The taxi pulled up at the estate’s gates just around the same time, and the woman stepped out with a deep frown, adjusting the expensive scarf around her neck. This was none other than Clara, and to this security man, she had been more of a nuisance in the preceding days. It was not like he had any pleasant encounter with Clara Wendover that was worth talking about.
Clara barely spared the security guard a glance as she took a step forward, with Angela in tow, expecting the gate to swing open in submissiveness.
Clara felt that she was even going above and beyond by ditching her taxi, but that was not the case.
The gate didn’t. It remained shut, making Clara turn sharply to the guard, who stood firm, arms crossed. "Well? Open up the door!"
The security guard dropped his arms, watching Clara with barely concealed disdain. This was for one simple reason that most people who knew of her, had come to know. This was especially true for the residents of the estate.
There was no sign of stress or fatigue on Clara’s face. Absolutely none! There was also no frantic worry, no hollow exhaustion, no restless energy of a mother whose daughter had gone missing.
Yes, they all loved Shelby and therefore had become more sensitive to Clara in this. Instead of those expected emotions, Clara carried herself with an effortless grace, her silk shawl draped elegantly over her shoulders, not a hair out of place. Her nails gleamed, her lips were painted to perfection, and even a hint of perfume.
She didn’t even fidget. No anxious pacing, no nervous glances, no desperate plea for information on her daughter. She spent her time accepting interviews from various media houses on anything about her daughter that could get her money.
Clara was not all that bad. In fact, in the first few weeks after Shelby’s disappearance, Clara had been truly worried out of her mind, but one could argue that this was all for appearances ’ sake, as it did not last.
At present, if anything, Clara looked...annoyed. As if being there and that little wait, was beneath her.
The guard clenched his jaw, keeping his expression neutral. He’d seen many tricks and people break down at these gates before. But this woman?
Clara adjusted her shawl, then, catching sight of her reflection in the darkened glass of a car she had come in, reached up and tucked a stray hair into place.
The guard’s fingers twitched.
’Must be nice,’ he thought bitterly.
’To have that kind of composure. To not even look like you lost a wink of sleep over your own missing child, while still demanding privileges relating to her.’
The guard exhaled slowly, shaking his head. ’If she’s worried... she sure as hell doesn’t show it.’
"No can do, ma’am." He responded to Clara’s request to let her in.
Clara’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, ’no can do’? Do you know who I am?"
"I do," the guard said with a blank expression. "That’s why you’re not getting in."
Clara gasped, scandalized. "How dare you? I am Mrs. Wen—"
" ...Mrs. Wendover, yes, I know. The former Mrs. Wendover. We all know of your husband and his conviction, and I also know that you are Miss Shelby’s mum.... I know all too well!"
Clara’s nostrils flared.
"Hmfp! You know my status and still will not let me in? You expect me to stand out here like a beggar? Do you want to lose your job?"
Angela stepped close to Clara and tried to encourage her to leave. This was not the first time that they had been driven away and it would not be the last time. If not for the promise that Angela had made Rocky and Shelby, she might have left this stubborn old woman, a while back! Clara shrugged Angel off rudely, making Angel sigh in resignation.
The security guard shrugged.
"That’s your business, ma’am. My job is to keep unauthorized guests out. You can try to get me fired if you can." It sounded as if she was being taunted, and Clara did not like that!
"Unauthorized?" she sputtered. "Shelby is my child! That makes me very much authorized! What the hell do you mean by that?"
"Not according to the list, and my explicit instructions."
"The list? What list?" Clara gave a shrill, doubtful laugh. "What nonsense is this? Get someone else out here. Someone with more than two brain cells to rub together."
The guard pulled out a clipboard and slowly flipped through the papers. "Hmm. It says here...’Under no circumstances is Mrs. Wendover to be granted access to the estate, regardless of excuse, or dramatic scene.’
Clara and Angela’s mouths opened and closed in stunned silence. Angela was not overly surprised, but she was, at the same time.
’Looks like someone saw this coming,’ he thought. It was not his place to question orders, but it was his task to follow orders through to the tiniest bit of detail.
Clara’s hands curled into fists. "You insolent little .... Fine! I’ll call my da-."
Clara stopped mid-sentence, as she remembered that Shelby was still missing.
The guard shook his head, pitying the woman whose face looked as old as could be, but on the body of a well-maintained middle-aged woman.
Clara let out a frustrated growl and dramatically pressed a hand to her chest. "So, what do you expect me to do? Stand here all day? I am a woman of high standing!"
"Not here, you aren’t."
The guard did not mince his words, and he just wanted Clara out of his way.
Clara’s jaw dropped, and for a second, she looked genuinely stunned. People had started fawning over her after her interviews in Shelby and she had almost forgotten that she was unwelcome here. Even Rocky had not been paying much attention to her. She had only said that she would call her son to push the guard, but that had not worked.
Clara recovered quickly, straightening her spine.
"Fine. You wait! Just wait. Let’s see how long before you people are embarrassed when word gets out that you’re keeping me out of my own daughter’s house."
Clara started to squeeze her face and tears prickled at the corners of her eyes.
The guard sighed. "Ma’am, none of your antics would word.... So, shove those tears!"
Clara cleaned her tears immediately,
"Fine, I’ll just wait! I need to talk to Geneva! I am sure that she will come out sooner or later!"
The guard exhaled deeply, shaking his head. "Look, ma’am. You can wait here all you want, but unless your daughter herself comes down here, which you and I know that it’s impossible at this time, there is nothing I can do for you!"
Clara huffed, turning away. But instead of leaving, she dramatically walked back to the taxi, adjusting her scarf and leaning on it, like a woman waiting for her love.
"Then I shall wait," she declared.
The guard rolled his eyes. "Suit yourself."
But as he turned away, he muttered under his breath, "How long is she gonna be here for, this time?"
He shook his head. However, he had barely sat down when the sound of a car made him come out of his small booth again. This time, he opened the gates immediately and then bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
This car was heading out of the estate and the security guard knew who it was. If Clara had paid more attention, he would have noticed that the security man had lost all his pompousness and was slightly wary... even to the point of trembling.
The car pulled to a stop and the door opened. Aliya stepped out, as did the reluctant Suzie.
Clara straightened as her eyes landed on the somewhat beautiful woman. She had only seen Aliya once, but Clara knew whom she was.
’Nope, no one could compare to my daughter. This one is just so-so,’
The thought came out of nowhere. Clara might had her misgivings about her daughter, but if there was one thing she was very confident about, it was Shelby’s looks.
’... delicate features, a certain charm, but in the grand scheme of things? Pretty, yes. But not breathtaking. Not exceptional. Certainly not enough to hold a candle to Shelby’s unparalleled beauty.’ Clara nodded to herself,
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she took in Aliya’s poised stance, the careful way she carried herself. There was an air of confidence about her, but it was the kind that came from people believing they were important, not from actually being so.
With a small, almost slight sniff, Clara looked away.
’Well... I suppose some people have to settle for being second best.’
"Well, who do we have here?" Aliya finally arrived at Clara’s side, paying no heed to Angela.
Clara was shocked at the enthusiasm with which Aliya greeted her. She, however, missed the underlying mockery. This was for one simple reason. No one could deny that Clara looked abnormal with the aged face and the ’normal looking’ body.
Aliya draped her arms around Clar’s shoulders as if they had always been long-time friends.
"So, sister, what did you ask for from the witch?" Aliya whispered for Clara’s ears only.
This action made both Angel and Suzie stumble back simultaneously....
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