22 Scandal

Miray was awakened by the laughter coming from the television room. Looking at the time and it had already been an hour since she slept off. She lazily got out of bed and got a warm shower. The laughter in the television room continued to go on and Miray decided to go and see what was going on.

"What are you guys watching?" Miray stood by the door asked them in a low voice. It was very surprising that they heard her.

"Mimi! come join us, it's I am sure you will like this, hahaha hahaha... come.." called out Zain with his eyes still fixed on the television.

Miray was about to start moving towards them when Hazel stopped her, "wait! eat your food first in the kitchen. We ordered your favorite. If you come here with your hunger you will only be bitter and destroy our mood."

That was when Miray realised that she did not have a meal for the whole day. After rushing to the kitchen, she found the food on the kitchen table properly laid out for her. Without even warming it, she started to eat the food like someone who hasn't eaten anything for a whole year. After she was satisfied, she rubbed her stomach and felt much more human again. Leaving the dishes in the dishwasher, she hurriedly went to the television room to join Hazel and Zain.

"Aah I know this show... Hazel, this is what we watched last time at your place and I liked it.." Miray turned to Hazel as she sat on the sofa between Zain and Hazel.

"Yah it's the one..." replied Hazel while still looking at the TV.

"hahaha yes, hahah.. It's really hilarious.." The room was filled with endless sounds of laughter. When they watched together the show for 15 minutes, two sets of eyes were fixed on Miray from both sides. "Why are you looking at me? hahaha keep watching the ...", before she could finish the sentence Zain switched the TV off.

"Why did you do that?! I was enjoying that show!" Miray screamed while trying to grab the remote from her brother.

Hazel cleared her throught, "hhmm, yes we all want to continue watching but ... we cannot enjoy it with a lot of questions on our mind.. ."

"hahaha what do you mean? you have been watching it all this while.." Miray turned to Hazel, that was when she understood what Hazel was trying to say. All of a sudden the temperature of the room became to hot for Mirage and she began to sweat.

"We have some questions which need your answers.." stated Zain who was also having a serious look on his face.

There was no hiding now, these two had set a trap that she could not escape from, ".. err .. haha.. err... Okay, err... go on." Miray looked down like a little child who was caught doing something wrong.

"How did you get to that place?"

"Why did you break the limited edition shoes you had on? Do know how expensive they are?!"

The two questions came at the same time, making Miray to feel pressured by them... " err... well, I don't think I can say the truth now.." the feeling of lying to the two was something she did not like. These were the two people who were among her top priorities.

Hazel took a deep sigh, "Miray, what are you hiding?"

That question made Miray to pause for a moment and give it a thought, 'Miray what are you really hiding..' She couldn't help but feel like she was also hidding something from herself. This was her moment of truth, but the truth was also unknown to herself.

"Fine!" Miray stood up from the sofa instantly.

"I was with Skylar Vandeers the CEO of Sweng Corporations," she paused and turned to see the look on their faces, "He tried to scare me, and then he kissed me but after some disagreement he left me there.... happy now?"

There was a moment of silence in the room. The words 'he kissed me' 'tried to scare me' which came out clear were still not understood by Zain and Hazel. Miray saw the look they had and started to laugh, "that's it for today, let's watch the show together some other day.. I believe you all know where you will sleep tonight.." she turned and left for her room before they even responded.

Some minutes went by, Hazel and Zain we're still trying to process what Miray had told them.

"it was better when we didn't know anything.." Zain slowly mummered as he got up from the sofa.

"I think something is wrong, somewhere... people don't change easily." Hazel covered her face trying to put the pieces together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning Miray went to her office early. Most of the office staff were surprised to see her come at that time.

"Good morning.." Jeff was all smiles when he entered the office. He went and sat on the seat opposite Miray.

"Nothing is good about this morning...., don't smile it's annoying.." replied Miray while going through a file on her desk.

"hahaha, do you have to be bitter all the time?.." laughed Jeff.

"... if only life was that simple.." Miray gave a sigh and continued, " but why are you here?" she raised her head to Jeff.

"ooh yes,.. I head you disappeared yesterday from the live broadcast.. " Jeff sat back and crossed his arms, giving Miray a straight look.

"oh yes, after my part of the interview was done, I didn't think i would still be needed." Miray turned to her laptop trying to avoid Jeff's eyes.

"Why can't I get through your phone? The producer had to call me to ask your whereabouts ... you were also not home.."

"What is this, are you following me now?" Miray gave Jeff a straight look which made him silent. "If that's all you came to say, then leave." She turned again to her laptop and started typing something.

"Alright alright, I am sorry,... I have something else to discuss with you..." Jeff cleared his throat and continued, " One of the reporters called about the scandal last night."

Miray paused, 'what scandal? Did they see me with Skylar?'. She stopped typing and turned to Jeff giving him her full attention. "what..what scandal?"

" Well, I have been trying to reach you but I couldn't... Kiki got into a scandal with Skylar Vandeers. They were seen coming out of a hotel together." Jeff explained.

'Skylar, you ugly bastard.' Miray cursed Skylar inside her. After the plastic surgery, Kiki made a name for herself, she was considered to be one of the countries top models and almost being noticed on the international stage. Miray saw the future of Kiki becoming this big that was why she made her sign the contract that would pin her down. 'What move is he trying to do now?' the questions were filled in her mind and then a mischievous smile came to her face.

Miray pressed the button on the office phone that connected her to Nene, " invite Rita to my office."

"What are you planning to do?" Jeff's intentions were just to inform Miray about the current situation. He did not expect her to do anything about it, she never really got herself involved with the modeling agency in the first place.

"It seems like it's really a good morning after all .." she smiled to Jeff and a knock was heard on the door. "come in."

Rita entered the office and sat next to Jeff, " President Jeff, CEO Miray... you called me."

" I want a copy of the contract you made with Kiki, I am sure you were smart enough about it.."

"Yes ma'am, I know what you mean... Bringing it right away." Rita knew exactly what her boss meant, she gave a quick smile and left the office to get the contract she made with Kiki.

Miray laid back on her seat as she read through the terms of the contract. The two people were not sure what she was up to but they could sense that it was not something good.

"President Jeff, call the agency and invite Kiki here to my office with her lawyer. Rita, I want you to join me when she comes here." stated Miray with a smile on her face, it was obvious she was scheming something.

"Yes ma'am.." Rita replied and left the office at the same time.

"Jeff, please get me a new phone... and I would also love it, if you could be present. "

"What are you up to?" Jeff knitted his eyebrows as he got up from the seat.

"revenge... " slowly replied Miray as she turned to the window.