AN UNEXPECTED GUEST

CHAPTER THREE

"Ouch! My head hurts." A muffled moan came from under the blanket.

Chiara groggily sat up from the bed, her hair a rat's nest and her face stained and still groggy from sleep. She made to get but suddenly, her eyes opened wide in alarm.

"What the hell! Where are my clothes?..." She squealed and hugged her body immediately she discovered she was naked. "How....what am I doing here?", she shrieked in alarm as her eyes darted around the room.

She was alone in the empty room that had only a bed, a wardrobe and a small table.

"What...what happened yesterday?" She grimaced while clutching her head. "Okay...let me see...party...drank wine...went to the bathroom...I think...I think Aleira spoke to me...But I can't remember anything else." 

Her face was drawn with worry as she clutched the blanket around her body while frantically pulling on her clothes. 

"Since I can't remember them I can forget it...I hope." She muttered as she put her shoes on. With one final glance ran out of the room.

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"Chiara! Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for hours." 

"I'm sorry mom, I was...side tracked a little."

Ariana Vitale, her mother puffed out an annoyed sigh as she tapped her fingers impatiently on the table. She reached out and handed a heavy file to her.

"Take this, you have to look at them and sorry them out. We'll be having a meeting with that group of investors tomorrow, so they should be ready."

Chiara's brows suddenly furrowed as she glanced at the file. Ariana looked up, her eyes flashing beneath her transparent glasses.

"Why are you still standing there?"

"Um...", she cleared her throat nervously as she shifted from one foot to the other.

"I thought this wasn't my job. I already have a lot of things on my table...why not let Aleira do it." 

Ariana's face immediately hardened, her eyes turned cold as she watched her.

"Are you questioning me? Don't you know your sister is still resting from yesterday's party. She obviously can't do it."

"But I also attended the party...and it was also my birthday, why can't I sit it out too?"

"Because no one paid attention to you and you know it. Your sister deserves to be happy especially since her parents died. You can't be selfish and wish the world at your feet just because you are our daughter." Ariana told her casually as if it were normal.

Chiara's face stayed cold as she listened to her mother's words. The only indication of her feelings were her hands which had turned white and the crumpled edges of the file.

"As expected, no one cares about me. Fine, I'll do it. She's older than me yet I do more work in this damn company and I still don't get anything in return." 

"What did you say?" Her mom looked down her nose at her as if to say, 'repeat what you just said'.

"Nothing" was the short murmured reply as she swiftly turned away and left the office.

With an exhausted sigh, she plopped to her seat and laid her head on the desk.

"Stupid family. I gave you the hint. Why didn't you ask me if I enjoyed my birthday? You should have at least wished me a happy birthday." She mumbled.

Her phone suddenly rang, she picked it without looking.

"Hello."

"Hello sis."

Her body tensed and she sat upright with a stern look on her face.

"What do you want?"

"Come on, I just wanted to ask you how was yesterday?" Aleira snickered on the phone, her voice came out thin and raspy but filled with mockery.

Chiara rolled her eyes.

"What about it?"

Aleira chuckled mischievously, "Oh nothing. I just want to know, anything exciting?"

"None of your business. If you can waste your time asking me this then you could have come to work today. Now I have to carry out your job while doing mine."

"Yeah, no can't do. I'm still in the midst of opening my gifts from yesterday. I got so much presents but I bet you didn't right? Because you are so boring and worthless. Even our parents forgot about you." She cackled loudly.

Enraged, she hung off the phone and pushed it aside. Her chest heaving in anger and frustration.

"If only I could do something to shut your damn cheeky mouth. I wish I could tell you how much you don't deserve my parents love and attention." She chuckled bitterly, her eyes crinkling sadly, "...but if I do that, I'll only be scolded."

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Weeks went by and Chiara had almost forgotten about that night. Almost because she had been looking for her necklace which was very important to her. But she couldn't ask anyone because how would she explain that she woke up in a strange room in the hotel where she had her birthday party.

It was a normal day as usual for Chiara when she suddenly got a call.

"Hello." She hurriedly answered while still fixing her attention on her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

"Chiara!"

"Mom?"

"Come home this minute and bring your sister with you." Alarm and panic flashed on her face. "Is everything alright? What happened?"

"Don't ask me stupid questions, just get home with your sister. And be fast about it." She barked before hanging up.

Chiara stared at the phone for a few seconds before snapping into action.

"Hurry Aleira, mom sounded like it was a serious emergency."

"I hope none of this has to do with me. I was having a good massage." Aleira grumbled as they ran towards the car that was ready for them, their heels clicking against the ground.

"I hope the same for me too." Murmured Chiara with a look of unease in her eyes.

"Mom, we're here. What's wrong?" Chiara yelled as soon as they were inside the huge family house.

"Welcome girls. Say hello to our guest." Alex eagerly smiled at them while pointing his hand to the sofa.

The two women turned their heads to see and gasped at the same time.

"Who is he?"