“So, that means you will stay now that you’ve been transferred here?” Mom eyed me, stirring the soup on the stove. Her voice radiated felicity.
Peeling another pea, I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m thinking of applying for another transfer. Maybe they will consider it?”
Staying here wasn’t an option for me, but leaving this job, well, I couldn’t take the risk. I’d dreamed of working at companies like this, and now that I finally got the chance, I couldn’t just throw it away. The one thing that didn’t make any sense was Coopers Fabrics was one of the most successful textile companies. What happened that they had to sell it overnight?
“I didn’t know you hate this city that much,” she said, her tone was fragile.
I sighed. “I don’t hate it here, Mom. It’s just, I told you, all my plans are made around New York. And I can’t just ignore them just like that.”
“Do you think I’m a fool?” Her brows rose. “Do you think I don’t know why you’re so keen to stay away from LA?”
I opened my mouth and then closed it.
She shook her head. “Just because of one person, you can’t punish your whole family, Em. You have to accept it sooner or later. You can’t keep running forever.”
Closing my eyes, I rubbed my neck. I didn’t deny anything she enunciated. We both knew the truth.
“Anyway, what’s the name of your new employer? I want to thank him personally for transferring you here. I already like this person.” Sensing my unease, she changed the topic.
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know. And honestly, I don’t have any wish to know.” Because of that person, I was here again, back to the city where the devil of my dreams resided.
Mumbling something incoherent under her breath, she took the peas from me and added them into the boiling soup.
“Smelling good. What’s for lunch today?” Tess strolled into the kitchen. Throwing her purse on the table, she took a seat beside me at the bar. “Glad that you’re back! I was really disappointed when I heard of your departure. I couldn’t even spend much time with you.”
I cast her an apologetic smile. “Something important came up. So,I had to go. And sorry about the dinner. I hope it went well.”
“Do you really think we’d have a family dinner without you?” At her question, my brows creased in confusion. “I canceled the dinner as soon as I heard you left. I want both my and Caleb’s family to be together at this dinner. And without you, my family remains incomplete.”
I stared at her. Her words touched something inside me. Where was that harsh and spoiled Tess I knew seven years ago? It was as if I was getting to know my sister in a whole new way.
“You could reschedule it again now that she’s here,” Mom suggested.
“No, Mom. Caleb’s uncle isn’t in the town right now. You know what Uncle Arthur means to Caleb and Achilles. After Achilles’s father’s death, he is the one who took care of them. So, with his absence, arranging a family dinner isn’t a good idea.”
“Arthur Valencian? He lived in England, right?” He was the only relative Ace and Caleb had left after their family crisis. But due to a conflict he had with Ace’s father, he didn’t live in the states. That’s all I knew about him. I didn’t know he returned to his homeland.
Tess bobbed her head. “Yes, but he returned after some years of his brother’s death. To look after his nephews. He is an amazing person.”
But what about his mom? Where was she when they needed someone to take care of them?
“Anyway, I have to do some shopping today. You know, for the engagement party. And I need my sister to help me with it. So go get ready, we’re leaving in ten minutes.”
Before I could object, Mom chimed in, “Excellent idea! She needs some shopping to get her mind off things. Take her along. She needs it.”
“But…”
“Em, won’t you help your sister with her engagement’s shopping? I need you there,” Tess said, blinking her blue eyes.
Shaking my head, I got up and went upstairs to get ready. Her squeal followed behind. Maybe Mom was right. Going out could help my mind off the transfer. And this way, my relationship with Tess could progress more. At least I had to try.
Gliding down the stairs, I found Tess closing the door, holding a huge teddy bear with an adorable bow around its neck. An involuntary grin stretched on my face. It was so beautiful and big that she was having difficulties holding it.
“Who brought it? Is it yours?” I asked, admiring the teddy.
“Well, my fiancé is too boring to send gifts like this! It’s for you,” she joked, rolling her eyes.
I frowned. “For me? But who’d send it for me?”
She shrugged. “There’s a note in there, check it out.”
Though I was confused, the excitement surpassed the confusion and curiosity as I grabbed the teddy from her. I took my time petting it, feeling its softness against my palm, and then I took out the note. Tess watched me with amusement.
I’ve always loved those fluffies. My room used to be filled with huge teddies. I couldn’t even sleep without some beside me. I was definitely going to keep it on my bed.
But when I opened the note, I was doubting it.
Welcome home, Rosebud. -A
Three words, and my excitement drained, and annoyance took place instead. How did he know I was back? Then my gaze landed on my sister, who was patiently waiting to know who sent this enormous gift.
Either her or my stupid brother.
“So?” she queried.
“There’s no name on it.” I swiftly put the note in my pocket. An A wasn’t a name. “If you want, you can have it.”
“Why? You don’t like it?”
