Lisa stumbled down the glass spiral staircase, rubbing her tired eyes. The sun was still low enough to come through the window, not yet late enough for the sun to be overhead. On her way to her uncle’s kitchen she ran into Valencia, already up and drinking a cup of coffee. Lisa moved passed her to Eric’s cabinets to find something to eat.

“Morning, love,” Valencia cooed. Lisa grumbled back with what could have been the same thing. “Rough night?” Again, Lisa grumbled back at her, pulling some cereal from the cabinets. Valencia kept her focus on her coffee and smiled the whole while Lisa shambled about the kitchen. When Lisa had finally gotten herself a bowl and sat down at the dining table, Valencia joined her, bringing along a second cup of coffee to give to Lisa. “So, how did it go?”

“I left it at their table, if that’s what you’re asking,” Lisa said, stuffing her face.

“So, why the long face?”

“What, this?” Lisa mocked. “It might be because she was there. Or because my ex was there. It’s one of the two, I’m sure of it.” Lisa continued to grumble while she ate.

“Ooh. And yet you still pulled it off? Bravo.” Valencia pushed the second cup towards Lisa. Almost instinctually, Lisa picked up the cup and sipped at it.

“You know. This whole thing started because Ivie said I was like my father.”

“You mean, David? What’s wrong with that?” Valencia asked, scooting her seat next to Lisa’s.

“I don’t want to be anything like him.” Lisa let her spoon fall back into her cereal.

“And yet, you’re taking his advice?” Lisa said nothing. “Manipulating your situation?” Valencia leaned in closer to Lisa’s ear. “Using it against him?” Valencia smiled.

“I’m not-“

“Oh, please,” Valencia interrupted. “After our chat in that Steerbucks, I’m sure that’s all you’ve been focused on.” Lisa’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sure you’re hoping to keep him under your thumb the way he does with you. So, when you think about it, you’re exactly like him.”

“That’s enough!” Lisa shouted, standing to her feet.

“Relax, darling. It’s a good thing,” Valencia laughed. “You’re wanting to stay one step ahead of him. For that reason, it’s good you’re taking his advice. He’s beginning to trust you. He’s getting comfortable. And that means, more pliable.”

“Isn’t he your boyfriend?” Lisa asked, cautiously.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let you do anything to hurt my Davey.”

“Right. Don’t kid yourself. You’ve already once told me you’re more interested in me.”

“You gonna narc on me?”

“Not so long as you have information,” Lisa said, sitting back down to continue to eat her breakfast.

“Spoken like a true disciple of David.” Valencia went back to her coffee with a smirk on her face.

As the morning trudged along and Eric and David both joined the waking world, Lisa stayed in her own world. She barely responded to anyone speaking to her, her body stayed curled up on Eric’s couch. It was a mistake leaving that envelope. A stupid, petty mistake.

“When is it,” David asked looking at Lisa. Her eyes were glazed over.

“I think it’s some time after the three-point contest?” Valencia assumed. “Do you have an outfit?” Her eyes were still glazed over.

“Will y’all leave the poor kid alone,” Eric chimed in. “She’s been through enough with you two pulling the strings. Give the girl some space!” Eric waved his arms, trying to shoo the other mice away from Lisa. “You alright, kiddo?” Lisa’s eyes remained glazed over.

“Lisa, hunny.” David pushed passed Eric and knelt down next to Lisa. “It’s rough the first time, I know. But it gets easier. Just remember why you’re doing this.” Lisa’s eyes cut to David, but then took notice of Valencia standing behind him.

“Yes, darling. Remember why you’re doing this.” Hearing Valencia say this, Lisa’s eyes cut back to David as he smiled at her. She nodded. “Alright! Everyone move,” Valencia shouted as she made her way past Eric and David. She grabbed Lisa’s hand and yanked her out of her seat. “We’re going on a date! Just us girls. We’ve got some catching up to do.” Lisa looked Valencia up and down, then to her father, and then back to Valencia before finally agreeing with her.

“Just… the two of you? She’s my baby girl,” David said. “I’d like to spend time with her...” The girls first looked at each other and then to David. Both of them had a smirk on their face. For a moment, the two could have been twins.

“Actually, dad. Some girl time is exactly what I need. Too much testosterone can be nauseating.”

“Don’t worry, dear. I’ll take good care of her.” Valencia gave David a large but soft smile, while Lisa cut David with hers.

“You two good with being alone,” David asked.

“Of course, Davey,” Valencia sang.

“Are YOU good with us being alone?” Lisa asked. David’s eyes narrowed as he took a step back. His head was held high, and his chest puffed out.

“Of course, I am,” he answered. “I’m pleased that my girls get to spend quality time together.”

