Chapter 18: "Hello Lara... it's me again."
The elevator's bell dinged as it reached the last floor, swinging open. Raven stepped out and walked down the hall to the receptionist.
The receptionist swept over her, her eyes disapproving. Obviously, she didn't like the gothic, rebellious vibe Raven gave off.
"Welcome to Smith and C Services" The receptionist greeted finally, flashing Raven a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "How can we assist you?"
"I have an appointment with Harry Walker under the name Lara Brant," Raven answered evenly.
The receptionist gave her a skeptical glance before checking her computer. She looked up, confirming the schedule.
"But you are not Lara Brant." She said, her dubious voice filled with utter contempt, "I know who Lara Brant is, and she's definitely not you."
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"I'm her cousin as a matter of fact" Her voice sweet and innocent, Raven lied through her teeth, resisting the urge to pull this bitch by her hair and teach her the lesson of her life, "Unfortunately, Lara can't make it today, so she sent me here in her stead."
"I didn't know Lara Brant had a cousin." The receptionist didn't believe her for one second.
Raven bit her lips, "Well, you know now. Congratulations."
The receptionist still didn't believe her, "I'll have to confirm first before letting you meet Mr Walker."
At that moment, a man walked up to Raven, "Excuse me, are you, Coco Hopkins?"
Raven turned to the man and instantly recognized him. He was Harry Walker, the man she was looking for. The man who handled Lara's monetary affairs, her trust officer.
The day before, she had called his office using technology that disguised her voice to sound like Lara's. Posing as Lara, she had arranged a meeting with him, telling him that a woman named Coco Hopkins would come the next day to transfer her money to an international bank account.
"Yes, I am." Raven answered sweetly turning to the heavily bearded man, "Are you Mr Walker?"
"That's me." The man chuckled a little bit nervously, "Why don't we head to my office?"
"Yeah, sure." She said, then turning to the receptionist, she tauntingly stuck out her tongue to her, who stood there with a flushed face.
As they made their way into Walker's office, Raven asked. "How did you know it was me?"
"Well..." The man hesitated, "Mrs Brant told me you'd look... you know, like this and that you'd be here at this time. So when I saw you, I instantly knew it was you."
Fool!
Raven nodded at her impersonation skills.
This man had believed that it was Lara who called... hook, line, and sinker!
Walker ushered her into his office and gestured for her to sit down.
Raven sat.
She provided the international account she had opened under Lara's name.
Unsuspicious, Walker prepared the paperwork, and minutes later, he had transferred all of Lara's wealth and inheritance into the bank account.
A few minutes later, Raven left Smith and C Services, with a grin plastered over her face.
Lara won't realize she's broke until it's late.
Raven took a cab to a shopping mall where she changed clothes.
Her next stop was Lucy's school and no one would agree to hand over a child to someone looking so gothic and mysterious.
Minutes later, Raven stepped out of the mall, looking like a responsible mother in a fabulous blue blouse, plaid flare dress, and dark heels. Her dark hair hung free on her shoulders and on her arm hung a handbag.
Lucy's school wasn't far from the mall, so she decided to walk.
Five minutes later, she had arrived and wasn't surprised that the school was also for the prominent members of the society.
Luckily for Raven, the school had already been dismissed, and she wouldn't waste much time.
She walked into the school down the hallway as she searched for Lucy's class.
She found her playing alongside other kids who were waiting for either their parents or the maids that were to bring them home.
The teacher's head snapped towards Raven when she felt someone on the door.
"Yes, miss?"
"I'm here for Lucy," Raven said simply.
"And who might you be?" The teacher asked.
"Oh, I'm her mom's friend." Raven answered her, "You see, I happened to be passing by the area and thought to bring her home since I'm her neighbor."
"Really?" The teacher turned and called out to Lucy who came scurrying. "Lucy, do you know her?"
Lucy nodded instantly, recognizing her as the maid she had been seeing in her house.
The teacher asked no further questions. "Alright go get your bag."
Lucy ran to her desk and got her bag. Raven scooped her off her feet and rested her on her arm.
"Goodbye." she smiled at the oblivious teacher who returned the smile.
With her heels clicking on the floor, a satisfying grin on her succulent lips, Raven left the school with Lucy on her arm.
***
Lara drove home and parked her car in the garage. She was exhausted.
She hadn't expected that searching for Raven would be this hard.
She had gone to the delivery company that had delivered that package to her home, yet they had no idea who had ordered the delivery.
She had gone to Raven's former neighborhood, but no one knew her whereabouts. Everyone claimed that they hadn't seen her since the fire killed her mom and sister.
No one also knew of her brother's whereabouts.
It was like these two had ceased to exist... like they'd been wiped off the face of the earth.
Lara told herself that tomorrow was another day. She would find Raven sooner or later but she preferred finding her sooner rather than later.
She stepped out of the car and headed inside.
Mandy was at the door, looking shit scared as she trembled. "Welcome home... ma... ma'am."
Lara didn't even notice her trembling state as her mind was completely preoccupied by Raven.
"Is dinner prepared yet?" She asked heading to the living room.
"Yes, ma'am." Mandy trailed behind.
"Where's Lucy?" she asked settling down comfortably on the couch, "Did the maids bring her home?"
"There... th- there's a problem ma'am." Mandy stuttered.
"What problem?" Lara queried, her furrowed brows staring up at Mandy questioningly.
"It's... Lucy... she's not... yet back." Mandy said in a dry voice as she trembled.
God, she almost shit her pants.
Lara's stomach twisted with fear, her heart giving a furious lurch. She became instantly dehydrated as Mandy said those words.
"Wh... what... what do you mean Lucy's not... back home?" Her voice had gone so husky that she herself couldn't even recognize it.
"She's not back yet ma'am," Mandy repeated.
Lara paused for a minute as she tried to digest the news Mandy was giving her. She refused to believe it.
It can't be Raven! God, please! It can't be Raven!
Her phone rang at the moment, startling both her and Mandy, who were so tense at the moment.
With trembling hands, she brought out her phone from her handbag, then picked it up and slowly put it on her ears.
Her breath hitched, she said into the phone in the same husky voice. "H... hel... hell.. oo"
Raven's snigger through the phone confirmed her worst fears, "Hello Lara... it's me again."