Chapter 22 Chapter Twenty two
An hour after Richie left, I was also packing up to leave.
My phone shrilled on the desk again. “Where are you at, girl?”
“I’m on my way, ma’am. I’ll soon get there. Come on, hurry.”
I arched a brow, a smile on my l*ps. Since she called me to come over to the vil- la we both shared an hour ago, she had been endlessly calling over and over
again to remind me to come over after work straight away. She seemed excited.
Even now, her voice was practically quivering with excitement.
“You still won’t tell me why, huh?”
I trapped my phone between my shoulders and n*eck as I locked my drawers.
“No,” I could hear the smile in her voice.
I hummed. “Come on, Grace. Just gimme a hint. I’m dying of suspense here.” I
picked up the jewelry box from the table,placed it in my bag then I slung my bag
over my shoulder.
“If you’re going to die, just get here first.”
I cackled at her words. “Alright, I’ll soon get there.” I locked the main doors and
started to walk to where I would get a taxi. “I’m about to get a cab now.”
“Alrighty. I will be waiting.”
I hailed a cab and told the cab driver my destination.
Since the last time I had been in the villa; when I got attacked by Luigi, I surpris-
ingly didn’t feel.any hesitation when going there or to even stay there. Maybe it was because I now felt like I knew him more…personally?
My mind strayed to his card that was safely tucked in my purse. Perhaps, I should give him a call. Had he remembered that it was me he attacked? At least, I deserve an explanation as to why he was in my apartment and why he
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had pointed a weapon at me.
I paid the taxi driver and walked up the walkway of our apartment to the door. I was just a few feet from it when Grace threw open the door.
“Welcome! Took you long enough.”
I shook my head, grinning, “Are you happy I’m here or not?”
She playfully rolled her eyes and motioned, with a sweep of her hand, toward the open doorway. “Just come in.”
As Grace rushed to our room, I turned to follow her but she asked me to wait in the living room. Arching my brows at her suspiciously, I nodded and she rushed in. I sat in one of the cushioned chairs as I waited.
“Drum rolls, please!” She exclaimed as she appeared again in front of me, her hands tucked behind her.
I leaned forward and played along. I beat my palm on the wooden stop by my side and made drum beats sound with my m*uth.
She had a huge grin on her face as she revealed what she was hiding behind.
her back. “Tada!”
I stared at it, mesmerized. Grace was maddeningly creative when it came to de- signing outfits and she had put her creativity in a lot of fashion projects but this
one? It was different. It distinctly stood out. It had me ogling the plunge in the
n*eck and the slit in front of the dress. And the delicate lace on the hem of the dress, it gave it that ethereal feel.
“This is beautiful,” I whispered and felt the texture of the silk as I touched it.
“Wait till I put it on,” she exclaimed excitedly and quickly wigged her way into
the dress. She turned to me and I helped her with the invisible zip of the outfit.
And my God! The dress is beautiful! “Grace, you look gorgeous!” I said honestly.
She turned shyly, her cheeks stained with a red tint. “So what do you think?”
I let out a breathless sigh. “I absolutely love it, Grace. You’ve outdid yourself
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again.” I drew back and looked her up and down again.
The deep n*eckline of the dress showed an average amount of cleavage, not too slutty or suggestive or the likes but S*xy enough…in a classy way. The slit of the dress was by far the most S*xy and beautiful part of the dress for me. The slit started at the middle of her thigh, showcasing her smooth legs. Then
the lace decorated the hem of the dress.
“I think it’s beautiful. The color suits your skin tone so it fully showcases your beauty.” Then I smirked, “It’s a pity I am heteroS*xual, else I would have made you mine a long time ago.” Then I abruptly drew back, covering my m*uth with. my palm as I gasped loudly. “Oh no!”
Grace’s eyes widened a fraction. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m already in love with you!” I whispered.
Grace’s relief was evident on her face. She swatted my hand away. “Oh no,” she
mimicked my actions just a few minutes ago. “I’m already in love with you too.”
We both burst out laughing at our theatrics.
Later, after I was done admiring the dress, Grace had spoken about it non–stop.
“So tell me,” I got comfortable on the sofa, all thoughts of returning home to my husband flying out the window. “Is it a customer’s order?”
“Nope,” she took off the dress then she perked up in front of me. “I made it for
myself.”
“Ohh,” I wiggled my brows. “You’ve gotten a new man, haven’t you?”
She squinted her eyes, “I won’t say he’s new but yeah, I do have a boyfriend.”
Her face glowed with happiness and contentment as she spoke. “His name is
Joel.
“Joel,” I repeated the name, nodding..
“He’s so gentle and sweet,” she riveted her gaze heavenward as she hugged her arms around herself, her thoughts obviously far away.
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“You seem to really like him,” I observed loudly, fishing for more info.
“Oh, I do,” she agreed instantly, “I like him so much. In fact, I think I love him.”
My eyes bulged out, “Are you sure?”
She slapped my arm, “That’s why I said I think. I’m not sure but I would marry him if he asked me to right now. In fact, I look forward to marrying him one day.”