The two ladies had spent their day shopping around in places that looked as though they couldn’t possibly sell anything. The perks of shopping with a former owner of a fashion line. Lisa picked out some new closed and the two had time to get a makeover. Lisa had spent so much time around men for the most part, she had forgotten the joys of doing the more stereotypically girly things. As the two enjoyed a nice seaside lunch at a private table off the beaten path, the two got to talking.

“It’s nice seeing you smile. I mean, with an actual smile,” Valencia told Lisa.

“Likewise,” Lisa said back, checking her phone. She had been pulling it out and checking it nonstop throughout the day. Valencia placed her hand on Lisa’s, gently forcing her to put her phone down on the table.

“It’ll happen when it happens,” Valencia whispered.

“Were did you find that info anyway?” Lisa asked. “Is it even accurate?”

“You’re doubting my detective work,” Valencia chuckled.

“I just don’t see how an ordinary person like you can gather private information like that. It could all just be an act. You could just be lying and trying to convince me that you’re some great sleuth who has all the information on everyone.”

“Lisa. You cut me. I thought that envelope was enough to prove to you that I’m very much capable of gathering precious information. That’s why I did this for you. Don’t tell me you still don’t trust me.” Lisa leaned forward, now with a more serious look on her face.

“You implied that David was not my father the last time we spoke,” Lisa said. No more games. Time to get to the meat of the matter.

“Did I say that?” Valencia sang.

“Stop screwing around. You told me you wanted $50 million from me for whatever information you claim to have to prove who my ‘real parents’ are. That implies both parents, does it not?” Valencia just smiled back. “And whenever he comes up in conversation, you always, always call him David. You never say, ‘your father,’ or ‘your dad.’ Is that on purpose?” Valencia was grinning. “And now, you’re helping me with this whole Ivie mess, and you just said how you got all this info on her to show me you were capable of getting precious information.” Valencia laughed. “So, what?! What is this precious info you have on me?!”

Valencia sat back in her seat and continued eating her lunch. She took a napkin and dabbed her lips a few times, all while Lisa sat and heaved, waiting for a response. “You know the price of that information.”

“I don’t fucking have $50 million! Besides! How can I trust you?! I have no proof that you even have information like that on me. For all I know, you can just be selling me information I already have! What proof is there you have information on me?!” Lisa heaved as she spoke, and Valencia cackled in return.

“Bravo! Bellissimo! I knew you and I would become the best of friends!”

“Cut the shit, Val!” Suddenly, Valencia leaned in with a devilish grin on her face. Her sudden change caused Lisa to flinch backwards.

“So, you want proof?” Valencia’s voice was dark and shook Lisa. Seemingly from nowhere, Valencia pulled up an envelope and placed it face down on the table. “Consider this a curtesy. Like window shopping, if you will.” Lisa looked Valencia up and down and then down at the envelope. “It was hidden away. I found it stuffed inside the back of your old sofa in New York.” Lisa slid the envelope closer to her and then finally picked it up. Her eyes moved slowly back and forth across the front of the envelope. It was a simple windowed envelope. It had Lisa’s name written in pen on it. It was old and tattered. And it was entirely recognizable to Lisa. Without a doubt, what Lisa had in her hands was the envelope that housed her birth certificate. It had been missing for years now and every time she went to order a new one, the request was denied. But here it was, right here in her hands at last. She frantically opened the envelope to take out her long-lost birth certificate. “You didn’t expect me to just hand you your birth certificate, did you?” Valencia asked.

“Where is it?!” Lisa’s voice roared as she slapped the table. “You have it!”

“Of course, I do. But do calm down. Like I said, I want us to be the best of friends. And now you know you can trust that I in fact have legitimate information that you so desperately want.”

“You better give me my birth certificate, or,” Lisa said through her teeth as she reached over the table and grabbed Valencia’s collar.

“Temper, temper, my dear. Threatening me won’t bring you any closer to what you want.” Lisa took a breath before finally loosening her grip and sitting back down in her seat. “And besides. If you want further proof of the value of my information gathering skills…” Valencia tapped at Lisa’s phone, encouraging her to open it. She pulled up Tweeter. And there it was. A tweet from FMZ.

“We got our insider sources saying that IvieLimestone got into her college team, and therefore started her FBA career due to her own family ties with Notre Dane's recruiter! More details to follow soon...” More importantly was Ivie’s response to the tweet. It told Lisa all she needed to know about the validity of the info Valencia presented.

“You see, love? You can trust me. I’m someone you want to keep close.” Lisa looked down at her phone and then back to the envelope. Valencia had information. Important information. Was Lisa really going to have to pay this woman $50 million for it? Would it be worth it? No. Not yet. There was still some things Lisa could do on her own with out Valencia pulling the strings. But what?