The Beautiful and The Terrible

2 - Lisa Sullivan

The growl in Roseann's stomach is an evidence of how hungry she is at the moment. Wiping her sweat, she placed the serving plate on the counter after giving her last customer for the afternoon his foods.

It's a sunny day. But it could've been a good sunny day if only there's wind.

"Jesus it's so hot." Grumbled by a woman, leaning on the counter beside Roseann.

"You tell me. I feel like a bacon being cooked to crisp right now."

The woman chuckled. "Hey Carl, tell us again the reason why you decided to put an outdoor seating for your restaurant when it's clearly the middle of the year?"

Carl, the man behind the counter, wearing a sleeveless shirt while wiping some dishes responded with, "Because it's summer and it's the best time of the year!"

Roseann scrunched up her nose but eventually chuckled.

"More like the best time to give us skin cancer." she glanced beside her, "Right, Kris?"

"For sure and tan doesn't look good on me." The woman, named Kris pouted and looked towards Roseann. "Unlike you who can easily pull it, little blondie."

Roseann waved her hand in dismissal. The 'little' irking her slightly but also dismissed it.

"Don't even start that with me. I also don't look good in tan. My complexion is fair so attempting to tan would just make my skin red."

"Liar." Kris grumbled. "Perks of being young."

Roseann just laughed it off and ignored the accusatory glances that Kris throws at her.

She's not lying in a sense that her complexion really is fair. Thanks to the fact that she's indeed young and blooming. However, you cannot say the same thing to her skin that's a perfect mix of bronze and gold, unlike what she said earlier.

The skin that glows under the warm rays of the early sun.

"I'll take my lunch at the house. I'd come right after, boss."

Roseanne excused herself from them and went to their house. It's noon, people are busy eating their lunch to power them up through the day. And she's about to do that too.

•••

Entering our humble home, I went straight to our open kitchen to get some pre-heated foods. I passed by my uncle's room which has a broken ceiling that ended him up sleeping in my room last night because the water coming from the tubes of our neighbors above would leak down on him.

I guess I'd have to look into it when I have the time.

I pre-heated some green beans and potatoes as well as some veggies to eat. Tasting the food in my mouth, I can't help but moan in delight at the same time contort my face because I know that somehow, I ate a small bug basing on how the food tasted different in my mouth.

Disgusting. Yet, I still ate it. It's still food.

Sitting on the old but still usable sofa, I propped my feet above the wooden and glass table. What a life.

Suddenly, I heard knocks on the door. Who could it be? We already paid rent last week, it couldn't be the landlord, right?

Standing up while holding the bowl of food on my left hand, I went to open the door.

"Good afternoon! Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your savi—"

"Yeah I've already accepted Jesus Christ as my saviour. Thank you and have a nice day."

I closed the door, respectfully.

I went back to the sofa, feeling tired already. Gosh I need a nap.

But I can't. Break's about to be over and I have to go back to work. Good thing the restaurant where I'm working at is just close to our apartment.

Finishing my food and taking care of my used plates, I left our home once again and walked to the restaurant.

I arrived five minutes later and I'm already drenched in sweat.

Oh well, not really. If not for the umbrella and sun screen I would be fried to death.

"Welcome back little blondie. Let's get back to work." My co-worker said cheerfully.

I rolled my eyes. The stupid little again. "Hello to you too, Jan. And yes, I'll go back to work now."

My co-worker just giggled and ruffled my disoriented hair. I slapped it away giggling and we started work right after.

•••

”Did you actually saw that? Or you're just talking bullshit?”

”Why would I lie about that? It's true. I saw the caravan of really cool, shiny, black cars ten miles before I got here. It was a sight to behold!”

The man gushed looking very amazed with the accompany of hand movements to emphasize his adjectives.

That was what Roseann heard when she placed down the foods these two men had ordered.

At first she allowed herself to be curious and asked herself, what caravan? But then she shrugged it off and continued serving the other patrons of the restaurant.

”They'll pass Hourton in about fifteen minutes. I'm so going to watch it. The Sullivan's never really travel in land. I wonder why they're doing so now.”

"Maybe for a change? I don't know. Anyway, do you know which Sullivan is travelling?"

"I don't know too. The media was not also informed. No one really knows. But I wish it's Lisa!"

As Roseann was passing, she heard the man she had just served exclaim the name Lisa.

