Beautiful Liar Read Online Free PDF Page B

sorors if there were any announcements or closing remarks.
                  Always looking painfully nervous whenever the chapter gave her their undivided attention, she fumbled with her fingers and swayed in her pleated brown dress before Gabrielle handed the mic to her. She looked at me, then shrugged her shoulders and flashed a slanted smile. I knew exactly what that exchange meant, my heart pounded with anxiety. Yet, I smiled sweetly with bright eyes, disguising the ranting that took place in my head. She better not. If she mentions my situation, I’m gonna hurt her! If she wants to live to see tomorrow, she better not dare mention me. Don’t do it!  Do not do it!
                  Marley cleared her throat, “Actually… Nola, may kill me for bringing this to your attention…” You’re already dead !
                  Despite my icy glare and forced smile, she continued, “…but I couldn’t bear to hold it to myself. She’s an amazing woman to us. When a soror faces hardships, I don’t care if they say they have it under control, it’s our duty as a sisterhood to uplift one another. We must be a blessing to each other whether it’s through encouraging prayer or words, or through gifts of monetary value. It’s our duty to be there.”
                  Some of our sorors were nodding in agreement, while some where sliding me facial expressions of confusion and concern. I sat stone still with the same phony smile, cringing on the inside as I prepared to redeem myself from looking like the charity case that Marley was about to make me into.
                  She continued, “With that being said, I sadly announce that Nola’s condo caught fire last month. Although she was able to recover all of her belongings, she and her fiancé have no choice but to live in a hotel until they get something permanent.”
                  Our sorors gasped, and I burned with aggravation. The ones at my table patted my hands and shoulders with empathy. Marley looked choked up with emotion as she gestured towards me.
                  “She plays such a pivotal role within our chapter. She was so gracious enough to fund our retreat while she’s getting married next year. The least we could do is lift our soror up in prayer and bless her with an abundance of donations.”
                  By this time, sorors began to stand and gather around my chair. The pity party had officially begun, and I wasn’t at all about to be the celebrated host. So I rose, walked towards Marley, snatched the mic with a smile of course, and shut it all down.
                  “Sorors, please. The absolute worst thing you could do is send me donations.” It took me eight years to build my notable reputation within the chapter. I wasn’t about to have that transformed into “the soror in need,” especially for something that didn’t happen anyway. 
    I continued, “Yes it’s been a crazy month for me, but believe me, it’s all taken care of and under control.”
    I patted Marley’s shoulder. “Marley, sweetie, you can sit down now.”
                  President Gabrielle, who completely disregarded my pitch, stood and took the floor.               “Sorors, Marley has made a great point. Let’s all organize donations and care packages for Soror Nola and her fiancé.” She turned to me, “Could you let the chapter know in which hotel you’re currently residing?”
                  My mind scrambled. Part of me wanted to tell the truth and reveal that I’m pretty close to being broke, I had no job, and that I was living with my parents. A bigger part of me wanted to cover it all up. They didn’t need to know the truth. The truth distorts perception.
                  I exhaled, “I’m actually staying at my parents’ house in Delaware in the northern section of