Distance Between Us

CHAPTER THREE

It’s been three months since the supposed demise of Gia , and the mansion still felt cold to all the servants , they all missed her. While everyone in the mansion mourned for Gia , Janet drank and made merry because the only person standing between her daughter and the family inheritance is gone .

Mr. Jellal has a serious heart condition which he managed with drugs but after sometime it became worse and he could feel his death coming , Janet knew about his illness and so she planned to covet the family wealth to her daughter Ariel.

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*18 years Ago *

Jellal and Janet were betrothed and were about to get married but jellal never really loved Janet , his heart belonged to Alice , a middle aged teacher who came from a poor family ; as a result of that , his family refused him from getting married to Alice but went ahead to betroth him to Janet , the daughter of a wealthy man in order to save their company from bankruptcy , he had no choice . Two months into his marriage with Janet , Alice called to tell him that she was pregnant for him , he was happy but sad at the same time because it would cause harm to his company and family name if word got out that he has an illegitimate child , he paid for an apartment at the outskirts of the city and gave her a nanny to look after during her pregnancy.

Few months after , she gave birth but died due to excessive bleeding, he wept and wept but there was nothing he could do , so he brought the child in and pleaded with Janet to take care of the child . Janet never really liked her though but she didn’t have a child at the time so she couldn’t say no, but deep down janet never really loved her , it became obvious when she had her daughter after 3years ; she completely ignored Gia and treated her like an impostor in her fathers house. Little Gia had no idea that Janet wasn’t her real mother , she gave all the love she could but it was never enough; her father was away in business trips and meetings most of the time leaving little Gia with Janet , who would beat her like she was a mere servant . She hated Alice; Gia’s mother and since she was no more , she passed the hatred to her daughter Gia , she always had to compete with the memory of a dead woman for her husband’s love .

18years later and her hatred for Gia only grew and blossomed , she made an ultimate move when she found out her husband was going to will 80% of the family wealth to his daughter and give her daughter just 20%, she couldn’t let it happen so she made a plot to kill Gia so her daughter could have everything to herself.

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“Ariel honey it’s time to go “ Janet called from the car .

“I’m coming mom “ she answered from the dining room, she hadn’t finished breakfast yet . “Mom where are we going ??” She asked .

“We are going to visit your fathers company, it’s high time we let you in on the company affairs “ she smiled .

“Really mom ?? I can’t wait “ she hurriedly entered the car and the driver drove off .

J&A group of companies is chain of companies that does different things . Mr Jellal has four companies: J&A fashion company, J&A Oil and Gas , Gia Cosmetics and AG shoe company , He named his companies after his family.

Their first stop was AG shoe company, it was large but not as large as the main company , J&A Oil and Gas .

They walked into the company and all the staff lined up to greet them ; a female staff stepped on Alice by accident but before she could apologize, she had received a hot slap on her face .

“How dare you step on my daughter and the heiress of this company “ Janet shouted .

“I’m sorry ma” she bowed her head in fear.

“Sorry for your stupid self “ she then turned to the rest of the staff and said “ this is your future boss , so treat her with respect , am I understood?” .

“Yes ma “ they responded.

“Take us to the office , now “ she pointed to one of the staffs . He led the way and after going up a few stairs they arrived at the office .

“Why is the shelf covered in dust ?” She shouted at him .

“Sorry ma , I’ll send the cleaner to clean it right away “ he stuttered.

“I don’t want excuses “ she retorted , “ if I come back here next time and I find a little pinch of dust in this office , you’ll lose your job , am I understood ?”

“Yes ma “ he replied with his head still bowed.

“Let’s go honey “ she beckoned to her daughter .

They left the company and went to an eatery to have launch . Ariel took a sit close to the window ; she pressed her head against the window pane to relax a little , her legs hurt from wearing heels all day . She was murmuring to herself when she heard a masculine voice from outside the eatery , she turned to see a handsome young man talking with his friends —he is so cute — she thought to herself . She stood up from her seat with the intension of going to start a conversation with him when her mother arrived with a waiter carrying two plates of food.

“Honey where are you going “ her mother asked .

“Umm.... nowhere “ she said as she looked out the window to see that he wasn’t there anymore . — he’s gone — .

“Are you okay baby?”

“Of course I’m fine just stressed”

“You know what ? How about we go to the spa after launch , then we go home after that , okay ?” .

“Yeah , sure , that’ll be great “ she said .

“Waiter , please set the food “ .

After launch they went to spa which belonged to Janet’s friend , Marylin .

Marylin is Janet’s best friend she has been the fuel to Janet’s hatred for Gia . She has a son and a daughter from two different men , Ariel never really liked her but she had to be the good daughter to get what she want .

After spending close to two hours at the spa saloon they drove back home , all the while ; Ariel couldn’t stop thinking about the guy she had seen earlier . — who is he ? — she asked herself, — he looked cute and rich though , I wish I could get the chance to see him again — she enjoyed reminiscing about the short memory she has of him , she lay on her bed and shut her eyes to sleep .

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“Gia , it’s time for dinner “ Gina came calling .

“I’m coming baby “ Gia responded from the bathroom .

She had grown to love and cherish Doris and her family, they treated her with so much love , a love she begged for all her life , most times she wished Doris was really her mom , and Gina was the best sister she could ask for , she was such a sweet child , she was five years old but very funny and sometimes acts like an adult , she has been Gia’s companion and best friend . Today they were celebrating Thomas promotion at work ; Doris had a little stall where she designed and made dresses for people , Gia follows her to work and helps her design clothes ; Thomas works in an auditing company and he just got promoted to branch manager while little Gina was still in preschool , they were one big happy family .

“Cheers everyone “ Thomas raised his glass .

“Congrats dad” Gia smiled as she hugged him .

“Thanks dear “

“Daddy carry me “ Gina spread her arms for her dad to carry her . He picked her up and put her on his shoulder .

“Mummy look I’m riding an airplane” she called out to her mother .

“Be careful honey so you don’t fall “ she laughed as she spoke .

Gia stood at on end of the dinning room and looked at the happy family beaming with smiles — thank you Lord for this gift — she smiled .