Cory's intervention.

Since my interview with Jotham, nothing eventful has happened. I have been in talks with the team about expanding. Everybody received that news well, which is good.

Jotham sent over the documents, which have been signed and are now fully documented. You can stop crossing your fingers for me now.

Filming will start next week, so I'm trying to wrap up everything that needs to be wrapped up before then.

Also, Aurum is still not talking to me. So, just like I said, everything is pretty uneventful around here.

Hence, why Cory waltzing into my front door like she owns the place was no shock to me. Instead, my next words as she took her seat came as a shock to her.

"Do you know that Jacob has a brain the size of a fish's?"

With perplexion on her face... "Excuse me?"

"He is very dumb." That is a statement of fact.

At the moment, I was sitting cross-legged on the loveseat. While she sat on one of the regular couches.

"Is this about the car park incident?" She settled on the couch, dropping her black purse beside her. By the way, I'm going to claim that purse very soon.

"Great!" Widening my mouth into a cheeky grin, "He told you."

Of course, he did. Jacob never keeps anything away from Corianne. Even the weirdest information.

"Jacob was just messing around."

"Of course, I know. But, I'll suggest that we don't rule out getting his brain checked just yet." My face immediately fell into a poker look. Simply for theatrics, "You never can tell what we'll see in there."

Her shoulders were not only shaking with laughter but also with indulgence, "Haha. Leave my boyfriend alone."

"I'm not giving him a hard time, I promise." It's not like I could dare to anyway. Cory would kill me. "After all, he's my favorite employee." I punctuated my words with an unnecessary wink.

Turns out she wasn't buying it, "That's a lie!!" There was a 'hmph ʼ, "Even I, am not your favorite. It's Anaya."

Uh-huh. Looks like I've been busted. Although, it would be funny if I could tell everyone that they were my favorite. A good recipe for disaster.

"Can you blame me? She's so sensible and quiet. I can't say the same about the rest of you."

Even though she said, "I have gotten over that betrayal in my stride. " She still feigned hurt, wiping away some non-existent tears.

"There's something I want to talk to you about" The previous light air good drained with my words as Corianne furrowed her brows in worry, "What's wrong?"

"It's about me expanding and deciding to use your house...." Technically, the house belongs to two people. She and Jacob. But, I haven't spoken to her about it yet.

Just because Corianne is the bestest friend ever. She easily responded with, "You don't need to tell me about that. It's fine and I support you fully."

She always knew what to say. Every single time.

My lungs remembered they were meant for respiration, "Phew." Quite frankly, I was a tidbit worried about Corianne not liking the idea. I mean, it might be a bit uncomfortable for them afterall. 

"We'll definitely do well. Seeing as you didn't get thrown out." Wiggling her brows in humor, "There's still hope."

Referring to Jotham's receptionist, "She wasn't wearing any moonstone jewelry." I know because I checked. There wasn't any jewelry to start with.

With more indulgence, "She's a smart receptionist." Corianne was having a blast cackling.

"I thought so too."

Although, I might get thrown out the next time I go. I think I gave her a jump scare.

There was an opportunity to swerve the topic into a more humorous one, "About Jotham, I hope you didn't drool over him way too much."

Meh, "It took a lot of effort."

Corianne laughed it off, even though I was only half joking. I could sit back and watch him look professional in front of that view all day long.

"Haha." Her eyes wiggled before she arched them saying, "You also didn't take the book for him to autograph?"

"I doubt he'd have hired me if I did." That doesn't mean I didn't consider doing it. But, I don't think Jotham would have allowed me in if he thought I was a fazed fan. Of course, I am, he just didn't need to know or think that.

"Awwnnn, look at that." With so much gushing in her voice, I knew something was coming next. "You can keep your weirdness on a low-key if you try."

Swatting my hand dramatically, "It's not an easy feat." But, I try my best.

"Ha." Her laughter filled our living room, as I crossed my legs, feeling smug.

People should start paying me to make them laugh, I'm getting good at it.

"Hey guys.", Said Aurum as she strode into the house.

As the front door clicked, Cory responded, "Hi Aurum."

Of course, I didn't acknowledge her greeting. It's not my fault the floorboards suddenly seemed interesting.

"I had no idea you were coming over today." She joined Cory on the couch, her polished toenails catching the side of my eyes. I could never make my nails properly polished. Something is always amiss.

But... Aurum. I doubt she isn't perfect at anything. Asides from being a good sister.

With a 'duhʼ expression, "That's because I never inform anybody if I'm coming." Which we all know. Corianne basically owns this place too at this point. All that is left is for her to start paying part of the rent.

"Oh," Aurum scratched the back of her neck, laughing awkwardly, "Yeah."

