"What do you mean by 'where is the rest of it'. Whatever you found in the bio is everything there is. There is nothing else." Maria tried to defend herself. She knew Aurora suspected her of something, but she did not think she would go as far as doing a background check on her to confirm her suspicion."I know you. I have observed you these past few days and I know you are much deeper than Maria, a drop out and salesgirl. Before anyone finds out there is a vacancy in Ace Residence, it takes a pretty long time. You just appeared immediately your predecessor before you left. You did not even leave a contact in the staff information logs. Nothing to connect your life before to what it is now." Aurora explained all of this and Maria began to see sense in all of it."Are you this observant or did this observance just start because of me?" "I have always been this observant. Trying to find the mysteries in people and trying to figure them out. It is always fun and sometimes it is not.""L

"Oh, of course. You can pay at the counter and we will arrange the cinema for your viewing pleasure. How many people will you be arriving with?" The manager asked.She took out imaginary lints from her top and crossed a shawl over her shoulder."I will be back with three others. Make it a memorable experience, this is our first time in Beijing." "Oh wow, I knew you had to be a tourist. You look new, different." The manager's eyes roamed Claire's body like it was a prize."I will take that as a compliment. Thank you. So…" She opened her arms in question."Oh, yes. You will follow Kiki back to the reception and pay there. Card or cash?" He asked with a smile. Claire returned his smile."A black card, dear. I do not do limits." Claire said and exited with a grand flair. She had to make just the right impression to get the elite treatment she wanted her mother to receive."Okay, that is settled then. Kiki will see you off. Thank you for working with us." The manager stood up to shake

Claire did not know what made her more angry. The fact that Nick had come to the suite that they paid no dime for with extra clothes or that her mother was calling going to the cinema with this stranger who just started fucking days ago a family date. She was raging. She set her lips in a thin line. That was the best she could give. Her mother put on her jacket when Nick finally appeared from the room. He was done changing and he was wearing a linen shirt that looked like it might have been a few sizes bigger than his original size. Her mother smiled at him immediately she laid eyes on him. It made her cringe. Had the love been so blinding that she could not see the shirt was ill fitting, that the shirt was rumpled, that the wide pants he had worn to match the shirt had a hole that made a small circular displav of his thigh. Her mother always chastised her for things like this. Her mother would not have even let her follow her anywhere if there was the slightest stain on her clothes.

Claire did not want to know how these things happened. She did not want to know as long as it was sexual and it involved her mother. She stepped into the car and waited for her mother to get in. She stood anxiously at the pavement, looking like a lost puppy. Claire popped out her head from the car to see what was happening."I can not come in with you. Nick wants us to take a different ride. We will meet you there." She said sheepishly. Claire sucked her teeth and stepped down from the car."Could you possibly wait a minute, sir? I have to settle something with my mother. She is like this sometimes. Parents, am I right?" She was trying to get a laugh out of him but that was a poor attempt. He did not crack a smile."I will be back here in a minute or two. Please, hold on." She pleaded and ran to her mother whose grip on Nick could break a wooden rod in two. "You have to let go of Nick. We can all try to fit into that car and get to the cinema just in time. It could not be so hard." S

Claire looked on with delight as her mother and Nick settle in comfortably. They were expecting more people to come in but the manager gladly sang her praises and mentioned there was no one else stepping in as all the seats had been paid for, for their viewing pleasure. Her mother was giddy while Nick threw glances at Claire when he thought she was not looking. He was probably contemplating on why he had left her for her mother if she could now afford to pay that outrageous sum just please her mother. She took a seat a few rows above them. Her mother turned to stare at her."Honey, aren't you going to stay with us?" Her mother asked, wanting to include her into the circle so badly. She felt bad because she knew her mother's efforts would be in vain. Nothing could make her want to be the third person in their duo. She would gladly pass that offer up anytime. She smiled sweetly at her mother."I am good, mom. You and Nick should have the ultimate couples experience. That is all I want."