfit from the closet, and ran to the kitchen.

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‎When I got there, she was seated in front of the kitchen slab which was filled with all sorts of food stuffs and veggies. A knife in her hand, and I swallowed hard. My heart racing as I turned, and tried to sneak away but she caught me.

‎“You're late by 3 whole minutes Caitlin," she said, her tone venomous as she stared up at the kitchen wall clock.

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‎I turned towards her, a nervous smile on my lips as I apologized. “Sorry ma, I was just...” I tried speaking but as always, she interrupted.

‎“More excuses, why are those the only things you know how to offer?" She asked rhetorically, with an eye roll, “Anyway to more important issues. I want you to prepare a chicken casserole for my son, and Italian fried rice”

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‎“Chicken what now???" I asked in shock. Like what exactly did she take me for, some master chef. I can't even prepare noodles to save my life. Not that I didn't want to, but my mother never let me anywhere around her, she said I brought so many bad memories and bad luck, so we were better off just being strangers.

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‎“Apparently, even your ears are incompetent, so I will repeat myself one more time. Make chicken casserole and Italian fried rice for my son” She repeated with a hellacious frown, and my heart skipped.

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‎“Can I please cook something I am familiar with?” I beseeched in desperation, as though I could cook anything. I admit that I like food but cooking is another matter. Besides even if I could cook, I have never seen a chicken casserole or Italian fried rice, talk less of tasting them.

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‎ “Why Caitlin, are you from a very poor background, and you have never seen a chicken casserole before?” She asked, her tone laced with mockery. Like she didn't already know that. It was no secret that we were barely feeding well till Caitlin met Lorenzo. That is pretty much the reason why everyone calls us a family of gold diggers.

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‎“Well! open your mouth and speak. You have to answer if you want me to help. So have you or have you not?"

‎In as much as I didn't want to answer, I needed her help and if I simple answer would save me from this humiliation, then I am willing to do it.

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‎Swallowing a lump in my throat, I took in a deep breath, composed myself and politely replied with, “Yes mom,”

‎She burst out laughing, then gazed upon me with great displeasure.

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‎“You are a shameless gold digger, aren't you?” She asked rhetorically and my heart sank indeed we were ripping Lorenzo off, however it wasn't our intention at all, he chose Caitlin.

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‎ “Unfortunately, I can't help you. You got yourself into this mess, now fix it. You can't be only good in bed, you have to be both good in bed and in the kitchen” She said, turning to leave but stopped midway.

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‎ “And for your sake, the meal better be perfect. Lorenzo is quite skeptical about what he eats. You must have heard rumors about Lorenzo killing his mate" She said plaguing my intrigues, for long as I can remember we have heard the story of how the dreadful alpha Lorenzo murdered his very own mate in cold blood but no one was certain that that was the case.

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‎ “Well I am assuring you now that those aren't rumors, they are all true. And her crime was a lot smaller than messing up a meal. So do be careful my dear, you don't want to be next” She warned with a smile, as she turned and strided out.

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‎ Just then a cold shiver ran down my spine, my limbs trembled and I began sweating.

‎ I was done for, Lorenzo was going to kill me because of my terrible cooking skills.

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