Chapter 9

"Roses?"

Sasha sat on the counter of their apartment, a mug of coffee in her hand.

Her curly dark hair had been scooped up into an elegant ponytail. She wore a tight pink skirt and a white tank top. Her matching pink blazer jacket sat coated on a neighboring chair.

It was the next morning and she waited for Rayne to finish his plate of pancakes and eggs.

"Yep," Rayne nodded, scooping in another bite of syrup drenched pancakes, "Roses. At our door. Addressed to Leah."

"That scumbag." Sasha glared before taking a sip of her warm coffee, "I thought he broke up with her. So why the roses?"

Rayne shrugged, anger evident in his eyes despite his casual motion, "Some people are just stupid."

"It makes no sense," Sasha continued, "Why did he send her roses?"

Rayne shrugged, "I don't know, Sasha. Don't ask me. Who does this? Only a psychopath."

Sasha was silent.

She didn't want to start talking about the previous night again.

She'd gotten up early in the morning and dressed up to join Rayne and visit the heiress whose party they were to arrange. She glanced at the pretty silver watch on her wrist. The two of them had dressed as professionally and neatly as possible. They had to meet expectations in every way.

A dab of lipstick, Sasha decided. She needed a dab more of lipstick and maybe just one more spritz of the expensive perfume she kept aside for special occasions.

Leah was still sleeping in, and the cousins were glad about it.

"We'll leave breakfast on the table for her," Sasha said, trying to change the subject to one that was less heavy.

"And get her a slice of her favourite cheesecake on the way home."

Sasha nodded, smiling sadly, "She was so excited for this morning."

Rayne shook his head as he stood up with his empty plate and headed to the sink, "Let's not go down that hole. You ready? Leave her a text."

Sasha nodded, picking up her pink phone, "Poor Leah. She'll be all better soon… right?"

"If she doesn't entertain that psycho again, sure."

Rayne paused to turn to look at Sasha again, "I think this is for the best, Sash. I know it's probably too early for me to say something like this."

The pretty girl sighed, "Well, you're not wrong. I didn't hate him back then, but I definitely didn't like him. He seemed like some virtual boyfriend or something."

Rayne nodded.

"But now… Leah is heartbroken and it's right when she's supposed to really enjoy herself and really throw herself into this exciting new project that is destined to put us on the map!"

Rayne sighed, leaving to pick up his bag, "It's fine. It will be fine. We know what Leah is like when she's all better, we know that guy isn't good for her, and we know this is for the best. Things will be fine. We have work to do now."

Sasha nodded as she got off the counter.

"Let's go! Let's hit it out of the park!"

The two cousins locked up after themselves and left, with not as much excitement or nervousness as they had expected with the sudden twist in Leah's life.

--

"Bruce!"

Bruce looked up to see Clara Kane aflutter in her office room.

"Ms. Kane," Bruce's voice was as stern as always, "the meeting is in ten minutes."

"I know!" Clara cooed, her face bright, "And I'm so excited! After last night's dinner announcing away that my birthday would be the best, I'm so thrilled to start discussing with these famous, mysterious Event Managers!"

"I wouldn't glamourize them so much," Bruce said, making his way to the sofas that stood in the middle of the spacious office room, "They're new. No one has heard of them. They had one good client and did a good job of it."

Clara made a noise of exasperation, "You're always so moody and broody, Bruce! Talk about sweeping in the gloom. Lighten up and be positive! They may have just been undiscovered until now and have the skill to arrange the most extravagant and beautiful parties in the world!"

Bruce shook his head, irritated, as he took a seat in the comfortable sofa, "I don't like being the sample size. I want to select Event Managers who've proved their worth time and time again before I let them touch any of our parties or affairs."

"Don't be silly," Clara was adamant, "These people are going to be great! My friends are going to love it. It'll be the talk of the country."

Bruce sighed.

"I hope that'll be the result of a good thing," he muttered looking at his watch.

The two sat in the spacious and perfectly furnished office room of Clara Kane.

The young heiress had the beautiful place set out overlooking the sea, high high above the other floors of the luxurious hotel.

She managed the entire hotel and two famous shopping malls and had been lauded as a highly intelligent entrepreneur for someone her age. Although flighty, she could make very good decisions and important calls managing the places she did with perfect finesse.

Bruce Slader had been her assistant in her early days before his professional perfectionism had won the attention of the entire Kane family and he had slowly stepped into the shoes very few would be able to fit in.

A man knocked before peeking into the room.

"The Dearcrofts are here, Ms. Kane." 

Clara let out a holler that cause Bruce and the attendant to wince.

"I'm so excited."

"Please," Bruce steadied himself before rising from his seat, "Remain calm. And kindly sit down when they come in. They're not the governor or anyone important."

Clara let out a deep sigh before settling down into the expensive furniture, "I shall be reserved now. Please call them in."

The attendant nodded with a doubtful expression and left the room.

Bruce strode over to stand behind Clara, eyes shifting to watch the door.

"I should warn you," he muttered, his voice quiet and serious.

Clara stared up at him, "Warn me about what?"

Bruce looked into her eyes with a steely expression, "From what your brother and I discussed, the moment I catch them giving us shoddy work, they will be thrown out and replaced. Nothing you say or plead will stop me."