“Wow!” I m*uthed and fanned my face. “That’s a lot, girl.”
Later after telling me all about her dress, I asked her what outing she made the outfit for. “So what’s the occasion?”
“My birthday, of course. He invited me for dinner tomorrow. He said he had. something important to tell me.. I’m going to wow him with the dress, I hope he likes it.”
“Of course, he would. Anyone who sets eyes on that dress would love it, trust
me.”
I suddenly clapped my hands excitedly. I smirked, “How about you design a S*xy war dress for me. I feel the need to seduce someone too. Perhaps, the handsome Italian bar owner.”
Grace wiggled a brow, andhiwed mockingly, “Your wish is my command, Your
lord.”
I couldn’t hold the laughter that bubbled up my throat. I burst out laughing and Grace followed, clutching her stomach as she did reeled with laughter.
I wiped a tear under my eyes as I sobered up, feeling light and happy for a long time. One of my best moments is spending time with Grace. It was impossible not to be at peace around her. Joel, whoever he is, is a lucky guy and I hope he doesn’t mess with my friend’s heart.
“So…” I started as I leaned to my side and dragged my bag to me. “I have some-
thing for you.”
She grinned in excitement and her curious eyes peered into my bag. I brought
out the box and handed it to her.
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“Here,” her eyes widened as she gasped loudly.
“Omg! Sydney!” She cupped her gaping m*uth as she stared at the n*ecklace in
the box.
I shrugged, feigning anger, “Since you don’t plan on spending your birthday
with me, I’m giving you your birthday present in advance ”
Her eyes had welled up with tears when she looked up. She suddenly threw her arms around me. “I love it. Thank you so much, Sydney.”
I patted her on the back. “Trust me, it was my pleasure. Now try it on,” I urged.
The emerald diamond pendant sat comfortably on her ch*st . It looked at
home. She fingered the n*ecklace on her ch*st as she looked in the mirror be- side the living room doorway. “Gosh! I love it. It looks…” she trailed off as her eyes eyed it possessively, “like mine.”
“And that is perfect because you were the only one in mind when it was made.”
I then explained to her that the pendant could also be worn as a brooch. I watched as she tried it, clapping her hands as she looked down at it on her
ch*st .
“You must have spent a lot on this,” her eyes started to water again.
“I would spend any amount to see you smile.”
“Sydney,” she whispered tearfully and pulled me in for another hug.
Grace.
I patted her on her back, feeling tearful myself. “Yeah, it’s alright now, I’m glad you love it. Now you can go elaborately prepare for your date.”
She giggled, and pulled back, her eyes on me, “Now, don’t be jealous. You’re my best friend and you can’t bear to see me grow old alone, can you?”
I rolled my eyes, “Yes,I can,” then I playfully attempted to push her away but she instead pulled me in for another tight hug.
“God, you’re so adorable whenever you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous!” I protested.
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Grace burst out laughing. Her laughs prompted mine and soon our laughter filled the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
I sighed as my phone rang again..
“Why won’t he stop calling?!” Grace groaned.
We were in her room, having a little girl’s time as we chatted and painted each
other’s nails.
“I think I should just get going,” I sighed as I coated her pinky finger with the lemon nail polish. “It looks cute,” I smiled at her nails.
She wiggled her fingers in front of my face for a while then her shoulders fell and she pouted. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“I have to,” else he might threaten to increase the break up fee, I thought as I shrugged out of the pink robe we both had on.
“Ugh. Can’t you just move out?”
I shook my head. “Nah,” I shrugged back into my wrap top and tied it at the
back. “Not until he signs the divorce papers.”
“Then what’s taking him so long? I think I’ll soon come over to your place and give that standoffish man a sizable piece of my mind.”
I chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll soon get him to sign the papers.”
She saw me off and waited till I got in a cab. “Happy birthday in advance, love. Enjoy your date.”
She waved back, “I will!”
When I got home, I was surprised to meet Mark in the living room. He had his
brows creased as he worked on his laptop.
I decided to just walk past him but he called me back. “Sydney.”
I turned back. “I thought you were working.”
“Yeah, I was,” I rubbed his palm on his trousers. He was acting nicer.
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“Uh, okay.” I turned to leave.
“Wait. I have a gift for you.”
Those words brought me to an abrupt halt. A gift? For me?
“You have a gift for me.” I repeated as I faced him again.
He nodded and reiterated, “I have a gift for you.”
He picked a bag and I squinted my eyes at it. “That’s from Atelier studios,” I thought aloud.
He seemed pleased as he smiled. “Yes, it is.”
He dipped his hand in the bag and brought out one of the jewelry boxes I had had my assistant deliver earlier.
He handed me the gold diamond bracelet. “This is my gift to you for our third an- niversary.”
My brows rode up my hairline, “For me? Or Bella?”
Just as he opened his m*uth to answer me, my phone pinged with a notifica-
tion.
“A minute,” I murmured and brought out my phone from my bag and when I
opened the message, my heart burst with joy.
The Atelier studios‘ account had just been credited with a whooping two million
dollars!
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