CHAPTER FOUR
830 Words
Brian and the boy kept staring at each other as if they were in the middle of a contest.
“Brian, help me pick a dress,” Avery said, nudging him. He turned to look at her.
He glanced at the boy again, but he had already turned away, playing with Evelyn's hair.
“Oh, yeah… true,” Brian replied with a smile.
Avery blushed as he stood up to check out the dresses.
“The dresses are so beautiful that I don’t even know which one to pick,” Brian told her, and she smiled.
“Can I try everything on?” Avery asked Evelyn.
“Yes, Miss Avery, you can. One of the staff will help you,” Evelyn replied.
Avery stood up, and an employee followed her to the changing room with one of the dresses.
“That kid…” Brian began after Avery had already left.
“Sorry for the disturbance, Mr. Anderson. Evan tends to be a handful sometimes,” Evelyn said.
“Well, he is cute,” Brian replied, and Evan turned to face him.
Evelyn chuckled as a grin spread across Evan’s face.
“Who—” Brian started to ask, but a voice interrupted him.
“Evan!” a woman’s voice called from outside, and they all turned toward the entrance.
“Mommy!” Evan giggled as he signaled to be put down from Evelyn’s arms.
He rushed out of the room, and Evelyn smiled.
“Ma’am, you’re back,” Evelyn said, bowing to the woman outside.
“Yes, sorry I took long. I hope he wasn’t too much of a hassle,” the woman said.
“Not at all, ma’am. He was more gentle today,” Evelyn replied, and they both laughed.
“Thanks, Evelyn,” the woman said again.
“And who do we have today in the VIP?” the woman asked before turning to leave.
“Oh, Miss Avery and Mr. Anderson are here,” Evelyn replied.
There was silence on the other side.
“Okay… go on. Good work,” the woman finally said before leaving.
Evelyn turned to Brian, who wore a confused look.
“That was... his mother?”
Something about the way he said it made Evelyn pause.
“Was—” he tried to continue, but he was distracted again.
This time by Avery.
“How do I look, Brian?” Avery asked as she stepped out of the changing room.
“Wow!” Evelyn exclaimed.
“You look gorgeous, Miss Avery,” Evelyn added.
Avery smiled brightly.
“You look really beautiful…,” Brian said, and she blushed deeply.
His voice wasn't fully there the way he said it. His eyes drifted back to the door. Back to where the boy had disappeared.
“Thanks, Brian,” Avery replied.
He winked at her.
After trying on a few more dresses, they finally settled on two.
Brian and Avery left the fashion store, Brian carrying the shopping bags and opening the door for Avery as they stepped out.
From her office on the top floor, the woman watched them through the glass.
Her lips curved slightly.
Not amused.
Calculating.
-
It was the day of the party — the fifth anniversary of Denas Building.
The place was filled with influential people, aristocrats, and celebrities. One thing no one could deny was that Mr. Denas knew how to throw a party.
Mr. Denas welcomed his guests as they arrived.
Avery walked in wearing her dress and went over to her father.
“Oh, look at my beautiful princess. You look absolutely gorgeous,” her father said.
She smiled widely.
“Thanks, Dad. Brian picked the dress for me."
“I know. You two really seem like a perfect match.”
“We're a perfect match, Dad," she said with a confident smile. "You'll see."
Her father smiled.
“Yes, and you both will have the best wedding history has ever witnessed."
Avery laughed, and they both shared a light moment.
Brian arrived at the party and walked over to them.
“And there is my son-in-law,” Peter said as Brian approached them.
Avery nudged her father while Brian smirked.
“Dad, stop,” Avery said shyly.
“Peter, it’s nice to be here. Everything looks amazing,” Brian said, looking around.
“Yeah, I wanted to celebrate the anniversary of this place for the first time,” Peter replied.
Just then someone stepped in, and Peter turned toward the person.
“I would like to introduce both of you to someone,” Peter said.
Avery and Brian exchanged confused looks.
“Miss Jones,” Peter called.
Brian turned—
and everything inside him went still.
No.
Not here.
Not her.
Eva walked toward them, calm… composed… like she had never left.
His chest tightened.
She stopped beside Peter.
“Nice party, Peter Denas,” she said with a soft smile.
But Brian saw it.
Something beneath it.
Something that wasn’t soft at all.
- Writer
