Her Fake Lover

Chapter 23

Emmeline cast a glance at the person. She was shocked. "Darren? What are you here for?" Emmeline forced her hand off Darren, and Darren couldn't help it either.

"Ah, fine. Sorry," said Darren. "I just happened to be passing by around here earlier. Then I remembered about you, so I decided to stop."

Emmeline sighed as she looked away. "Why should you stop? You just keep going, because it's time for everyone to go home from work. I want to go home too. I'm tired." Emmeline chose to walk, not interested in continuing their conversation in any particular way. Darren walked after her beside her.

"How about we go somewhere for a bit for a walk. We can have dinner together later. Wouldn't that be nice to unwind too?"

"No. Sorry, Darren, I wasn't in the mood for a walk."

"Why, Emmy? Does your work in the office make you tired? You can talk to me. Just like before. You always told me a lot."

Emmeline stopped at those words. But the look on her face didn't show that she was happy. She turned to Darren. "Darren, please go. Let me go home." Emmeline stepped back with an expression as if she was holding back a strong emotion in her head.

"Emmy," Darren gripped her wrist again, and it stopped her in her tracks. "Why are you acting like that to me? You always dodge when I talk about the good times in the past. I don't understand why that sounds so bad to your ears."

"Darren, what do you mean?" Emmeline struggled to free her hand. "What are you talking about all that for? It's pointless, is it?" Emmeline managed to let go of her hand and started walking again. Now at a faster pace. Darren followed her again.

"I thought it might be better if I didn't go to Germany and spend some time there. I'd rather stay in France, and maybe then we—"

"Miss Karfis!" a cheerful voice called out. Emmeline suddenly stopped in her tracks, and looked back. Darren stopped talking and also looked towards the source of the voice. Annaliese, seen approaching with brisk and excited steps with a drink in a cup, which soon after that Emmy could know the contents, because Anna who was too excited stumbled accidentally, and the drink spilled. Right into Darren's suit. Emmeline closed her eyes in horror as the coffee spilled all over Darren's coat. Even Anna also fell on Darren so that Darren had to hold her so they both didn't fall.

"Ah! Sorry, sorry, sorry! Oh, my!" Anna screamed hysterically seeing the consequences of her own actions. She ruffled her hair frantically after successfully standing back up perfectly. Darren was still trying to wipe the splatter of coffee that had reached his face while his coat was unavoidably wet. "Oh, my goodness! Sorry, sorry, sorry, I'm sorry!" repeated Annaliese. She was really at a loss as to what she should do.

Emmeline, silent sadly, felt sorry for Darren, but at the same time was grateful for Annaliese's interruption.

"Who are you?" Darren asked, clearly looking annoyed.

"I—ah, do we need to get acquainted? I think what we need now is—ah, tell me how I should sort this out. Your clothes are wet. Ah, how's this?" Annaliese couldn't help but be in an uproar.

"It's enough!" said Darren. He seemed unable to bear to hear Anna's chatter any longer, while Emmeline remained silent. Darren looked at Anna in annoyance, then turned to Emmeline for a moment, before sighing loudly in annoyance, and decided to turn to leave the place.

Anna was left feeling guilty, and giddily she said to Emmeline, "Ah, Miss. That guy seems really annoyed with me. Isn't that right, Miss?"

Emmeline was still slightly stifling a laugh. "I think so, Anna."

"Ah, how is this? Who is he, Miss? Is he your business partner?"

"No," Emmeline shook her head.

"Ah, thank God. But by the way, why did he seem to be insisting on talking to you? From afar I can see that you don't seem to want to talk to him. Aah," Anna brought her face with a mischievous look on Emmeline's, "is he your admirer, Miss?"

Emmeline furrowed an eyebrow. "Don't talk weird. Ah, forget it! Come on, let's go home! Wait. Did you drive? Or take a taxi?"

"I took a taxi! I left my car at Miss Chloe's house. I'm lazy to drive myself. Oh yeah, so earlier, after I got to Miss Chloe's house, I was bored alone, so I decided to come here. Besides I—"

"Good!" Emmeline grabbed Annaliese's hand without waiting for the girl to finish, and they got into Emmeline's car. Anna was still babbling on, until she finished fastening her seatbelt.

"I'll take you to Chloe's house," Emmeline said. Annaliese nodded obediently. "Oh yeah, although Chloe will also tell you this later, but since we're together, let me tell you first. Tomorrow, when the schedule arrives, I will accompany you at the dress rehearsal, for the fashion show that you will participate in. You don't have to burden yourself with unnecessary thoughts. You just have to follow the practice well, and pay close attention to all the directions given to you. Besides that, Chloe will be teaching you a few things for some time to come to prepare you for the fashion show, and you should listen to her. You can talk to me if you have any questions or troubling thoughts. You understand?"

"Yes, Miss Karfis. I understand." Anna smiled. "Miss, the closer I get to you, the more I admire you. And the more I like you."

Emmeline, raised her eyebrows at that, before smiling. Something suddenly slipped into her mind, and made her say after a while, "Thank you, Anna. You're a lovely girl."

Emmeline looked out the car window for a moment, smiling. It was as if she saw at the other end of the street they were passing, someone was saying the same words, to a young girl who had also been reckless.

Emmeline seemed to see again, the image of Vincenzo Valsecchi, stroking and slightly ruffling her hair, while saying the same thing. It was a habit Vin had with her in the past, and they often passed the street she was currently on.

Emmeline wasn't exactly like Annaliese. But Annaliese's existence reminded her of herself a few years ago. Even the fault of Anna, who had bumped into a model at a jewelry show, Emmeline had done it. An incident that became the beginning of her meeting with Vincenzo Valsecchi.

Emmeline withdrew her gaze.

"Miss Karfis, why do you look sad?"

"Ah no." Emmy argued. "Em ... I'm sad because ... " Emmy glanced mischievously at Anna, "I was thinking about how dizzy Chloe was looking for you right now."

"Oh my gosh! You're right, Miss! Oh my God, I even turned off my cell phone. Ah, I forgot! Miss Chloe must be mad at me right now."

Anna was excited again, while Emmeline, laughed at her.

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