The vehicle stopped outside of a fancy-looking restaurant. Orleanna’s.

The teenagers climbed out and stood in front of the building.

Emily’s eyes widened. “Oh God,” she said. “How are we going to get in here?”

Ophelia sighed. “You really are underestimating me, aren’t you? Remember, Charise is my cousin. Her family is my family.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Tiffani asked.


Ophelia rolled her eyes. “You’ll find out soon enough,” she responded. “Now, everyone, I want you to act like you belong here. I know you don’t but… well, pretend.”

“Yes, but how are we going to get in?” Tiffani whined.

Ophelia resisted the urge to backhand Tiffani. “As I said, you are really underestimating me. I have connections that most of you are too unobservant to know about.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” AJ asked.

Ophelia replied, with a mysterious smile, “All will be revealed. Come on, guys. We’ve got someone to spy on. I saw S’s car, so Charise is in there. It’s 11:30, so we have plenty of time to get some good seats. And please,” she added, taking a deep breath, “please do not make a scene when you see Charise’s mom.”

“Why would we make a scene?” Emily asked. “It’s not like her mom is Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, right?”

“Might as well be,” Ophelia remarked.



Ophelia walked up to the host. He eyed her disdainfully.

“Are you lost… miss?” he asked, spitting the last word out.

“Far from it,” Ophelia responded.

“Yeah, sure, kid,” the host replied. “Come back here when you’ve got money or connections.”

“Well,” Ophelia replied, “if it’s connections you want…”


She leaned in close and whispered to him. He jumped back, eyes wide. “You’re his niece?” the host asked.

“Yep. His twin sister is my mom. Don’t you see the resemblance?” Ophelia asked nonchalantly.

“So you’re Marlow’s niece?” the host asked, eyes wide.

“Yep. His only niece. Charise is my older cousin. I think she came in here a few minutes ago with a rather attractive young man. Am I right?”

The host nodded. Ophelia leaned closer. “Tell you what… uh…”

“Roger,” the host said.


“Tell you what, Roger, you let me and my friends in here, and I’ll see to it that my uncle comes here often and patronizes this fine establishment… if you’ll show us to a table near where my cousin is seated. Preferably where we can see her, but she cannot see us. Can you do that for us, Roger? Think about it-- lots of money coming in, good tips…”

Roger nodded. “This way, miss. Will you and your charming company follow me, please?”

He led them to a table that had good coverage by many fancy potted plants. “Is this table to your liking, madam?” he asked Ophelia.

“Wonderful,” she replied with a charming smile.

“Will you require anything else, Miss Foley?”

“Nothing for now, sir. When we need anything, I will be sure to let you know.”

Roger nodded and hurried back to his booth.


Emily, Tiffani, and AJ stared at Ophelia for a few seconds. Ophelia smiled back smugly.

“So, just who is your uncle?” Tiffani asked.

“Preston Marlow,” Ophelia replied. “Give it a few seconds. And when you figure it out, don’t scream it out.”

The group was silent for a few seconds. Emily’s eyes widened. “You don’t mean the Preston Marlow, do you?” she asked softly.

“Who?” Tiffani and AJ asked.

“Don’t you know anything about music? He’s the founder and head of Elemental Records, one of the biggest record labels in our part of the US. Also, he’s a former member of a rock band… I think it was called All That Glitters,” Emily responded. She looked over at Ophelia. “Am I right?”

Ophelia nodded.

“My God…” AJ muttered.

“Then maybe her mom is Paris Hilton,” Tiffani remarked.

“Not quite, but she is a close friend of Paris,” Ophelia responded.

“Nicky?” Tiffani guessed. Ophelia rolled her eyes.

Emily peeked through the artificial foliage. “Look,” she said softly. “There’s Charise and S.”


Indeed, they were nearby, nicely dressed and sipping from fancy glasses.

“It’s around noon,” Emily muttered. “Maybe she’s running late?”

“Nope,” Ophelia replied, and nodded in the direction of a woman being led over to the table.


The woman wore a gaudy purple outfit that did not suit the restaurant, and she wore heavy makeup. She looked as though she’d spent a great many years partying, drinking, and doing drugs, and it had caught up with her.

Emily’s eyes widened. “It can’t be!”

“Who?” AJ and Tiffani asked, eying the woman.

Tiffani’s eyes widened in recognition after a few seconds. “No way,” she muttered.

“It’s… it’s…” Emily was speechless. She looked to Ophelia, hoping Ophelia would finish the sentence.

Ophelia sighed. “It’s Charise’s mother-- Julianna Delorice.”

“Ex-member of All That Glitters and major party animal,” Emily added.

The group, as if in one body, leaned forward, hoping not to miss a single word of the conversation between Charise and her mother. It would be a conversation that none of them would ever forget.