Chapter 10: Frenemies.
It was truly unbelievable, Collin couldn't believe that it was happening again and he could see Phoebe's thoughts.
Since he had walked in, he hadn't taken his eyes off her, not just because she was one of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen after his mother but also because he wanted to confirm that he wasn't running crazy and he had seen something on her last night.
But why was this happening? Where they connected in some way? He didn't know her until recently. Unintentionally he gasped and spoke out his thoughts.
"Unbelievable!" His hand moved to cover his open mouth.
Others didn't understand what he found so unbelievable so his sister frowned and so did Phoebe.
While Phoebe who was praying that the two siblings disappear stared back at the man. She wondered innocently why he was gazing at her but then again she was used to men hawking at her since she made a few changes after her rebirth.
[Please don't pick interest in me Goldie, I already have enough chaos in my life besides am sure that you will run away the moment you find out that i see ghosts.]
A soft chuckle escaped through Collins lips on reading her thoughts. At least he had been elevated from pervert to just Goldie. He lifted his head and began studying the Cafe. It was the first time he was visiting the place since buying the building.
"This is a unique place, I love the set up. It's amazing that you are using your unique talents to help people spiritually." His eyes moved to study her surprised face.
He didn't believe in ghosts and shamans, psychics, or supernatural things but seeing her thoughts was sure to turn him into a believer.
Phoebe's eyebrows shot up at his reference to her unique talents.
Very few people appreciated her business in fact if anything they called her weird. Still, a tiny smile formed on her lips after all she was getting a compliment from a good looking man.
"Thank you." she replied flatly.
"Take me to school, I don't want to be late besides I think that I have watched enough of you flirting with this lady." Cassie began to walk away.
The teenage girl's words caused Phoebe and Rosset to raise their eyebrows as they couldn't believe how discourteous the girl was.
On seeing the two women's reaction Collins apologized and ran out after his sister, his attention kept going back and forth causing him to hit his head on the door.
"God darn it!" He cursed because he felt embarrassed for the most part.
Rosset couldn't help but laugh at the man who was clearly smitten by her boss.
"Well at least this admirer doesn't find your job scary." She continued to chuckle repeatedly.
"They all run away eventually wait till he finds out I talk to ghosts." Phoebe who was standing on a short ladder began to place the herbal tonic bottles in the shelves in an orderly manner.
Rosset who was leaning over the counter staring out of the window suddenly wore an unpleasant face. "What the hell is she doing here? It's been a while since she came here." She went ahead to roll her eyes.
Following her employee's cold gaze to the window, Phoebe coldly watched Ruth Mayfair walk towards the entrance of the Cafe.
Until recently, Phoebe had learned to control her emotions around the the malicious woman.
Initially being around Ruth was hard, all Phoebe wanted to do was to wrap her hands around her throat and strangle her.
She could remember vividly how Ruth had killed her twin sons, taken her husband, destroyed her reputation and forced her to her untimely death.
If it wasn't for the help of the Saxon spirit which had played a major role in training her to put a leash on her fury, Ruth would have been a dead woman.
There was a lot Phoebe needed to find out before destroying Ruth's life like why the woman hated her so much. There had to be a reason other than just wanting to become a Saxon.
The door bell rattle chimed and in walked the blond haired tall woman dressed to the nines. She loved to flaunt her wealth because she knew that Phoebe came from a poor family.
"That bitch again, its been a while since she showed her face here." The Saxon spirit sneered, it was well aware that Ruth was an evil human because it knew what the cunning woman had done to Phoebe in her past life.
"I have missed you my friend, how is this tiny place doing. You know if you like, my offer still stands. You can move this thing you call a business to one of my father's buildings in Magic city and you don't have to worry about the rent." Ruth gagged the Cafe, her condescending look had become normal to the two women.
For some reason unknown to Phoebe, Ruth was determined to get Phoebe out of Citrus city. First she had offered her a job overseas which Phoebe turned down, then came this offer of transferring her cafe to another city with so many privileges.
Knowing Ruth, she wasn't doing this because of the goodness of her heart. There had to be a reason behind it.
"I don't need your help with anything Ruth, Am not poor like you like to believe. In fact Evelyn our friend is back in town and am hosting her at my parents house. You know the house I recently bought for them. If you want to help someone, go feed the homeless." Phoebe spoke in a cold sharp tone which left Ruth shocked.
The blond woman could still not understand her friend's sudden change in attitude and character in the past one year.
Before then Phoebe was someone that always answered 'how high' when Ruth said jump but now her best friend answered her rudely and barely hung out with her. Even her way of dressing had changed.
Old Phoebe used to dress conservatively and frumpily, like an older woman. Make-up was practically a foreign concept to her. But now, she dressed beautifully, applied some make-up.
Ruth had always loved hanging out with Phoebe because she considered her to be inferior. With her, she didn't have to compete for men's attention because she believed that she was prettier and wealthier.
Besides that Ruth was convinced that she was a good friend after all once in a while she threw Phoebe pieces of meat now and then like a dog and she had always picked them up willingly but not anymore.
Letting out a pronounced sigh, Ruth wrinkled her nose and looked at Phoebe.
"Who is the wealthy man you are sleeping with because there is no way you are making all that money from just selling this old junk and useless tonics."
She made her voice light and coquettish, as if she was making a joke. To sell it further, she even chuckled as if this was an old way of teasing her friend.
Phoebe knew it was all pretend and she chose to ignore Ruth's demeaning question.
"Okay answer this, have you been around the Saxon tower of late? I need you to answer that quick." Came Ruth's demanding question but before Phoebe could say anything the door bell rattle chimed.