Mirage

CHAPTER THREE

The lounge looked like a group of ants disrupted from a scavenging session when the contestants dispersed. Each participant was allotted a guide to their suite. It was ridiculous, and almost amusing to think some of them would end up in the same rooms after all this mystery.
Gemini tried to smother a yawn as she trailed behind her guide. A pesty lady who kept asking her,
"Are you sure those heels are comfortable?"

She fought against the urge to roll her eyes as the lady regaled her with anecdotes of high heels and twisted ankles. They stepped out of the elevators into a waiting room with a double door at the right corner. A shiny metal plate was screwed to the door. Gemini moved close to read the fine print on the plate.
"Team 4. Grant Fenoma, Gemini Kanobe and Mina Byra."

' who the hell are those two?'

The guide's voice broke through her thoughtful daze.
"This is your suite, Ms Kanobe. I hope it's to your taste. At least for one night."

Her conspirational wink made Gemini cringe.
"Your teammates would be along shortly."
"I appreciate your help, ma'am. Don't worry about getting the door, I'll figure it out. Good night."

Gemini took the key card from the lady and waited for her to disappear around the corner and into the elevators before inserting it in the door nob. The door clicked open as the light on the handle turned green. The view of the suite was straight out of a high end magazine.

It was a large room with three beds arranged in a triangle. Two king sized beds on the sides and one beside the floor to ceiling glass walls that provided a stunning view of the city, skyscrapers and lights. It looked magical.
Gemini made a beeline for the bed by the glass wall. She placed her carry on at the foot of the bed before diving on the mini heaven of comfy looking sheets, fluffed pillows and numero uno, on her list of loves. It was blissful for a few seconds, till the door opened. Her teammates had arrived.

Gemini recognized the redhead from the lounge but the cute guy beside her was unfamiliar.
'Do not even think about it, Gemi. Win the cash and get away clean.'

"Hello there, you must be Gemini Kanobe. It's great to have you as a team mate. I am Mina Byra and this is Grant..."
" Chill professor, I can introduce myself. My name is Grant Fenoma."
He posed like a underpaid model on a trashy magazine with a cocky smirk.

"Yes, that Fenoma."
Gemini bursted into a twenty second interlude of laughter. His attempts at flirting were pathetic. They all shook hands and settled into an awkward silence.
Mina placed her luggage down beside a bed of her choice before addressing her team.

"So, do we take turns to talk about ourselves or perhaps..."

Gemini heard enough.
"Look, it's just a one day competition. I'm a good designer and I believe you are both proficient at sewing. Right?"
They nodded.
"Then I am going to be brief. There's no need to stress ourselves with unnecessary pleasantries. Just rest up for tomorrow. We will use whatever challenge is thrown our way to make home run."

She was surprised by the applause that followed her speech.
"You know something, Kanobe. If this competition doesn't work out, you could take up a job as a motivational speaker."

' You're an idiot, Grant...'
Gemini dragged the duvet over her head in reply as the sounds of movement gradually thinned out into a snore.

She couldn't sleep. Grant snored loud enough to wake the dead. She was half tempted to smother him. She picked up her phone. The screen lit showing three hours past midnight. Gemini thought about her job at the bank. Her salary was moderate. She was supposed to return to work today after her two day leave, but this competition was more important. Gemini was sure she would win. She smiled. She could feel the money in her grasp.

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Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Have a love(filled) day😘)