Corianne puckered her lips childishly, "Join us for a conversation. I feel like we haven't had time together since the movies."

That's because we started living like strangers a few days after that.

Note that I still hadn't made any eye contact with Aurum, and I also wasn't interested in having a conversation with her either. But Corianne.... she just had to be a good person.

"Okay." Aurum shrugged, getting comfortable in the seat. I also got comfortable in mine, leaning into it while staring at the ceiling. {Yes, the floor was no longer interesting enough for me.}

"Great, now that I have your attention." Cory crossed her legs, snapping her fingers. "This is my intervention."

"An intervention" "Huh?"

I and Aurum spoke in unison. Both of our brows arched in perplexion. What was Corianne about to pull out of her sleeves?

"Yes." She nodded before explaining further, "You know that moment when you're about to make a stupid decision, or in the process of doing something stupid, and your friend butts in to save you from yourself?" It was our time to nod, even though I was certain that a look of confusion was still on our faces. "That's what I'm doing right now."

Aurum rolled her eyes, "How charming." The sarcasm and indifference in her voice went well together.

By the way, I also felt indifferent.

"For the record, we aren't doing anything stupid."

"Do you think I'm blind?" With the way her arms were crossed, I discerned that it was supposed to be a rhetorical question.

But I had to talk. So, I did...

"Remember that time you couldn't see that Jacob was in love with you? I thought you were blind then."

"Makena, this isn't funny." Her lips were failing her face, because she was trying very hard to remain stern. But a smile was threathening to crawl unto her face.

"Really?" I gasped simply because I am that dramatic, "You want to take away the humor in my life, and you say I'm the one doing something stupid?" I haven't even started my career as a stand-up comedienne yet and she's already taking it away from me.

I figured it was easy for her to ignore me and focus on Aurum instead. Which is what she did. "I have noticed how the both of you are ignoring each other. It ends now!!" The last three words were spoken with more seriousness than others. As if she was whisper-yelling.

When someone feels on top of the world. It's not nice to remind them that they are still on the ground. This is why I didn't point out that Jacob was probably the one who told Aurum about our fight. Which he would pay for.

Usually, the expected thing is to deny it. Which is what Aurum did by saying, "We aren't ignoring each other."

Meanwhile, I'm not as subtle as she is...

"Aurum is a punk."

"I appreciate your honesty Makena." For some reason, Corianne smiled at me brightly. Sort of the way my kindergarten teacher used to do whenever I doodled correctly {Which was usually rarely}.

I also had to return the smile, "Thank you"

"Ginger," Her eyes were fixated on my sister, "What did you do?"

"Don't call me that!!" Even from the distance, I could tell that Aurum had flared up. "And why do you assume that I'm the one at fault?"

"Because Makena is an easy-going person. It can't be her fault." Corianne was unfazed about Aurum's newfound anger, rather than showing us her perfect dentition with a cheeky grin.

Still greatly pissed, Aurum's teeth gritted, "She's all up in my business." All up in your business. Sissy, I only care about you.

"She's your sister and she's looking out for you."

I invited myself into their conversation, "Aurum is keeping a secret. She's hiding something." Saying it to Corianne made no difference than when I was telling my mother or even Aurum herself.

At this point, it was starting to feel like deja vu.

She just had to say something sensible like... "She's an adult Makena. Allow her to do as she pleases."

Urgh. Did my mum enter into Corianne?

"Okay, fine." I might be as stubborn as an unwanted zit, but I also know when to quit. On the other hand, "she must apologize." I informed Cory, puckering my mouth.

"I'm sorry Makena." She continued to allow the atmosphere to be reeking with sarcasm, "Stay out of my business. Happy now?"

It was not heartfelt in any way, and not any different from her other apologies I turned down. But, Cory is here now and she won't let it go until I forgive Aurum.

Only because of Cory, I plastered a fake smile and said, "I'll take that." Only because of Corianne.

"Great!!!!" It was worth it as she clapped in satisfaction, "My work here is done."

Aurum seemed pleased enough to tease. "How can we possibly repay you for making sure we didn't make the dumbest decision of our lives?"

An eye roll at the end ensured that we all caught up with yet another sarcastic statement.

"Cupcakes. I saw some in your refrigerator."

"Stop raiding our fridge!!"

Aurum said to her, but was already out of the living room going to get the said cupcakes for Cory.

And oh, Cory would rather die than stop raiding our refrigerator.

Placating my point, "I will never."

It was easy to laugh at their exchange now that I didn't have to continue being angry with my sister.

"Now that she's gone." Corianne looked left and right as though she wanted to cross the road, "How do we find out that secret she's hiding?"

This is why this woman right here is my best friend!!