Expectation-3

　　“You can go and study abroad while we still are best friends.”

　　I laugh again, mocking the word best friend. “Best friend? No best friend ever lies. No best friend betrayed her best friend, and no best friend will leave her best friend alone!” 

　　She cries even more, and I want to hug her so badly, but my anger is taking over me.

　　“Bash, I’m sorry, okay? We can still—”

　　I cut her off. “What? That we can still skype? Facetime? Chat? Twit?” I laugh, “No way! No effing way! I don’t wanna be your best friend anymore, Kiara!” I stand up from my bed with my hands on my hips. “Get out of my room, out of my house, and I don’t wanna see your ugly face again!” I swallow hard after those words left my mouth.

　　My heart crashes in my chest because I don’t mean what I say. Trinity drags herself out of my bed, takes the sketchpad, leaves me alone in my bed, in my room, and my house.

　　I wipe my tears and walk to my bathroom. I am washing my face when I hear a soft knock on my door. “I’m sleeping, get away from me!” I yell and walk back to my empty bed after wiping my face. The face of my sister emerges from the half-opened door.

　　“I said I’m sleeping, Lizzy!”

　　My phone buzzes from my pocket. I fish out lazily and groan when I see the screen. It’s a text from my sister.

　　LIZZY: Baby bash, meeting tom at Hughes building 9 am sharp.

　　BASH: Stop calling me baby! Can’t I have a day off?

　　LIZZY: Grumpy! No way! It’s time to meet the new CFO.

　　BASH: And who is that?

　　LIZZY: YOU, idiot!

　　I groan.

　　BASH: Impossible!

　　LIZZY: Ask dad

　　BASH: I need some sleep now

　　LIZZY: See you tomorrow, baby bash!

　　***

　　I wear a white-crisp shirt, a dark charcoal gray suit, and a dark metallic gray tie and match it with black shoes. I use cufflinks with my initials. I look at my reflection in the wall-size mirror, and I run my fingers through my hair one more time.

　　I grab the keys that I left at the coffee table yesterday. Then I head to the private elevator. After punching some keys, it slides open. I reach the parking area with my driver waiting for me.

　　“Morning, boss!” he greets me cheerfully with a smile.

　　“Morning, Edmund,” I greet back and get in the car.

　　“To the office, right, Bash?”

　　I raise my brows. “Don’t play 90’s music, and how did you know?”

　　“Ms. Hughes sent me an email of your schedule.”

　　I groan. “Of course, she did.”

　　“We will stop at the coffee shop for your coffee, then we can head to the Hughes Tower immediately,” he explains.

　　“For a driver, you talk too much early in the morning,” I tell him, looking out the window. 

　　“Play some music.”

　　“Sir?”

　　“Edmund?”

　　“Bash?”

　　“Yeah?”

　　“Right away, boss!”

　　I’m definitely loving the company of my driver.

　　I head to Dad’s office right away after saying hi to his PA, Elle. 

　　Nothing has changed in his office, except for the additional family photo and my recent picture taken during my graduation.

　　“Morning, son. Don’t I get a hug?” Dad’s merry voice snaps my head at him. 

　　“Morning, Dad.” I march to his desk when he stands up and puts down the phone receiver.

　　“Why I’m here so early? Shouldn’t I start first my masters, then train with you, but from what I heard from Lizzy yesterday, I’ll be starting right away.” I take a seat, facing him.

　　“I will explain that at the meeting,” Dad simply says, glancing at the wristwatch given by mom. “In twenty minutes. Would you like to see your office first?” he asks, buttoning his suit.

　　I nod, stand up, and button my suit too.

　　“Elle will show you your office just down to the left. You can use the stairs. And son?”

　　I stop and look at him. “Yeah?”

　　“Be nice to your new Assistant.”