CHAPTER 3: "The Meeting I Wasn't Invited To... But Attended Anyway."
Navira's POV
The second their footsteps fade down the hall, I drop the sweet-girl act and sit on the edge of my ridiculous, cloud-soft bed.
"Well," I mutter, "that escalated fast."
They really tried to do a whole dramatic crying-circle around Agnes like I was the villain stepping into the kingdom to steal her boyfriend, her throne, and her last brain cell.
Cute.
But if she thinks she can cry...
Please.
I'm the final boss of tears.
I can turn them on like a faucet and off like a switch.
Years at the orphanage trained me well.
I stand up, quietly walk to my door, and crack it open.
Because there's a rule in life:
If you're not invited to the meeting, the meeting is about you.
And I like information.
Information is power.
And I'm here for power.
So I slip into the hallway like a ghost and pad barefoot down the carpeted stairs, following the sound of stressed breathing and disappointment.
The family is in the sitting room - the fancy room that families like this never actually sit in.
They leave the door slightly open.
Perfect.
I lean against the wall quietly, listening.
Vivienne: "Agnes, darling, you have to calm down."
Agnes: sniff sniff "How can I? Everything's ruined, Mother!"
Alden: "Nothing is ruined."
Agnes: "Yes it is! I'm not her REAL daughter! Navira is! What if she takes everything? What if you stop loving me?"
Wow.
Oscar-worthy.
I almost clap.
Then Alastair, in his usual frozen-robot voice, says:
"No one is replacing anyone. But Navira... is suspicious."
Suspicious?
Of what?
Having functioning brain cells?
Victor sighs heavily. "We have to give her a chance. She grew up with nothing."
Agnes immediately gasps, milking it for drama.
"That's what I mean! She lived in an orphanage! She must... she must hate me!"
Okay, relax, princess.
I don't hate you.
I just want everything you own.
Alden: "Agnes, that's not fair. No one is blaming you."
Agnes: "I'm not blaming her! I'm... I'm just scared."
More crying.
More sniffles.
More dramatics.
I roll my eyes.
Then Vivienne lowers her voice.
"Agnes... you must try to welcome her. She's family."
Agnes goes stiff.
Alden and Alastair go stiff.
Honestly this room has no flexibility whatsoever.
Then Agnes whispers something that makes me grin:
"What if she's pretending to be nice? What if she's... dangerous?"
Oh sweetheart.
You have no idea.
Victor: "She seemed polite."
Alden: "Too polite."
Alastair: "Exactly."
Okay, rude.
Vivienne sighs. "We need to help her adjust."
The brothers groan.
Agnes whines.
Victor rubs his forehead.
And then Vivienne drops the bomb:
"She'll be joining you all at school starting Monday."
Alden: "WHAT?!"
Alastair: "This is a mistake."
Agnes: "S-School? With m-me?!"
Oh I can practically taste the panic.
Delicious.
I wait until Victor says, "We'll talk to her gently about fitting in,"
and that's my cue to make an entrance.
Because the best way to manipulate people?
Walk into the room right after they say something questionable.
I push the door open lightly.
Everyone jumps.
"Oh," I whisper softly, "I... didn't mean to interrupt. I just heard my name and thought someone needed me."
Agnes freezes, eyes widening.
Alden looks guilty.
Alastair looks like he wants to interrogate me with a lie detector.
Vivienne tries to smile.
Victor's soul leaves his body.
Perfect.
I step in with the sweetest smile known to mankind.
"I'm sorry if I made anyone uncomfortable," I say softly. "I just... haven't been in a family before. So I might make mistakes. Please tell me if I do."
Agnes immediately breaks.
Of course she does.
"N-No! You didn't do anything wrong, Navira!"
I blink at her, innocent.
"I heard you crying earlier. I hope it wasn't because of me."
Agnes chokes.
Alden opens his mouth, but I keep going.
"Living in the orphanage..."
I let my voice wobble.
"Sometimes the younger kids cried when someone new came in. They were afraid there wouldn't be enough food left for everyone."
Alden inhales sharply.
Vivienne covers her mouth.
Victor looks like he might cry.
Agnes looks like she wants to evaporate.
Alastair's expression softens for 0.5 seconds before he catches himself.
I smile gently.
"But I'm sure that's not the case here."
Agnes shakes her head violently. "N-No! Never! I wasn't crying because of you at all!"
"Really?" I ask, voice barely above a whisper.
She panics. "Really! I swear!"
I nod sweetly.
"Good. I really want us to get along."
Alden steps closer. "Navira... if you ever need anything-"
"Oh," I say with a soft laugh, "I'm fine. I've been taking care of myself since I was six. I don't want to trouble anyone."
Victor whispers, "...six?"
Hook.
Line.
Sinker.
The room is silent.
And I stand there smiling like an angel.
Inside?
I'm laughing my ass off.