Episode 5
1077 Words
The funeral has Rachel up and about, in honour of Elena Damascus, Rachel did all she could not to make the ceremony chaotic.
At the church service, none of the Damascus family gave a speech about Elena.
Only Rachel did, and it was heartfelt by everyone present.
Chris, Deborah and a few other relatives only spent their time balling their eyes out to gain sympathy from the guests.
Deborah most of all had finished two boxes of tissues, she deserves an Oscar for that.
It didn't help that Chris and Serena attended the funeral as a couple.
Rachel didn't care, all she wanted was to honour Elena.
It was officially her last day as a Damascus. Yet, she was being treated as a slave, a nobody.
After Elena was committed to mother earth, they took the rest of the ceremony into the Damascus mansion.
Where Rachel busied herself entertaining guests, making sure they were all right.
“Your daughter in law is just perfect. I would like to have such a wonderful daughter in law.”
One of the female guests commented.
Deborah snorted as her eyes traced Rachel's movement with scorn.
“She's not my daughter in law anymore. We don't associate with orphans in my family.”
“What do you mean?”
Deborah gave a wicked laugh.
“Don't you know? Rachel is just one of Elena's charity cases. With Elena gone now, we won't see Rachel anymore.”
“Wow, I had no idea, and she's done wonderfully well with the company since Elena put her in.”
The positive comments only burned Deborah's ear, and she was livid with rage towards Rachel.
A sneer spread across her lips, revealing just her lower teeth.
“Rachel, come over here.”
Rachel excused herself from a group of elite guests and walked towards Deborah.
Her face was met with a splash of champagne cocktail.
The event stopped and all eyes were focused on the champagne drenched Rachel.
“How many times have I told you that I don't like lemon in my cocktail!” Deborah screamed.
Rachel's chest puffed with humiliation as she wiped the drink off her eyes. Bits of lemon stuck to her hair.
She bit her lower lip hard to surpress the words that were about to come out.
The day was about Elena, and she would swallow all sorts of embarrassment for her
It was the least she could do.
“Get me another, and without a lemon slice this time.” Deborah snapped
With her head bent, Rachel muttered an apology
“I'm sorry, I'll ask the waiter to get you another just the way you want it.”
As Deborah walked away, the female guest with Deborah said outwardly.
“That was scandalous.”
Deborah laughed in reply.
“Yes, it was meant to be, I hate her.”
Rachel kept mumbling to herself as she walked away.
“A few more hours Rachel, relax, some hours to go and you'd be out of her for good.”
She didn't look at where she was headed until she almost bumped nose to nose with a very hard, yet broad chest.
Strong hands caught her by the arm before she could slip
“Careful there.” A sonorous voice steadied her
Rachel looked up slowly at the man that just caught her.
Ebony dark hair that carved the face slightly on the left, sharp jawline with full peach lips.
Grey eyes that could get someone mesmerized.
“Rach, are you okay?” His voice echoed, bringing her back to reality.
“Rach?” She repeated.
Only one person calls her that name.
She took a closer look at him, and saw the chin dimple appear when he smiled.
“Justin?” She screamed.
He gave a short, yet sexy and hearty laugh.
“In the flesh. Don't tell me that you done recognise me.”
“I don't, I mean, I do, like I didn't at first.” She stuttered.
It's been years since she'd seen Justin.
That was her engagement to Chris.
He disappeared without a word to anyone..
“I'm sorry I couldn't make the church service. My flight got delayed.”
“All that matters is that you are here now, Elena would be happy to know you made it.”
They stood staring at each other like two lost teenagers until Deborah's witch like voice broke the trance.
“Where's my drink, Rachel. Do you want me to die of a dry throat?”
She stopped talking when she noticed Justin.
A wane smile spread on her face
“Justin, I didn't think you'd come.”
She hugged him briefly then stepped back.
Justin straightened to his full height, if there's one person that can put on a show of pretense.
It's his step mother, Deborah.
“I won't be staying long, Rach and barrister Wilson asked me to come.”
“Ahhh, so you're here for the will as well.” Deborah eyed him
Justin there her a cold nasty look and walked away.
Leaving her to phantom the weight of her one words.
Hours later, guests started to leave and it was just the close family members and Elena's lawyer present.
Chris and Serena also came out of wherever they've been through out the ceremony.
Deborah wiped her hands with a napkin, her luggage already downstairs.
“That's my cue to leave.” She announced
Barrister Wilson stopped her
“Wait, all members of the Damascus family should be present as I read the will. That's what Elena wanted.”
Deborah sucked through her teeth harshly.
“What's the point? She's no longer a Damascus.”
“Either she stays, or I won't be reading the will.”
They all saw that nothing could be done about it, and let Rachel stay.
Justin just sat, legs crossed, watching them all with amusement in his eyes.
He was not really interested in the will. That's not why he came.
Barrister Wilson cleared his throat and read.
“Before the demise of Elena Damascus, chair lady of Damascus group. She stated the next in line as her successor should be none other than,” he paused.
Chris, his mother and Serena leaned forw
ard, breath hitched.
The little pause made tension rise around them.
“Spit it out Wilson.” Chris fired.
“The next in line of the Damascus group is Rachel Damascus.”
- Writer
