Adanna crossed her arms and tilted her head, her voice laced with mock curiosity. "Rightfully yours? I thought you said you could have anything you wanted. And yet, here you are, fighting over shoes you clearly didn't choose first."
Kenneth chuckled, his hand sliding from Lydia's waist as he turned to Adanna with interest. "You have quite the sharp tongue, Miss Arinze."
Olaedo stiffened, recognizing the predatory look in Kenneth's eyes. She took a small step forward, positioning herself protectively between Kenneth and Adanna.
"Kenneth," Lydia hissed, her frustration evident. "Stop encouraging this nonsense. Let's go."
Kenneth ignored her, his eyes still on Adanna. "Are you shopping for the family ball, Miss Arinze? I hear it's going to be the event of the year. My wife and I would love an invitation."
Adanna's lips curved into a sly smile. "You? At the Arinze family ball?" She let out a soft, disbelieving laugh. "I'm afraid that's not possible. We're quite selective about our guest list."
The crowd erupted into whispers again, and Lydia's face turned redder by the second.
"You—" Lydia began, but Adanna cut her off.
"And as for these shoes," Adanna continued, addressing the manager without looking away from Lydia, "please ensure they're reserved for Olaedo. After all, we can't let an incident like this ruin our shopping experience, can we?"
The manager nodded quickly. "Of course, Miss Arinze. Right away."
"Excuse me?!" Lydia's voice was shrill now. "I'm a paying customer! I demand those shoes!"
The manager hesitated, glancing nervously at both women. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but… Miss Olaedo did select them first."
"This is ridiculous!" Lydia exploded. "Do you think I can't afford them? Do you know who I am?!"
A bystander near the back snorted. "We all know who you are, Lydia. And we know you're losing this one."
The crowd chuckled, and Lydia spun around, glaring daggers at the offending onlooker. But the damage was done. Her carefully curated image was cracking in front of everyone.
Kenneth finally spoke up, his tone casual but firm. "Lydia, that's enough. Let's not make a bigger scene than we already have."
His words should have been comforting, but the way his gaze lingered on Olaedo made Lydia's blood boil.
"Of course," Lydia said through gritted teeth, trying to salvage what little dignity she had left. "This was a waste of time anyway. Let's go."
But as she turned to leave, Kenneth paused, looking back at Olaedo one last time. "It was nice meeting you, Miss Olaedo. I hope to see you again."
Olaedo didn't respond, but her glare said enough. Lydia grabbed Kenneth's arm and dragged him out of the store, her anger palpable.
As the couple disappeared, the tension in the room dissolved, replaced by a mix of relief and excitement.
"Well, that was something," Nnenna said, breaking the silence.
"You handled that beautifully," Adanna added, giving Olaedo an approving nod.
Olaedo let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "I just… I didn't expect to see her here. Or her husband."
Adanna frowned slightly, her sharp mind already analyzing the situation. "Her husband's interest in you wasn't subtle. Be careful, Olaedo. Men like him are dangerous."
"I know," Olaedo said quietly. "But I'm not the same girl I used to be. I can handle myself."
The manager returned, holding the shoes in a pristine box. "These are yours, Miss Olaedo. On behalf of the store, I apologize for the inconvenience."
"Thank you," Olaedo said with a polite smile, taking the box.
As they left the store, the whispers followed them, but this time, they were filled with admiration.
"Did you see how she put Lydia in her place?"
"That Miss Arinze is no joke. I wouldn't want to cross her."
"And Olaedo… she's not as weak as they say. Her scandal clearly couldn't bring her down. What a woman!"
Olaedo straightened her shoulders, her confidence renewed. She had faced her past, and she had won. But as they stepped into the bustling mall, she couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end of her story with Lydia or Kenneth.
In a dimly lit car outside the mall, Lydia fumed silently, her nails digging into the leather seat.
"How dare she humiliate me like that?" she hissed.
Kenneth smirked, his mind elsewhere. "Forget her, Lydia. She's beneath you."
But Lydia was not listening. In her mind, a plan was already forming, a way to get back at Olaedo and reclaim her place at the top.
In the mall, in the shadows, someone else watched the Arinze women, their intentions unknown.
----
The day had been a whirlwind of excitement. After hours of shopping, Nnenna left for her home, leaving Olaedo and Adanna to return to the grand Arinze mansion. As they entered the expansive hall, their joyous laughter echoed off the high ceilings, spilling warmth into the opulent yet often tense household.
Olaedo threw herself onto the plush sofa, her body sinking into its comforting embrace as peals of laughter bubbled from her lips. "It feels so good to finally stand up to my high school bully! The look on Lydia's face was worth every second."
Adanna, usually composed and reserved, could not hold back her own mirth. Her elegant features were alight with amusement as she joined in the laughter. "I have never been bullied before," she admitted, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Everyone always knew which family I came from, so no one dared to try. But watching what you did today, I think I finally understand the satisfaction of putting someone like that in their place."
Olaedo leaned back, her grin softening into a thoughtful smile. "You have no idea, Adanna. Lydia made my life a living nightmare. But today...standing up to her like that? I feel like I've reclaimed a part of myself. It's like I'm no longer that helpless girl she used to torment." She paused, then chuckled lightly. "We should do this more often. It was way too fun."