Best friend.

Three people could be seen on the dinner table, with maids serving the dishes and making their way to the kitchen.

"So how was my son's first day of work?". Polaria asked

"It was better than I imagined, she's very interesting". Marcus replied as the third person cleared his throat, he's a teenager.

"What's it baby, are you choking?"Polaria asked worriedly and made her give him water.

"He's not mom, what do you want to say?". Marcus asked him.

"Well, Your boss's daughter goes to my school, we are friends though not that close". He smiled and said.

"What's her name?". Marcus quickly asked

"Alora". he said

"Be careful around her, she must not know I'm related to you yet, her mother could find out”. He said and the boy nodded.

"Do stay away from her, I'm sure she's like her mother "Polaria frowned.

"She's not grandma, she's very nice and doesn't talk to everyone, I like her that way too". The boy said

"Mum, you really have to stop thinking of Monalisa as a bad person ". Marcus said.

"I've read too many things online to not think about that, I don't think I'll ever see a good person in her, enough of her talk, let's just focus on this food". Polaria said as the table went silent with everyone returning to their food.

……..

©Florida© ~Briggs sports center~

"Whoosh,that was smooth". The coach clapped as he smiled widely that his team won, loud cheering could be heard from everyone around, the ladies were screaming loudly, while many were showing off fliers with a bold inscription of `TEAM BARRY` "GO STRIKERS" `WE LOVE BARRY` `MARRY ME BARRY`.

The players strouted through the court, but the focus of most audience was on one man, that man has it all, the looks, the height, the seductive eyes and his jawline is so perfect, if being sexily handsome is a crime then BARRY STONE, would be held guilty. His looks aren't doing justice to his age either. His team is known as the STRIKERS, the best team of basketball players in Florida and Barry is their star player.

"I'm sure the semi finals will be a piece of cake,you don't even need to train, you're perfect," His coach praised.

"I know," Barry replied with a smirk as his girlfriend walked up to him.

"Hey baby" she smiled as they kissed deeply, totally ignoring the fact that they were outside till the coach cleared his throat to get their attention.

"Get a room to continue with this later, we still have some things to settle about the game Barry”. He said while Stacia, Barry's girlfriend, rolled her eyes.

They've been dating for thirteen years and people still wonder why they aren't married but they still stand out as a very cute couple. Stacia is a model, while Barry is a basketball player and a part-time model.

Barry looked at his team members, they were still running around the court room celebrating their win.

"The game is in two months' time, and we can't discuss it today. There's still time, why stress me now?" He groaned as they walked to his car, he opened the door for Stacia and was about to enter when reporters started taking pics of him, it's not a new thing though, he's quite popular.

"I think it would be better if you go there and stay for the main time, your team members can also come and I'll book a private hotel for you all. During this period, you and your team are to attend all the games your opponents would be playing. Take note of their moves and plan ways to counter them." The coach advised, but Barry yawned.

"You worry too much, we've got good players" He smiled, as he got into the car, looking out through the window. One of the team members came out, Jerry.

His sports bag strapped on him as he waved, "hey dude, I thought you left already”. He yelled, running to the car and entering the back seat. The coach still stood not satisfied with Barry's reaction to his advice.

"What's going on?" Jerry asked.

Barry replied with a smirk. "Our coach is scared of those wannabe basketball players in New York so he wants us to study them for two whole months before the game"

"Hurray, a vacation!" Jerry cheered.

"It's not a vacation, you're meant to be observant during those periods."The coach rolled his eyes.

Stacia held Barry's hands, he turned to her. "Two months in New York is too much, don't you think?" She asked, Jerry looked at her, almost rolling his eyes. But Barry was quiet.

"Don't you like that city?" The coach asked, she smiled slightly.

"Kinda,"she replied.

"If we don't go, won't it feel like we are hiding?" Barry asked her.

"But it's better than..."

"We are going."Barry said, with a note of finality.

"What are you both talking about?"Jerry asked, he was as confused as the coach.

"Nothing." They both replied.

"Whatever, Stacia, did you prepare that creamy pasta again? I really want to have it again, it tastes amazing". Jerry closed his eyes dreamily and said.

The coach shook his head, "Go and get a girlfriend, we can talk about you guys' retirement after this game, it might be next year". He laughed, leaving them there.

"Hey! Must you remind us that we are getting old?" Jerry yelled at him while Stacia chuckled.

"I'll make that pasta for you when we get home"she replied and that made Jerry dance happily in the car.

"That's if he follows us home, I'm dropping you off at your place, tell your mom to cook for you". Barry said as he started the car.

"You wouldn't dare". Jerry frowned

But Barry chuckled darkly and said, "Watch me,” before driving off.

……………………….

Two days later

~~New York City~~

[ELITE'S ESTATE]

Alora opened her window and sat on the pavement getting a better view of the compound, she sipped from her warm milk, looking down at the guards downstairs, then to maids that were doing their work and sighed, she felt like a princess trapped in a locked castle, her two days suspension from school ended yesterday and Monalisa also grounded her for a month because of the office drama, so she refused to go to school today as an act of rebellion but Monalisa didn't care neither did she show concern.

Alora was lost in thought, she didn't notice Zoey was in her room.

"You seem to be enjoying your milk, want more?". Zoey asked,

"I need to be alone"she said without sparing Zoey a glance, Zoey smirked as she balled her fists but she turned and walked away.

Alora sighed again, she doesn't like speaking to Zoey like that since she's the only one that have given her something close to motherly love but as it stands, even breathing the air of this mansion is choking her, a beep from her phone brought her to reality and she smiled widely when she saw the sender, it was a text message from her bestie 'Karen'.

Karen is older than her by a year and her mother Mariya, is one of Monalisa's business partners.

The only person that she can boast of having a close relationship with is Mariya, she doesn't like keeping friends.

Karen's family separated since her parents divorced and Karen's dad luckily got custody of his daughter, their only child. So she only visits her mom during the weekend but sometimes she ends up staying for a week, her mom lives in the same city.

* Hi girlie, how're you doing?" She asked,

"Well, I'm good or kinda good," Alora sarcastically replied.

"Oh great, I should have called but my mom might listen our conversation so let's just text, I hope Cindy isn't disturbing you in school? She might see my absence as an opportunity to trouble you." She sent.

Alora sighed as she replied "I tried to avoid her but she called me fatherless, so we got into a fight"

Karen reacted with a shock emoji. "That means she's dead, when is her burial?"She added, making Alora laugh.

"Stop being overdramatic, anyway she has been in the hospital since then although I heard she would resume on Friday". She replied.

"I'm coming on Friday too, my mom won't let me leave today, she's been taking me to different conference meetings and introducing me to a lot of people"she said while Alora typed;

"My mom grounded me for a month,"she said while Karen sent more laughing emojis

"The Alora I know has never followed any rule of being grounded, I know if you want to go out, you definitely will". She said

"I'm even planning to go out now, this place feels too air tight for me. Also on Friday make sure you come to my place, my driver will carry both of us, I'm not going to school till then". She said,

"Okay, I'll inform my driver on time, bye dear". Karen replied,

"Yeah we'll chat in the night "Alora typed and dropped her phone on the bed. She stood up, looked at herself in the mirror before entering the bathroom.