Chapter Twenty-Two

“Runes is cheating on Posy?!” Daisy gasped, her voice louder than she had intended.

Thea covers Daisy's mouth in panic, her eyes scanning the cafe. Luckily, no-one seemed to have heard her or paid any form of attention.

Thea sighed, sinking back into her seat, thank goodness! It would be no fun if Posy finds out about this before her wedding.

Daisy swallowed, her eyes still fixed on Thea in shock. “I'm so sorry. I was….are you sure?” She asked, her voice dropping into a whisper this time.

Thea nodded, sipping her coffee, a smile playing on her lips. Daisy covers her mouth again. “I can't believe this. The Runes Sterling? How did you find out?”

Thea took another glance around the cafe, she wanted to make sure Daisy would be able to handle the next shock. She shakes her head. “Maybe later.”

Daisy's eyes widened. "Spill! I'm ready! I can take anything."

Thea leans closer, dropping her voice in a low whisper.

"I went to Zean school of business today. I wanted to submit my application." Thea began, not waiting for an answer. "When I was done at the dean's office, I stopped by the restroom.”

She paused for dramatic effect, letting Daisy lean in closer. "And guess who I overheard in there?"

Daisy thought hard, whispering, "Not... Posy?"

"Close!" Thea grinned. "It was Yumi, one of Yolanda's friends. I'm sure you remember her. She's always hanging around her.”

Daisy is quiet, her eyes zoning off as she tries to recall this Yumi girl. “Yumi…” she muttered, still raking her brain.

“Yumi from the Sung family!”

Daisy gasped. “ Waist length black hair with fringe, Yumi?”

Thea nodded and Daisy gasped once more, fanning her face with her hands. Her eyes were wide in surprise but a smile didn't escape her lips. “This is too much..”

Yumi's family owned ninety five percent of the gas stations in the country! And she was said to be betrothed to some dude from the middle east.

Thea rolled her eyes sarcastically, her smile contagious. “She was on a video call... with Rune Sterling."

Daisy's eyes grew round. "No way! What were they talking about?"

"Oh, they weren't just talking," Thea said, dropping her voice. "They were…flirting. Heavily. He was basically making out with her over the phone, and saying how much he wished she was there. I think they have a meeting spot too!"

Daisy gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. "You're kidding me! Rune is cheating on Posy? With Yumi?" She pulled her hand away, her face a mix of shock and disbelief. “I don't like that bastard and you know it but Runes and cheating in the same sentence sounds illegal!”

Thea chuckled, taking a sip of her coffee once more. Daisy cafe had the best coffee in the city if she was being honest. If only she could get her friend to agree to open her doors to more…exclusive clientele.

"But he made such a big deal about you and the scandal! He acted like the most honorable man in Zean! Woah, I just want to stick a hot steamy slap on that arrogant bastard's stupid face! "

Thea almost choked on her coffee, laughing at how irritated Daisy was.

“Daisy, you're killing me!” Thea chuckled.

"I can't believe you're so unbothered by this. Not like you should give a damn who he fucks but everyone is calling you a cheat for what happened when that bastard is no different!”

Thea sighed. “I know but the irony? It's delicious but your pastries are way better.” Thea joked but Daisy was still worked up.

“It's absolutely insane!" Daisy agreed, shaking her head. "That hypocrite! And Posy, that poor fool, probably has no idea."

"Oh, she has no idea," Thea confirmed, leaning back with a knowing look. "If she did, she would be quick to wave the victim card so everyone can sympathise with her."

Daisy suddenly burst out laughing. "That's great if you ask me! She stole him from you, framed and humiliated you just so she could marry Runes and look at her now! She deserves it."

Thea nodded. "My thoughts exactly. Which brings me to the next part of my story." She pulled out her phone. "So, after I heard all of that, I sent Posy a text."

Daisy leaned in again, eyes wide. "What did you say?"

Thea showed her the message she had sent to Posy on her phone.

Daisy read it, her eyes scanning the words, and then she burst into even louder laughter, attracting a few curious glances from the customers in the cafe.

