Klein nodded thoughtfully. “I’m free at noon. It really depends on Ms. Moore’s and your schedules, Mr. Walton.”
Ivan responded without hesitation, “I’m available, but Ms. Moore has a court hearing at two-thirty.”
Calvin’s expression shifted to one of genuine disappointment. “I see. Then, Mr. Walton, please join us for lunch.”
Klein casually glanced down at his phone, a hint of distraction in his demeanor. “Actually, I just remembered I have something to take care of at noon. Calvin, please take good care of Mr. Walton for me. I’ll head over first.”
Calvin froze momentarily, realization dawning on him. ‘I knew it. I was absolutely right about them,’ he thought, his mind racing.
He fixed Whitney with a long, meaningful look, carefully committing her face and name to memory.
Ivan, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, sighed, clearly disappointed. “Whitney, go ahead. You’ve got things to do.”
Whitney smiled politely, grateful for the understanding. “Thank you, I’ll see you later.”
As soon as she stepped out of the Harris Group building, a long breath escaped her lips.
She had survived the encounter.
Just then, her phone rang again. For a fleeting moment, anxiety gripped her, but when she glanced at the caller ID, joy washed over her, replacing the tension.
“Whit, my flight lands at seven tonight. Baby, will you come pick me up?” a familiar voice chimed.
Whitney’s eyes lit up with a smile. “Really, Lena? You’ve finally decided to come back?”
“Of course! My baby, aren’t you getting married at the end of this month? Oh, and why haven’t you shown me the marriage certificate with Carter yet?”
Lena, the second young lady of the Harris family, was a whirlwind of energy. Unlike Emily, Lena was the genuine, born-and-bred Harris heiress.
Though her father had passed away early, she remained the most cherished granddaughter of the family patriarch.
Three months ago, after her breakup, Lena had declared she was going to heal her shattered heart by traveling the world.
Despite keeping in touch during those months, Whitney had never mentioned her decision to call off her engagement with Carter.
“Whit, why are you so quiet? Has the bond between us faded? I’m heartbroken,” Lena said dramatically, her concern evident.
Whitney couldn’t help but laugh. “You? Faded? Lena, you’re my best friend. I could grow distant from anyone in this world, just not you. And I’m not getting married anymore. Carter and I broke up.”
“What?” Lena’s voice shot up an octave. “Are you okay? Did Carter break it off? He better not have.”
Her shock was understandable; Lena had witnessed Whitney pour her entire heart into Carter.
Frankly, Lena had never quite understood what made Carter so special.
Caught between supporting her brother and her best friend, Lena had always chosen Whitney’s side.
She had thought, ‘Well, if Whitney loves him, then after she marries in, we’ll have fun together in the Harris home.’
And she certainly wouldn’t let her friend suffer there.
‘But now, just three months away, and everything has changed?’ she wondered, her mind racing.
Whitney’s smile faded slightly. “No, I ended things. I’m just tired. I don’t want to keep chasing after him anymore.”
“But,” Lena hesitated, her voice softening. “But you two were about to get married.”
“Yes, but isn’t it better to regret before a wedding than after?” Whitney replied calmly, her resolve firm.
“Whit, breakup it is then. There are billions of men in the world. Toss him out. Wait for me to get back. Tonight, I’m taking you out to see the world,” Lena declared, her excitement infectious.
Whitney laughed it off, feeling lighter. “Alright. I’ll pick you up later tonight. Gotta run to a court hearing this afternoon.”
She quickly grabbed a snack from a convenience store before heading back to the firm.
Frank rushed over, practically bouncing with energy. “Well? How did it go?”
Whitney held up an OK sign, a satisfied grin on her face. “Sealed.”
Ivan’s team erupted with joy, their spirits soaring.
On the other hand, Hector’s side looked like a brewing thunderstorm, tension crackling in the air.
“Keep a low profile,” Whitney reminded them, her voice steady. “We’ll talk when the Boss gets back.”
Frank and Valerie weren’t the type to brag unless provoked, and they understood the importance of discretion.
At one o’clock, Whitney gathered her case files and headed to court.
By the time the hearing concluded, the clock read four.
She glanced at Samuel’s incoming call and swiftly rejected it, her resolve unwavering.
A message pinged in right after:
Samuel: [Wedding is in a few days. Don’t forget your gown fitting tomorrow.]
Whitney stared at the message, amusement bubbling up. ‘How many times do I have to explain before they finally accept that I really broke up with Carter?’ she wondered, shaking her head.
At the airport, Lena strutted out in a strappy top and hot shorts, only to shiver as the icy wind hit her unexpectedly.
Her eyes quickly landed on Whitney, who was waiting in the arrivals area.
With a squeal of delight, Lena dashed over and enveloped her in a warm embrace. “Whit, I missed you so much!”
Whitney patted her bare, freezing back, a mix of affection and concern. “Alright, I know you did. Did you just get back from abroad? It’s grade-five wind tonight; unless you want pneumonia, put this on.”
Lena cackled, snatching the coat from Whitney and planting a loud kiss on her cheek. “My baby. Nobody cares about me as you do.”
Whitney wiped her cheek dramatically, feigning disgust. “Alright, enough. Hungry? I brought the car. We can grab dinner.”
Lena slipped into the coat, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Dinner? No. We’re going somewhere better. I promised I’d show you the world, starting tonight.”
*****
Ten minutes later, Whitney found herself sitting in a deafening bar, the music thumping through the floor like a heartbeat.
Lena pointed proudly toward a lineup of ridiculously good-looking male models. “Well? Baby? Do you like them?”
Whitney just stared, her mind racing.
She had always been the good girl, her heart revolving entirely around Carter as she grew up.
But sitting here in what felt like a real-life bachelor show, picking out eye candy was a first for her.
“Lena, is this even appropriate?” Whitney murmured, a hint of hesitation in her voice.
Lena waved her hand dismissively. “Not into abs? Fine. What about that twenty-year-old on the far right?”
Whitney paused, her uncertainty flickering. Then she nodded. “Alright, let’s go with him.”
*****
Meanwhile, upstairs in a private room, Klein lounged on the sofa, absentmindedly swirling a glass of whiskey. His gaze drifted through the floor-to-ceiling window, fixating on the dance floor below.
“Whoa, Klein, since when do you look this preoccupied?” someone snorted, breaking the silence.
Klein replied lazily, “Says the man whose brain never stops spinning. Mr. Reed.”
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.