CHAPTER 58
"Olivia, please stop."
The voice calling me from behind makes me turn on my heels and I find Angie coming towards me.
"You left the shop more than an hour ago! What are you still doing here? And why are you almost running in the opposite way of your bus stop! Is everything alright?" she asks.
I can sense the true concern in her voice. She knows I rush to pick up Meg from school, every day, as soon as my shift is over, so she must be a little surprised to find me still here. I don't have time to tell her everything about the incidents but I don't want to lie to her either.
"I'm searching for Tina, it's really urgent that I see her!" I answer, my voice is thick with emotions and I'm almost starting to sob again.
"Hey, relax. I can guess there's something serious and you can tell me about it later but I can't leave you alone, not in this condition. Will you mind if I accompany you wherever you're going?" she asks.
I know she cares about me, she's not pushing but only wants to be with me, maybe only to make sure I'm okay. I nod in acceptance and we walk, side by side, towards my destination.
On the way, I'm constantly trying to get a hold of Anna but every time I dial the number it's coming up with the same error message of, 'number is out of reach' and I sigh in frustration. Angie must have noticed my eagerness.
"Is that call very important to you? Who have you been calling?"
"Anna. She's Tina's friend and I guess she knows where Tina is," I answer.
"Okay, give me the number, let me try," she offers help.
I open the contact details and give her my phone, to take the number, and she stops dead right on the spot. Turning back, I find her looking at the screen, intently, but I don't know what amazes her so much.
"You know this girl?" she asks, pointing towards the picture of Anna and me, which I took as a reminder of the makeup session.
"Yes, she's the one who did my make-up for the party," I say.
"Jesus, I didn't know she has a parlor here in San Jose!" Angie replies.
"She doesn't have a parlor of her own, actually, she visited my flat to do the make-up for me?"
"Annabella King visited you to get your makeup sorted for the office party?" Angie asks, totally amazed.
The way she says it leaves no doubt that Anna must be someone very famous but, after knowing who Tina actually is, it wouldn't have surprised me, much, if Angie said Anna is the mayor, governor or whatever.
"She's one of the best makeup artists in the current world and she has her own brand of beauty products. How did you come to know her so closely?" she asks.
Now, this is not unexpected. Knowing who Tina is, it's very understandable for her to get the make-up from one of the best in the world.
"Long story, I'll tell you about it, later," I answer as we reach the front gate of the Grahams.
We enter through the door on the ground floor as I need to talk to the receptionist. There isn't much of a crowd, only a few seats are filled, and I can feel eyes on us. Maybe we look completely from another world? Walking to the receptionist, I ask for Mark.
"Excuse me," I say to the person talking on the phone at the receptionist's area.
"Yes, Ma'am," he replies, before looking at me.
I can tell he's not too amazed by our looks.
"Can you please tell me if Mark is on duty? He's a waiter and also a friend of mine," I inform him.
"I'm sorry but we don't have anyone by the name of Mark in the service department but there is Mr. Marcus Green, the Manager, who is known as Mark," he replies.
If he'd told me the same thing an hour ago, I would have returned without meeting him. I would've never thought it possible that the Manager, himself, had served us that night but now it completely makes sense.
"Can I see him?"
"Wait a little, Ma'am, I need to call him first to see if he's free. May I have your name, please?" he replies.
"Olivia Jones," I answer.
I could use Mrs. Graham's name, as this is her hotel, but I don't want to bother her or use her influence. I can't hear the conversation between them but the receptionist becomes super active, instantly!
"The Manager is on his way, Ma'am. In the meantime, please be seated. Would you like to have anything to drink or lunch, maybe?"
I think he's been informed of my relationship with Mrs. Graham.
"Just a glass of water," I reply.
"And a coffee for me," Angie adds.
The receptionist nearly runs towards the kitchen to get the orders filled as soon as possible.
"Hey, Oli. How are you and where's Tina?" Mark asks as soon as he arrives.
Enough to break the dam once again, I tell him everything, between sobbing, then continue.
"I need her address, Mark. I need to talk to her, at least once! I need to know if she loves him more than me. Please help me!"
I continue sobbing and, to my annoyance, I see him smiling at me. I don't know why people always seem to be amazed when I cry.
"I don't know if she loves him more than you but I know she loves him a lot," he replies.
My heart breaks into millions of pieces. Mark is one of her closest friends and he must know this guy and their relationship. Now I'm thinking meeting her, after knowing this, may not be a good idea. I may give these things to Mark, so he can return them to Tina. Mark comes closer and puts his hands over mine, comforting me, as he speaks again.
"I can understand it's hard for you but you can't blame her. After all, he is her only cousin!" Mark adds before he starts laughing, loudly.
Her cousin? Really? Why didn't she tell me? How can Mark be so sure that it's her cousin and not another person?
