Freshening up takes longer then it normally takes with me in the shower, finishing up what I started and then getting prepared for the party that’s starting to get crowded at the back, in the middle of the yard.Mum had hugged me earlier and patted my back after telling my hair color looked so good, and that was even more warming than anything could be to me ever since Grandma’s words…By the time I’m done dressing up, finishing my makeup and getting dressed, the party is already in full swing.The only thing I wish for right now is my brother. If he were here, grandma would not have been able to say shit to me, and neither will I feel so hollowed out but due to the nature of his personal career, he can’t take up the role of a company’s CEO.“Raees…” I mutter to myself, a small smile on my face, “You can do this. You want to run a global corporation, you have to be crazy, selfish and sometimes even cruel to those who absolutely need it. You’ll do just fine darling.” I pat my own shoul
It takes quite a while but when I stand up from the chair, Reid’s attention snaps.He is shocked… the good kind of shock, the one that makes a man’s mouth hang open without realizing, only that his jaw didn’t hang open, his eyes just widened dramatically, wondering if I am the same woman he had come to the salon with just hours before.“How do I look?” I ask, twirling my hands through my hair.No response from him, he’s just unconsciously checking me out.“How do I look, Reid?” I ask, louder to snap him out of his reverie.“Uh… You look breathtaking.” He glances nervously down at his wristwatch, “We should leave now if we want to catch up with preparations before the party. I also have some engagement downtown so let me drop you off first.”Oh.“Sure.” I mutter with a fake smile, I hope he does not see it though.The drive down is what you might call semi-awkward. It’s not totally silent with regular interruptions but it’s mostly quiet at the same time. He does not say much, but keeps
“Don’t you dare.” He repeats, much softer now. “You don’t have the right to speak badly to this woman, okay? Isn’t your date waiting for you over there?”I am more taken aback by hearing Reid stand up for me so blatantly than anything else.“My date?” Daniel asks confusedly before snapping out of it, apparently shocked at Reid’s firm rebuttal of his words. “Oh, yeah, I should go back to meet her but we’re not done here.” He mentions, probably thinking it sounds like a threat.Reid sits back down just as the waiter arrives with a chilled bottle of wine and two glasses, filling the cups before leaving.“Sorry about that.” I apologize for the disruption.Reid raises one eyebrow. “Really? Tell me, what are you apologizing for?”I hesitate a bit. “For the disruption? If he hadn’t seen me, maybe he won’t have raised his voice at you.”“You don’t have to apologize for anything.” He cuts in and takes a sip of his wine. “Now my mood has been ruined by the scumbag.” He closes his eyes for not m
How is Reid Flanagan the same as ‘whatever’ Caddel?“You?” I mutter loudly, pointing without meaning to.He raises one eyebrow while Mum comes into the living room, her brows furrowed. “Do you know him?”“What?” I ask rhetorically, watching all three of them looking at me. “No, not physically or personally or anyway at all, I mistook him for someone else for a second.” I muster the best sincere smile I can pull and hold out my hands to my date, “Sorry to keep you waiting. Raees Graham, nice to meet you.”He smirks in his signature, slightly teasing way and takes my hand in a fierce handshake. “Reid, Reid Caddel. Lovely to meet you ma’am, you look very stunning.”I take the compliment as far as it could go, which is the pit of my stomach. “Well, shall we? If we stay any longer, my mum will keep you here for much longer.”He chuckles. “Sure.” He takes my hand and puts it across his elbow. “We’ll be off now. I promise to have her back before three pm.”Curfew or what?I roll my eyes with
To say what happened the next day was surprising is totally an understatement. Guess what I woke up to? A full house.My parents are running a party, and they invited the guests overnight.Me saying yes to being the one running the company, so my Dad can retire was taken so well that neither of my parents took it silently, before I knew it, my Dad was telling his siblings and family, so was Mum, at first, I learnt from Mum that they had just called to let them know that “…I was back home, you have no idea how much we all missed you so we just wanted to tell them you were back at home.”I raise my eyes at that, being woken early in the morning with my Mum holding a pretty large package, handed it to me and bullied her way into my room that still needs a little work but it’s doing pretty well.“So while on the call to Grandmother Pasha, we decided to make it a party, you know, have everyone down to meet you again, have them listen to your Dad resign.”I sigh in realization at that. “Ah,
After leaving behind everything that Daniel had ever gotten me, down to the tiniest piece of underwear he paid for, all I had left were my own personal belongings and my car.That had been a gift from my elder brother back then, back when I was not so obstinate about marrying Daniel, which has come down to be a total mistake now.Driving through the winding roads leading to the exquisite areas of this entire city, as I get closer and closer to my parent’s estate, my heart keep beating faster and faster, wondering if I am making a mistake here. I could just disappear on what I’ve saved up over the years and move to another country or something. Maybe reach out to my elder brother and let him know everything that has happened and he should let my parents know…As all of these thoughts cross my head, I get closer and closer until my car comes to a stop in front of the gigantic gates.I take in a very deep breath before pressing down on my horn, and within ten seconds, the automatic gates