"No! You did not! A maid of honor?!”

Thea stared at her with forged innocence. “What? I genuinely want to thank my sister for stealing everything I had. It's a small gesture. I need to witness this wedding with my own two eyes.

Daisy joins her with forged innocence as well. “You're right! She's been such a lovely sister, it's only fair that she walks down the aisle with the man of her dreams. Can I get an invite please? I really need to witness this lovely union.”

“Why not? I'll text my sister right away and you'll have an invite in a few days!”

Thea and Daisy burst into another round of laughter, neither of them able to control themselves anymore.

Just then, Thea's phone chimed. It was a reply from Posy.

"Speak of the devil!" Daisy whispered, suddenly serious. "What did she say?"

Thea opened the message and read it aloud, trying to keep a straight face, but a smile kept threatening to break through.

Message: Thea?! You actually want to be my maid of honor? I... I don't know what to say. I'm glad we can put all that behind us. I'll send you an invite soon. Thanks for honouring mum and dad's wishes.

Daisy completely lost it, shaking with silent laughter, tears streaming down her face. "She's actually considering it! Oh my gosh, this is priceless! She's so desperate for social approval, she'd even take her sworn enemy as a maid of honor if it makes her look good!"

"Exactly," Thea chuckled. "She's probably already picturing how 'forgiving' she'll look, having me by her side."

Daisy wiped her eyes. "This is truly wild. So, what are you going to do? Are you actually going to be her maid of honor and watch Rune cheat on her from the front row?"

Thea smirked. “Yes I will. She deserved it, after what she put me through? This is nothing compared to that.”

“Fuck it! You're right! May their matrimony be blessed. Or should I say, their matrimony with a ‘s’ ?”

Thea cackled.

“I was planning to get even with them, prove my innocence but as fate would have it, this happened.”

"So," Daisy asked, “What's the plan?”

Thea's face became serious, a new light in her amber eyes. " Do you remember this idea I've always had for a fashion tech company?"

Daisy nodded eagerly. "The one where you connect small, local designers with global buyers using a special app? Yeah! Your dad totally shot it down, said it was 'too risky' and 'not for a Balmero woman'."

“Well, I've been working on it in secret for years now and it's looking promising.”

“You have? Why didn't you…”

“I know. But I wasn't sure it would work but so far so good, it's going pretty great honestly. I'm ready to put my all into this. After Posy took everything from me, including my shares at the company, I couldn't fund it anymore but now that I’m with Seth, I can do that. Plus, business and technology classes will help me understand what I'm getting into. It's a huge dream, I know, but now... I feel like I actually have a chance."

Daisy's face softened, her eyes shining with pride. "Thea, that's amazing! I always thought that idea was brilliant. I am so proud of you and I'm always here if you need me. You know that.”

Thea hugs Daisy tight. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“Well, you were in a field crying about how terrible your life was and you ended up consoling some random girl, me, who was also crying about her life...”

Thea leans away from her with a fond smile. How could she forget how she met Daisy?

“Hey. You can do this. You're Thea Balmero! The golden child! Every business venture you go into turns into gold! You can do this!”

Thea nodded, feeling a surge of confidence. "No more being a pawn in other people's games. I'll put in the work and make this work."

“Now that's what I'm talking about! It's the Blackwood super power!” Daisy teased.

Thea rolled her eyes. “Sure. Whatever you say.”

“Now, I want to know everything that's going on with my favourite brother in law! Tell me you're sharing the same room. Tell me everything girl! I want to know!!.”

Thea arched her brows. “Married or not, he is still the man that ruined my life technically speaking. I am not going to forget that in a hurry.”

“Come on! Give him a chance!” Daisy teased.

Thea chuckled. “Whose side are you on?”

“Yours?” Daisy muttered.

“Oh, I know a lie when I hear one! You're on his side? Unbelievable.”

Daisy laughs, nudging Thea playfully. “You should. You never know.” she shrugs, leaving Thea to her own thoughts.