'Lisa? As in the Lisa Sullivan? Is that who they were talking about just now?'

Roseann, as someone who aspires to be a law enforcer someday would never miss out on the names of the biggest and respected individuals in the world.

Lisa Sullivan. The notorious self-made millionaire of the 21st century. Owner of several vehicle and technology companies. Both were bought by her own finances. A shareholder of stocks in various businesses such as clothing lines, beach and resort, real estate, airlines, and many more. One who had the luck to meet her for the first time would initially think that she's a successful entrepreneur who made her fortunes through her own wit and hardwork.

It was true. But for the most part, it's lacking of some details. There's more to her than just that.

All of the above mentioned wealth of Lisa had made her a millionaire just that. What more if her surname is included.

"Blondie!"

"What?" Rose was startled when she suddenly felt herself getting dragged.

"Come on!"

"What? Kris!—we're still in duty!"

Rose wasn't able to fully finish her sentence when she found their boss, Carl, also leaning on the barrier, looking towards the road that was just across the street.

"What the hell is happening?" Rose really is confused. She knows that they're also watching the caravan of Lisa Sullivan's convoy, base on the slick dark cars populating the roads of Hourton with the infamous insignia of the Sullivan Empire etched on each little flags that was situated in the front end of each cars.

Everyone was amazed. Their mouths agape and mumbling praises and envious remarks at their so called over display of wealth, shitty attitudes, and made up stories to cover their each insecurities.

Roseann couldn't help but watch at the caravan. Indeed, it was majestic.

This is what she can only see and it already made her mind wander to what might be the extent of this family's wealth. They're not nobility anymore, they're royalty.

"Wow, look at that. They said this is Lisa Sullivan's caravan. That seems so unlikely though because she never really liked traveling on land, but I hope it's true. Oh my lord she's so beautiful!" Kris beside her gushed, head propping to await for Lisa's vehicle to come into view.

Roseann didn't respond. She just looked at her and shook her head, watching the proceedings go by beneath her. Their restaurant is by the bridge, slightly elevated from the ground. Their position is very perfect to watch the downtown, where the caravan is taking place, along with the pools of people that are watching it.

And the onlookers didn't need to wait any longer for a shiny and tinted black vehicle with various other cars surrounding it came into view. People were buzzing about this particular vehicle.

Roseann wondered, how come these people just knew that this is the car that Lisa's in? For all she knew, and even quite sure, that she's somewhere among those side guarding cars.

Roseann paid no mind and as the caravan passed by their street, the onlookers started going back to their original businesses still talking about the earlier occurrence.

"Did you see that?! Ugh, Lisa."

Rose scrunched her face in disgust as Kris started making grunting and moaning voices while occasionally uttering Lisa's name.

"What the hell. Shut it Kris. You're disgusting!"

Kris just laughed at her while Roseann, with a red face, headed inside their restaurant first.

'Doesn't she know I'm still fifteen? What's with her?'

•••

"Roseann! Come here."

"Boss?" Roseann asked while wiping her hands on her beige apron.

"Go buy some chocolate syrup and 5 bags of white sugar, we already run out." Carl, their boss, handed her a card as he wipes his sweat.

"Feelin' the summer there, boss?" Roseann snickered while putting the card on her pocket.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. It's worth it though. Customers are flocking in as well as money." The glint in the man's eyes is evident most especially when he uttered the last word. "Now go! Don't keep the customers waiting."

"Aight!"

Roseann is now walking from the supermarket after buying the goods her boss told her. Clutching the bags tightly in her hands, she looked around, noticing the black cars that were very familiar, she happened to stop in her tracks.

'Isn't that the Sullivan's cars?'

But the flag with insignias are now gone. She's confused. Or maybe she's just overthinking things and mistaken the intimidating cars with the ones that was in Lisa's caravan.

'Huh.'

Roseann shook her head and continued walking. She still has an errand to accomplish.

*Bang!*

"What the hell." She bolted from where she's standing and immediately hid behind a tree.

'What the hell was that??'

Certainly a gun shot.

Another three gun shots were heard and Roseann, although physically trained and can no doubt defend herself in combat, was starting to get worried. Who is being shot? And in broad daylight?

'I need to do something.'

While Roseann is shakily thinking in her feet, a splash of water was heard as a body slowly submerged itself on the cold waters of lake Hourton.