Much to my surprise, he didn’t. “Karl and Rose sent me a message.” He spoke up, breaking the ice. “Said you handled the ceremony yesterday well in my place.” He was originally meant to be there, but instead of sending Alexander like he usually does, he asked me to go instead.
I released a sigh of relief. “I’m glad then.” I was hoping I wouldn’t screw it up, since I didn’t want to let him down. I have no idea why he asked me to go, but I’m glad I did.
He nodded slowly, then continued. “And while we’re on that, I’ve come to a decision.” He reached out to take off his spectacles, folding it and placing it aside. “Our business in America isn’t doing that well, and I’ve invested a lot in it. So, I want you to handle it.”
My lips parted. “What…”
***
Two Years Later.
Isabella Montague.
“Well, you’ve done it.” Amy stated, barging into my office with a folder in her hand, and a phone in the other. I didn’t look up from the file I was reading, but I saw from the corner of my eyes as she reached my desk, and then placed a tablet there, pushing it forward to my eye level. “Made it to the cover of Forbes 30 under 30 for Art & Style. Congratulations Miss Montague.”
My eyes flicked to the image of me, surely under the webpage of Forbes, before I slanted it back to the current folder I’m dealing with. I didn’t say a thing to her, not because I’m upset or anything but I simply don’t have a thing to say. Not when my mind is occupied with my current task.
I heard Any release a deep sigh, and even without looking at her face, I know she’s giving me her infamous blank looks. “Really?” Yup, that’s pretty much the tone that accompanies that look. “I just said you made it to Forbes 30 under 30 this year, and you’re not reacting at all?”
I sighed, then dropped my pen aside and then lifted my gaze to meet hers. I forced a wide smile to my face, and threw my hands up. “Yay!!” I feigned an excited look, which disappeared immediately, my earlier frown returning. “Happy?”
She tutted, shaking her head. “I don’t know when you became like this.” She waved her hand, referring to me as a whole. “A workaholic through and through-even more than I am.” She couldn’t get to add a thing more though, because there was a knock that came. She gave them the go-ahead, and then the door was pushed open.
One of the employees peeped in, her lips slanted into a warm smile. “Miss Montague, you have a delivery.” She closed the door behind her, with a bouquet of roses in her hand. Closing the distance between us, she placed the bouquet on the table. “This came in for you.” She said.
I offered her a small, genuine smile. “Thank you.” I dismissed her, and she went out without a word more. I extended my hand out to pick the card situated between the roses. There was a single line of information written on it.
-Congratulations on making it to Forbes, Miss Montague.
It doesn’t have the sender’s address, nor name-not even an initial. Nothing to show who could possibly be behind it. I flicked it between my index finger and middle finger, staring at the words inscribed there-in a typed format. My brows drew in.
“You seem to have a suitor there.” Amy teased, a light amusement lacing her tone. “You’ve been getting roses more frequently now.”
I kissed my teeth, dropping the card back into the bouquet and then pushed it towards her. “You can have it if you want.” I stated, my tone lacking any interest, my gaze slanting back to the file I can no longer focus on thanks to the sudden diverge of attention elsewhere. No matter how hard I stare and try to zone my attention back on it though, I know I wouldn’t be able to do so until Amy goes out.
She sighed, tutting. “You’re even more hopeless than I was.” She stated. Somehow, in the past two years, I think we indeed switched personalities. She then continued, choosing to not comment on my attitude like she usually does at least fifty times a day. “The Art Exhibition is today, should I still RSVP you being there?”
I nodded, without so much as a second thought. “Please do.” It isn’t something I’d rain check on, since there’s something I want to get there. Drumming my finger on the table, I lifted my head to rest my gaze on her. “When is it starting?”
Amy stared at her wristwatch, before meeting my gaze again while she dropped her hand by her side. “An hour and a half.” She replied. “We should head out now if you want to make it on time. It’s a bit of a drive.”
I hummed, closing the folder in front of me. “You don’t have to come with me.”
“Are you sure?” She asked, a brow arched slightly. “You know whose exhibition it is. Are you sure you don’t want me to come along in case something goes on.”
I pushed my chair back, getting on my feet. “I’m sure.” I met her gaze with mine, offering her a small reassuring smile. “Besides, what’s the possibility of what’s on your mind happening?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.