Her Fake Lover

Chapter 20

Anna traveled to Karfis & Vin's office with Emmeline. In the middle of the trip, as was typical of her character, she was very talkative about many things, which actually was not far from expressing her concern about what Corbin was doing to solve her problem. Anna also stated that it seemed that she had misunderstood her brother's financial condition, and that made her think maybe Corbin had decided to pay the compensation, which was why she asked, "Is that so, Miss, did he pay the compensation? I think Corbin has the money. Well, I'm sure about that, now."

Emmeline was silent for a moment. She only seemed to move her eyeballs, because indeed she was thinking what to say.

"I asked Corbin but he won't explain. And he's back in Italy, because Aunt's condition has deteriorated again."

Emmeline gasped at the information. "Aunt Aude's condition worsened again?" Emmeline asked.

"Ah, how did you know my aunt's name?" Annaliese gasped.

"Em—it's not important. I-I know from your brother. Of course." Emmy turned her gaze to the road ahead.

"Oh I see." Annaliese still looked thoughtful. Maybe Emmy's answer sounded strange to her ears. Emmy thought maybe the girl was wondering why her brother also told Emmy about their aunt. But Anna was not a painstaking girl who thinks complicated. "Aunt Aude has just been discharged from the hospital. Her condition may not be stable, Miss. But Corbin said it wasn't serious. He also forbade me to come because he said I'd better focus on my exam first. Today was the last day of the exam. Oh yeah, I'm sure Aunt Aude will immediately feel better seeing Corbin back. She's a tough woman."

Anna said cheerfully. As usual. But after she finished saying everything, she looked sad. Emmy thought, maybe the girl actually missed her aunt too. "Ah, Miss. You haven't answered my question. What did you and Corbin agree on?"

"Ah," Emmeline didn't answer but reminded her that they had arrived. "Okay, Anna, it's time for us to get off. You came to Elderville-Bryxton to visit Karfis & Vin, didn't you?"

"Y-y-yes. To ask you, Miss!" Anna answered while looking at Emmy who was no longer focused on her.

Emmeline had looked busy about to get off.

"Forget about that. Come on, come on down." Emmeline, not really interested in answering, chose to invite Anna into the office instead of giving an explanation. Anna followed obediently, and she wasn't quite sure what she was going to do there. She looked awkward whenever Emmeline's staff greeted Emmeline respectfully, wherever the staff saw Emmy, but Anna's awkward attitude changed back to cheerfulness as soon as she entered Emmeline's room. It was because she no longer needed to feel awkward in front of the Emmy's staff.

"Ah, I love Karfis & Vin so much, and now I'm standing in your room! What am I supposed to do here, Miss?" said Anna excitedly.

"Sit still, and calm down," said Emmy bluntly. "After all, this is the second time you've been here. What's so hysterical about?"

"Ah, but yesterday the atmosphere was different, Miss. Yesterday was scary. I had a hard time keeping my body from shaking. But this time it's different." Annaliese continued to chatter. Emmeline watched her for a moment, before smiling and shaking her head.

The door to the room was knocked. Chloe came in after that. She walked across the room, then placed the key on the table. "Troublesome girl," she sighed softly. She glanced briefly at Annaliese. Then back to Emmeline. "What is she going to do here?"

Emmeline shrugged her shoulders, raising her eyebrows. "What else? Are you going to let her hang out there while she came all the way here from Paris to come to our office?"

Chloe, looked skeptically at Anna. Anna immediately got up and approached her. "Ah, Miss Chloe. I promise I won't cause any trouble here." Annaliese nodded firmly. Emmeline smiled at her.

"Ah, fine. I'll keep your word," said Chloe.

Just a few seconds later, Annaliese looked fascinated by a piece of jewelry hanging in the corner of the room. Enclosed in a glass case, which stood luxuriously. Emmeline and Chloe didn't notice until the girl got closer to the jewelry.

"Hey, hey, hey, you just finished saying you weren't going to cause any trouble, but what are you going to do there?" Chloe said, but Emmy then stood up and raised her hand slowly towards Chloe, asking her to calm down.

Emmeline walked closer to Annaliese, whose eyes sparkled as she got closer to the glass case of jewelry.

"Wow," Annaliese sighed as soon as she reached the object she was aiming for.

"You like it?" Emmeline asked.

"Yes, this is a beautiful necklace. Ah, but Miss, it looks like this necklace is not finished yet."

"You're right. I haven't finished making it yet," said Emmeline. So calm.

"Oh, so this is your work?"

"Yes. I'm working on finishing it. But I've been busy lately. So this work has been abandoned."

"Wow, that's beautiful, Miss. You're really great." Annaliese said in such awe.

Emmeline, watched the girl closely while she was still keeping her eyes on the jewelry, before then calling out to Chloe to give her an order.

"Chloe, get me one of the necklaces from the collection we'll be showing off with Avant-Garde Valestylez."

"Oh?" Chloe gasped for a moment. She quickly remembered the wish Emmeline had made at Mrs. Valerie's place, about making Annaliese their jewelry model. "Um—all right," said Chloe. She just obeyed.

The necklace came quickly, and was immediately handed to Emmeline. Emmeline asked Anna to stand with her back to her.

"W-what is it, Miss?" Anna couldn't resist when Emmy turned her body and only realized what Emmy was about to do when Emmy put the necklace she was carrying around her neck.

Emmy turned Anna's body back when she was done. Anna herself was shaking because she liked it so much.

"Perfect," Emmy sighed when she saw Anna's appearance from the front, wearing one of her collections. Chloe also noticed the sight.

Chloe then said, "I feel like you're not only a jewelry designer, but a great observer as well."

"It's more like a creator's instinct, Chloe. What do you think? It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"It does look more like what you want. This girl's spirit, her innocent aura, blends in with your jewelry. Mrs. Valerie may have failed to understand this."

"No. She didn't fail. She just hasn't seen this."

"Ah, do you like me, wearing this necklace, Miss?" asked Anna enthusiastically.

"Really. I really like it."

"Oh," Annaliese covered her mouth almost in disbelief.

"How about I make you a model for my jewelry for an exhibition we're hosting with Avant-Garde Valestylez? We're working with them," said Emmeline.

"Oh," Anna looked even more disbelieving. "Are you serious, Miss? Aren't you kidding?"

"No. I'm not kidding."

"Ah, my goodness. This is really hard to believe. I'm going to be a Karfis & Vin jewelry model. Ah, my! I wasn't dreaming, was I? You were the one who told me this, Miss?" Anna took Emmeline's hands and put them to her cheeks, saying to reassure her that she wasn't dreaming. "Ah, yes. I will, Miss. I also know a little about Avant-Garde Valestylez. I know they are great too. I mean—I don't care if they are great or not, the important thing is that I'm with you now!"

Anna kept on talking and Emmy and Chloe couldn't seem to stop her, and Anna still added, after looking thoughtful for two or three seconds, "Should I tell Corbin this first?"

"Ah, you don't have to think so much," Chloe interrupted. "Aren't you a fan of Karfis & Vin? This is a golden opportunity and—"

"Shh," Emmeline raised her hand again to ask Chloe to calm down for a moment. "You ... may tell Corbin first. Tell me what he thinks." Emily smiled.

Annaliese smiled happily. "Okay, Miss. If that's what you want, I'll call Corbin and tell him about this. Ah, I can't wait for the show." She held Emmeline's hand with overflowing enthusiasm, sparkling eyes, and flowing words of joy.

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