[52]
Fania smiled slightly at the man who opened the door for her car. During her stay in Centralia, she could not move around freely and even her schedule was arranged by her mother. Age-wise, she was no longer a child who could easily get lost.
“It seems like you enjoyed your role during the event.”
The graceful girl wearing a knee-length skirt with a matching blazer, just pouted while making her seat comfortable. She didn’t care about the other passengers laughing at her. “What about you?”
“Me?” The interlocutor intensified his frivolous laughter. “I’m part of the show, right? In case you’ve forgotten, I own the broadcasting rights to their show.”
Fania rolled her eyes in disgust. “You should have taken your own car. Not riding in my car.” She folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes grew more cynical as she looked at the passenger who had casually sat beside her.
To which the passenger just chuckled lazily. Propping up his chin with a hand perched on the side of the car window.
Seeing the man’s reaction made Fania let out a long sigh. She did not want to be in this situation. “Why do we have to attend such a boring event?”This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .
“Ask your mom,” Andrew said. “I have so much work to do.”
“Isn’t it your fault for not coming to dinner that time? Were you busy in a meeting? I gave you the best excuse but you still-”
“Don’t forget that your meeting with your beloved is known to your mother,” Andrew interrupted with a look of displeasure. “If you had been more careful when you met, I don’t think there would have been any dinner. Mrs. Grace understands that I’m busy.”
Fania chuckled in distaste but couldn’t deny that Andrew’s words had some truth to them. “I didn’t expect your mother to watch until she couldn’t breathe.” Her shoulders drooped weakly.
“Never have a stupid encounter like that in a public place,” Andrew said sympathetically. “Why didn’t you ask for my help anyway?”
Fania grew more and more lethargic. “Sean asked me to meet him right away. I didn’t have time to make plans.”
Andrew chuckled. “We had a good dinner.”
“What kind of good do you want?” Fania massaged the bridge of her nose. “I actually have a lot of activities here, but if I’m being watched like that, I’d rather make a fake permit. I don’t like this kind of restraint.”
“Finish your business here first. You are a potential resource for Ford to develop plans for tourism in Centralia using Miss World contestants.”
“I know,” Fania interjected with a short sigh. “The idea is quite good and I wouldn’t mind a further interview. Besides, I’ve seen some people seem excited.”
Andrew agreed with what Fania had just said.
“But I didn’t expect that if one of the contestants, aggravated, I’d have to get in touch with her again.” Fania chuckled. “What a reckless girl.”
“You should see her as quite a classy model.”
“I was busy with exhibitions and paintings. There’s no time to pay attention to my surroundings let alone that girl.”
Andrew laughed. “I’m quite surprised you guys didn’t fight in the seminar room.”
Fania scowled. “You think I’m a five-year-old boy?” She straightened her seat. Slightly facing her interlocutor who seemed to be casually enjoying the ride. “But on top of that, I really had no idea who the girl was that captured your attention.”
A faint smirk involuntarily formed at the corner of Andrew’s lips.
“I’m with you, Andrew. Get the girl and break our silly bond. I also want to achieve the real love of my life.”
***
“Are you daydreaming, Harvey?” asked Giselle as she put some chocolate jam in her shopping cart. Once again, she checked the contents of the basket, which was mostly for household needs. The unit Harvey was going to move into was still empty.
As a good friend, Giselle helped Harvey with the shopping. After all, they had nothing else to do after the seminar at the Ministry of Culture. There were no activities that required their attention.
“No.” Harvey laughed widely. He shook his head hurriedly which immediately got Giselle’s attention.
“You said I’m not good at lying.” Giselle squinted suspiciously. “But actually, you’re the one who can’t shut out the restlessness in your heart. Right?”
Harvey sighed softly. “Let’s get this shopping over with. I’m tired.”
Giselle spluttered. “Tired from where?” She pushed her shopping cart. “I’ve been filling this trolley since before. You just said yes without choosing anything.”
Harvey chuckled as he scratched the back of his neck. “Sorry.”
“What on earth are you thinking about?” asked Giselle curiously. “Before the seminar, you were so excited. Even when you were talking to the speaker, who I thought was pretty cool, you were still focused. But now?”
“I just didn’t expect to be associated with them again.”
Giselle’s brow furrowed deeply. “They?”
“I’ll tell you later.” Harvey embraced Giselle a little tighter. Making his best friend unhappy and pushing her away. Giselle usually embraced much tighter than Harvey did, but Harvey was forbidden to protest.
So selfish, right?
Their shopping spree was over. Three large bags were already in the back trunk of Harvey’s car. Just as Justin had said earlier, no one picked Giselle up at the ministry building. Because they knew the two of them would be spending time together. Giselle didn’t mind being with Harvey at all, even though her head was still full of distractions from Justin’s probing questions that he had openly asked her.
“Thank you,” Harvey said cheerfully after the apartment attendant kindly helped carry their heavy luggage out. At least they didn’t have to exert much effort because of the shopping bags.
“Ah… I can’t wait to take these shoes off,” Giselle said as she took off her high shoes. “You haven’t bought a shoe rack here yet?”
Harvey chuckled. “You know, I only moved in three days ago. There’s no time to buy a lot of stuff because of the crazy SEO schedule.”
“You should get used to it soon.” Giselle laughed. “I’ll help you before I finish my work schedule. SEO has a tight schedule. If there’s no work, we have to practice and Justin has been used as a living statue several times.”
Harvey couldn’t get over Giselle’s choice of words. He handed a can of cold juice to Giselle to quench her thirst. Before long, the can only had a little of its contents left because it had moved.
“What do you think of Fania?” asked Giselle with a curious look. “For some time to come, you’ll be seeing a lot of her. Including seeing Kristen, anyway.”
Harvey sneered. “This Kristen is really annoying. If it weren’t for my obligations as Ford’s representative for tourism, I’d be too lazy to be in the same frame with Kristen.”
“You’re right.” Giselle sat casually on the sofa in the living room of Harvey’s unit. compared to hers, the unit her best friend lived in was not too big. The arrangement of the space and the color selection of the decor felt very Harvey. “Fortunately, I have a small portion of Christian contacts.”
“Lucky,” Harvey said with a sigh and an exasperated droop of the shoulders.
Giselle’s cell phone rang quite loudly. It made them both a bit surprised and the owner immediately took the phone out of the bag.
Andrew. K :
Finished the interview for Monochrome, can we talk? Just the two of us?
The message made Giselle blink softly. “Isn’t the interview for the Monochrome event in two weeks?”
“What’s going on?” asked Harvey in surprise.
“Andrew asked me to meet and talk. Did he forget it wasn’t the next day?”
“Why didn’t you reply?” asked Harvey, playing with his eyebrows. It rises and falls to tease Giselle, who is now scowling in disapproval.
“You see,” She showed me the message history between them. “I never text Andrew back unless it’s really important. And I don’t think the meeting he wants is important to my life. So why would I reply?”