Chapter 35: Returning The Favor

Tonight was the D-day, sadly, Arianna's confidence had zeroed down. To be honest, she didn't have any plans but instincts - an instinct that Ruth might have heard of her situation and prepared an escape plan.

Unfortunately, she needed a place that can be accessed easily by all and sundry - she was providing Ruth with an opportunity to bust her out. She just hoped that her instincts were right, else she's doomed.

Arianna wore a body con sparkly sequin dress that had a deep V neck exposing quite a cleavage. It had no sleeves, just spaghetti straps, and her back was exposed. Her hair was brushed back and then pulled in a ponytail with her eye highlighted with makeup, popping out the green. In one word, Arianna looked hot and provocative - and ready to party!

The only problem she had was her entourage. It seems Big Joe didn't trust her as fully as she thought because Cassie and a few other girls - she didn't know about their existence until tonight - would be joining her. Big Joe claimed they were there to cheer her up. Yep, she would thank him after this - note the sarcasm.

Arianna was more bothered about Cassie because she was Kenith's right-hand woman and wouldn't support her plan to escape. Hence they weren't on the same team, however, nobody was changing her mind about escaping nor would anyone ruin her plan.

And did she forget the part where Kenith would be joining her as usual? Yeah, Arianna had to be strong for tonight else she might as well lose hope before her escape even begins.

The girls added to her group were three in number - Ashley, Chelsea, and Rose - and honestly, they were quite fun to be with. They helped Cassie apply her makeup and there she came to know more about them. Unlike Cassie who was taken against her will, the others worked for Big Joe - yeah, they were sex workers. But they were pretty fun to be with and Arianna liked them.

They were having the time of their life when a knock sounded on the door and an unexpected guest came in causing the whole room to go deadly silent. Well, she wasn't exactly an unexpected guest.

A predatory smile crossed Arianna's lips at the sight of her cousin Claudia. Her blonde cousin stood at the door unsure and Arianna could sense the anxiety in her body and that made her excited. This was going to be fun.

"Hello Claudia," Arianna said with a big smile but that unnerved Claudia. She couldn't understand why she was brought here, wasn't Arianna enough payment already?

Claudia was full of guilt and fear. She was the one who suggested selling Arianna off and had been delirious with Joy when the plan worked. She had imagined Arianna living a miserable life here, hence it had come as a huge shocker when the collector came at their door to announce her sister needed her at her bachelorette party.

Claudia knew she didn't have a choice and went quietly with the collector. However, she knew one thing for sure, Arianna called her over for vengeance. She was dead meat.

She was still lost in thought when Arianna came over to where she stood and took her in a tight embrace, "Finally, you are here. We can have some fun now,"

Claudia swallowed deeply, she knew it. She was avenging her for all the things she did.

Truthfully speaking, Arianna didn't have anything bad planned against Claudia, or did she? She just enjoyed seeing that nervousness on her face and there was nothing as much entertaining as mental torture.

Arianna knew Claudia and her mother were the ones who suggested and forced her uncle to accept the idea of selling her off to the loan shark. She wouldn't want to steep low to their level but Claudia wouldn't have a pleasant stay here either. Was there an act of better revenge than showing off to your enemies that you're living better than they imagined?

"Hi guys, this is my wonderful cousin, Claudia. Please, be kind to her," Arianna spoke with thick irony.

Be kind to her, her butt!

Everyone in this room knew her history with her uncle's family and Arianna was sure as hell that they would exact judgment on Claudia for her sake. That was it, she didn't even have to lift a finger - others were willing to fight her war for her.

"Hi," Claudia waved her hand, full of nervousness. She just realized she was in the den of lions.

"Hi," the girls - including Cassie - said synchronously causing the tension in the environment to thicken. Claudia was the odd one here and she knew it.

"Have a seat, we'd be leaving soon," Arianna said, returning to the seat in front of the dresser.

Claudia looked around the room and tried to sit on the edge of the bed since there were no more chairs. However, before she could rest on the spot she desired, one of the girls occupied there saying, "Sorry, I like it here. You can go over there," Chelsea pointed to the spot where she had been sitting.

She didn't say anything, if anything, Claudia had a polite smile on her face as she moved on. However, before she could sit there, Ashley had already moved to the spot, saying," Oops, you're late. Just go over there," She pointed to her position.

Claudia didn't say anything but the veins on her forehead were proof enough that she was trying to control herself. And as she expected, Rose took the spot where she was supposed to sit, saying, "Sorry, my butt just moved,"

"It's alright," Claudia lied through her teeth. She was not alright at all, however, could she take on all of them? No. So she had to be a good girl and move on.

However, before Claudia could take a step forward, Rose put out her leg and tripped her. Claudia fell to the ground at once earning loud mocking laughter from the girls.

Arianna didn't laugh yet there was no trace of sympathy on her face either. Just like her uncle, who watched as his wife and daughter maltreated her, she was doing the same. Her silence was not revenge, rather it was called 'returning the favor.