6
1290 Words
Chapter 6
Emily Monroe
Stiles was waiting for me beside his car by the time I got outside.
“Hey!” He straightened his back as I approached him, a smile spread across his face brightly.
“Did you sort it out?”
“Hmm. I'm done here…” I paused, then checked my wristwatch briefly before returning my gaze to him.
“My flight is in two hours. I need to go prepare to head to the airport,”
“Are you seriously going back today? You can't spend more time here? Like maybe a couple of days to one week?” His voice was firm, yet laced with sadness and disappointment.
“I'm sorry, but I need to go back. Dad must be waiting for me. I already promised him that I was going to return as soon as I sort things out here,”
He frowned. “That's fine. How about lunch together? Is that fine with you?”
“Hmm,” I nodded.
As I reached for the car door, I spotted Josh, rushing to the parking lot, his face covered with his hand. I resisted the urge to burst into laughter. This was just the beginning of his nightmares.
How Stiles has been there for me all these years was something I hadn't talked about. He is one amazing friend. Someone I could always run to for help. A friend who was always ready to offer me his shoulders to lean on whenever I was exhausted, and I would forever be grateful about that.
We had already gotten to the restaurant about fifteen minutes later before I realised that Stiles had booked the place just for us to have lunch.
“Is this a lunch date or something? Booking the whole place isn't necessary, you know?” I rolled my eyes as I watched him serve my meal, not letting myself get distracted by the beautiful surroundings of the restaurant. The beautiful interior decor, the cold weather just perfect for my body, and complemented by the sweet aroma. The usual smell of every restaurant.
“You are going back today, if this is the only thing I can do for you, shouldn't I?” He looked straight into my eyes briefly, then rolled his eyes before he started eating.
“Thanks for this anyway,”
“Hmm. Enjoy your meal,”
We began eating.
“So, how long are you going to stay over there before coming back?” He broke the silence that had taken over the atmosphere, forcing me to raise my gaze to him.
“I'm not sure about that yet,” I shrugged, not looking at him.
“It's going to be boring here without you though,” he exhaled.
“Do you want to come with me?” I smirked at him, raising my eyebrows, and he scoffed.
“You know…”
His voice trailed off when my phone suddenly started to ring.
“One second, please,” I excused myself, reaching for my phone. A smile spread across my lips upon seeing the caller was my dad.
I pressed the phone to my ear.
“Hey, darling!” His ever calming and soothing voice sounded through the phone.
“Missing me already, huh? My flight is in two hours,” I said on the phone.
“Yes, I'm missing you, darling, but I'm afraid your journey might not be possible today,”
I frowned at the news. “Why, dad?”
“Something urgently came up in our branch over there. The supervisor for our ongoing project was suddenly involved in an accident, and won't be active for now. I need someone to fill in for him, and since you are there, I feel you should do it…” he paused.
“You need to stay back and oversee it,” he added, and I exhaled frustratingly.
I raised my hand to my face, gently rubbing my temple.
“You are going to make up for this, dad. You really are going to,”
“Anything you want, darling,”
“Fine! I will do it. I just hope this will not take forever, because I have other important things to do over there,” I exhaled before ending the call, tossing my phone on the table.
“What's wrong? Did something happen?” Stiles asked as soon as the call ended, his eyes boring into mine worriedly.
“Dad said something came up here, and I need to stay back to oversee the project. Gosh! I'm so mad,” I raked my hair with my fingers, grunting silently.
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. Really!” I rolled my eyes at Stiles. I knew he was just pretending to be sad about it, deep inside him, he was happy this came up. I mean, he has been trying to convince me to stay back.
“It's not that bad here, you know?” He shrugged, a trace of smile on his face.
“Whatever!”
“So, how long are you going to stay here?”
“That's the problem. Dad said he doesn't know either. I guess I'm stuck here now,”
I tucked the strands of hair on my face away, releasing the air in my lungs.
“Good thing I'm here. It's not going to be entirely boring. I will keep you company… like I've always done,” Stiles shrugged casually, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
I picked up my phone and dialled Mona's line, and she picked up on the first ring.
“Yes, ma'am?” Her cute tiny voice sounded through the phone.
Oh, Mona is my second favourite person after Stiles. She is my personal assistant.
“Can you help me look out for an apartment to lease for six months?”
“Six months? Are you helping someone to—”
“We are not leaving today, Mona. Something came up. So, find the apartment and let's move in immediately,” I cut her off.
“Alright, ma. I will get to it immediately,”
After the call ended, I dialled Xavier's number, and he picked on the first ring.
“Hey, cousin. I'm sorry I had to leave you like that earlier.” Xavier apologised as soon as he took the call.
He got a call earlier to rush to their law firm for an emergency, so he had to leave me at the auction house.
“It's fine. I understand. Can I stay at your place for a few days, please?”
He went silent for a moment, then his voice came on. “I'm sorry, Emily. I don't think that is going to be possible. My girlfriend is staying over at my place, and I don't think you two are going to like the idea of staying together,” he drawled.
“Nah, it's fine. Catch you later,” I quickly hung up the phone. Even if he had asked me to come over after mentioning his girlfriend, I wouldn't have agreed to that. For someone who hates invading one's privacy, I couldn't bring myself to disrupt their couple's time.
“Why don't you lodge at a hotel? I'm sure you'll be able to save yourself of all these hassles,” Stiles spoke up, shrugging his shoulders.
“It's boring there,” I replied to him casually. There was just something about hotels that feels boring to me.
“Do you mind coming over to my place?” He offered.
“You can pay for it if you want to. That way, you won't feel like a burden to me. I don't mind taking the money,” he smirked at me as he shrugged…
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