I shrugged. My arms had a firm grip around it. And when she came forward to take it from me, my treacherous body stepped back, holding the teddy tight against my chest.
Her brows quirked, lips twitched at the side as she put her hands on her hips. “Well, it seems like your heart had a sudden change of mind.”
“I’ll be back in a minute.” My ears turned hot. Not knowing the reason behind my own reaction, vexed, I turned around and ran upstairs to put it in my room. But I was sane enough not to place it on my bed.
“What do you think about this one?” Tess asked, twirling in front of the mirror in the eleventh dress she’d tried this afternoon. And only two of them turned out lucky and got selected. Apparently, she was shopping for every function of her wedding except her wedding gown. That was for another day.
We even missed our lunch due to her infinite dress hunting.
“It’s beautiful! I think you should take this one for your rehearsal,” I replied from the couch, stretching my legs before me. My legs were killing me from standing on my feet for hours.
Only if I knew.
I just hoped she’d be satisfied with her shopping soon, or else I’d just leave her here and go home.
“You’re right! It fits in all the right places,” she gushed.
Thank God!
Once she got out of the changing room, she instructed the sales girl to add the dress to her list and dragged me along to another store.
And when I caught the direction of her gaze, my eyes widened. Victoria’s Secret. Though it wasn’t a big thing, I was always shy about buying my underwear. Most of the time, I ordered them online.
“Uh, Tess, why don’t you just go in and see what you want for yourself? I’ll just find some shoes for me.”
She gave me a look. “I know you’re just using excuses to not go in there. Jeez, Em! It’s not like you’re going to buy underwear and lingerie with a man in there. It’s just me. So, drop your shyness and come with me.”
I groaned as she dragged me into that store. God! I was now seriously repenting coming with her.
“So,Em? You didn’t tell me why you got transferred on the first day of your job?” she asked, running her hand on a silk lingerie. When a man in the same row glanced at me, I turned crimson with a small piece in my hands.
“The company got sold. And the new employer wished to transfer some newcomers to another city, and here I am.” Irritation filled my insides again. Curse whoever that person was.
“Oh? That’s really unusual, but I don’t complain. At least you came back to us.” She smiled. “What’s this company’s new name now?”
“OC Textiles,” I replied, remembering the name on the letter.
She stopped whatever she was doing, and her gaze snapped to me. Something flashed across her face.
“You see if you like anything. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Where are you going?”
She didn’t wait to answer and rushed out of the store. What’s wrong with her?
As I was searching for matching bras with the panties I took for myself, someone called out my name behind me.
“Emerald? Is that you?”
Turning around, I froze in my place.
The redhead. Matching her hair, she looked stunning in her body-hugging red dress and heels, her green irises twinkling.
Wait, how did she know my name?
Before I could pronounce my thoughts out loud, she pulled me into a tight hug.
“Damn! I finally got to meet you.” Pulling away, she shook her head. “I’ve heard so much about you. It became my prime wish to meet you personally. And I think my wish just got accepted. Thank God! He won’t let me see you.”
I frowned. “Uh, nice to meet you too?”
“Oh, so rude of me! I’m Leyla, Leyla Collins. Achilles’s friend.” She shook my hand.
“T-that’s great. But may I ask, how do you know me? I mean, I haven’t met you before, at least not personally.” My gaze fell on her ring finger. And indeed, there was a diamond ring that screamed married.
“Yeah, we haven’t. But I know everything about you. Achilles and Caleb talk so much about you that I almost feel like I’ve known you for years!” She snorted, rolling her eyes.
My heart skipped. He-he talks about me to her?
“Leyla? Hi!” Tess had a surprised look. “What are you doing here?”
“Hey!” She kissed her cheeks. “Well, why do people come here?”
Tess rolled her eyes, smiling. “I see that you already met Emerald? Em, she is—”
“Oh, she knows. I just introduced myself to her,” Leyla said, cutting Tess off. Then she looked at me from head to toe. “I must admit, she’s way more beautiful than A—”
A nudge at her ribs from Tess halted her mid-sentence. She looked at my sister with confusion, and then her green eyes widened.
“Uh, I meant you’re more beautiful in person than I heard about you from all of them.” Casting a look at Tess, she cleared her throat. “I gotta go now. I’m getting late for a meeting. It was so nice meeting you, Em! I will see you soon.”
“Likewise,” I said, politely.
Once she was out of sight, only then Tess relaxed a bit. When I asked her why Leyla looked so out of place before her exit, she just shrugged and told me she had an urgent meeting to catch.
“Where did you go, anyway?”
She averted her gaze. “To make a phone call. Now, if your interrogation is over, can we continue our shopping? I’ve still got a lot of things to buy.”
Letting out another groan, I strolled behind her as we left the shop and went to look for some jewelry. Though their odd interaction still bothered me. What was Leyla going to say before Tess stopped her?
