NARRATIVE
FLASHBACK
"Imogen!" She stopped abruptly and turned on her heels back to Yori who was right behind her.
"What?" She said, raising a brow in confusion. She couldn't understand why Yori had to stop her just when she was about walking out the door.
"Just look what you almost did." Yori said, drawing her attention to her purse bag right on Scarlett's vanity.
"Jeez! The fuck!" Imogen cursed as she hurriedly went back and picked it up. "I'd have been so damned if you hadn't seen this on time. Why do I keep fumbling?! I'm so glad you came in here with me, Yori." She said, looking around Scarlett's room once more to make sure she didn't forget anything else.
"Look at me Yori, did I lose anything? Are my earrings intact? Is my necklace still on my neck? How about my bracelet?" She went on to look herself all over trying to make sure she left no clue in Scarlett's room while Yori gave her a bored look.
"Can you stop being so dramatic?" Yori finally said, swatting her arm a little. "Come on, let's get outta here." She added, pulling her away.
____
Later in the night when Scarlett arrived the Grey's family mansion, she didn't bother checking on anyone else as she made the way upstairs to her room. On getting to her room door, she inhaled as she reached her hand inside her purse for the key.
The moment she took in a sharp breath, something felt off instantly. The strong but pleasant scent which greeted her nostrils made her pause and furrowed her brows. She inhaled shortly again and as she did, it became clear who uses that perfume brand.
Shrugging slightly_as she was not much concerned about it, Scarlett opened her room door and walked in, the lights automatically came on the moment she stepped inside the room.
However, she became even more concerned when her ever so sharp sense of smell, picked up the familiar scent again. Only this time, it was stronger.
Scarlett began to walk about her room, sniffing in even more as she tried to trace the scent. It was crazy how she was sniffing persistently for closely two minutes before the scent led her to her restroom door.
Taking in one last sniff, she smirked as her lips parted and she uttered just one word.
"Imogen!"
Scarlett knew that scent was peculiar with Imogen ever since the first day she met her at the elevator in RD rotunda hotel, several weeks ago when she and Skylar had just arrived Birmingham city.
On meeting her again as sisters, she found out that TF's perfume brand seemed to be Imogen's style. The scent was powerful, lasting over several hours so even though Imogen might have been in her room some hours ago, her perfume still gave her away.
Scarlett sighed as she opened her bathroom door and walked in. She looked around but didn't find anything suspicious only Imogen's lingering scent was there.
Not knowing what Imogen might have done, Scarlett walked back inside her room and picked out a small fluffy towel in there, using the opportunity to drop her purse on her vanity before she walked back in her restroom and picked up her shampoo.
She put the towel on her jacuzzi and emptied the content of her shampoo on it as she observed for a while. After some minutes, there wasn't any changes but Scarlett's instinct didn't let her be.
After a little more deliberation, she packed up all her toiletries and disposed of them. Then she replaced them with a completely new set while she made up her mind to change her room keys and do her cleaning herself from henceforth.
She couldn't trust anyone living here other than her Dad, after all she lives in the same space as the murderer who poisoned her mother, hence she was an easy target.
Only after she had disposed of the items did she felt at ease. Scarlett thought, she had probably been so careless this few weeks.
PRESENTLY
SCARLETT'S POV
I wasn't surprised when I woke up this morning and found the horrific change in the entire appearance of my fluffy towel. Imogen is crazy! If I hadn't taken precaution I'd have been ruined this morning. I'd have become the total opposite of myself.
What did I even do to her that she hates me so much as to want to ruin my hair and my appearance? From what I know, I've not offended her in anyway so what's her deal?
Well, mother never offended Harriet in any way either.
I was right when I told Skylar about Imogen right from the first dinner we had as a family. She's a real pain in the neck. There's no doubt, I might have a difficult time dealing with her.
I could feel resentment building up in my heart right now and my eyes darkening derisively as I watch her stare at me like she's seen a ghost.
For her sake, I just hope she doesn't make me hate her as much as I hate her mother.
I only plan on settling scores with Harriet and overlooking her kids_as we are still siblings afterall and it wasn't our fault what happened between our mothers, but I wouldn't mind adding her to the list if she dares to provoke me or belittle me as this again.
Imogen was still fumbling for words when Ashton's voice broke the tension building up in the living room.
"Scarlett, I see you're dressed for work. Quickly come have breakfast and then we'll head out together, if you won't mind of course." He said and I removed my gaze from Imogen and turned to him with a smile.
"That's not a bad idea, Ash." I climbed down the stairs and walked to him. "So what's for breakfast?" I asked.
"The maids prepared something delicious but I wasn't in the mood for it so I opted out oats." He said with a grin.
"Cool. I'll quickly fix myself something to eat then." I said before striding off to the kitchen. I haven't taken two steps further when I heard Harriet's words.
"Ashton!"
"Yes, Mother."
"Come with me, there's something we need to talk about." Hearing her voice made me lose my zeal to eat something.
That aside, I knew too well I shouldn't be eating anyhow in here too. I can't trust anyone in this place other than Dad, but sixty percent of the time, he's seldom home.
If things get awry, I might have to move to Dad's private villa but that wouldn't be soon as I need to be in the same space with Harriet in other to watch her up close.
Oh Gosh! How I miss my baby girl Skylar...