Chapter 26

The selected balcony was abuzz.

It was a wide marble laid place that looked like it was out of a fairytale. There were beautiful flowers creeping up the pillars and railings and a lovely table was set up in the very center of the wide balcony.

The view it overlooked was breathtaking.

In the distance, you could see the deep, glimmering sea and the golden sands of the beach. Every road and building from there till very close to the hotel were a tiny, symmetrical line.

This was the view people took pictures of and lamented that it didn't quite capture the beauty they could see with their eyes.

The servants clamoured about setting things just right.

Some walked around dusting every nook and cranny while others adjusted tablecloth after table cloth trying to figure out the perfect colour for the tea.

Ms. Clara Kane herself required excellence.

This was a much more important affair however since she had also invited her father, the famous chairman, and her brother, the striking Adonis Kane.

A servant wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand, "I should things will be ready by the time they arrive. It's only four after all."

"They're always early!" Another yelled, frantically, "Always!"

"Agh!"

The servants picked up the pace, setting things right and dusting away at the already glowing venue.

--

Sasha twisted Leah's hair into place and sprayed it with a little hairspray.

"There!"

Leah struggled to look at everything through her tiny compact mirror, "Th- Thanks, Sash!"

"You look beautiful!"

Rayne rolled his eyes from across the room where he adjusted his casual shirt, "We're not going there to party, we're going there to talk."

Sasha waved him away, "And don't you want us to be confident when we talk?"

"Confident about our work," Rayne said.

"Same thing," Sasha bent down to put on a little pink gloss on Leah's lips, "Ah, Lee, you look like a breath of spring!"

Leah blushed, "Thanks, Sasha. Okay, we should get going."

"Are your heels okay?" Sasha asked as she helped Leah up.

"They're great," Leah said, "They're new so it'll take me sometime to get used to."

"Okay, then," Sasha looked at her sympathetically, "I walked in here in heels this morning so I'm alright."

Leah giggled, "You're always a stunner, Sash."

"Wait," Rayne pointed to a side of Leah's face, "What's that?"

"Oh!" Sasha rushed to pick up a powder puff, "That would be my nail. Sorry again, Lee."

Leah laughed as Sasha covered up a tiny scratch on the side of Leah's cheek with foundation, "It was an accident. It's okay, Sash."

"You girls and your fancy, man-eating nails."

"Don't provoke me," Sasha snarled playfully at Rayne and Rayne pretended to jump back in fear.

The cousins laughed as they walked to the door, their moods lifted and not as nervous as before.

--

Bruce hurried toward the side of the building where the tea was to take place.

He had a very important mission to take care of with his boss that night but Adonis, Clara and the chairman were meeting up for a tea party before.

He reached a grand, high staircase that led up elegantly to the posh balcony where the table for the guests was set up.

Everyone in charge of Clara's party to be held a month later was to gather for tea that day.

Bruce took the stairs two at a time, pushing thoughts of the bouncy brunette out of his mind.

They were to be introduced to each other and Bruce groaned internally.

Was there really a need for this tea party that wasted everyone's time?

He got to the balcony and nodded to himself in approval.

The space had been cleaned impressively and was sparkling.

The view always elevated the dining experience there and the chairs, the table and the décor on the table was neat and tidy.

There was an air of elegance to the setup and Bruce wondered if the Dearcrofts would be able to bring that about in the events they were planning.

He thought not.

They were amateurs and new to the scene of the wealthy.

How would they replicate that feeling of class and excellence needed to suit the Kane name?

He growled in annoyance as he walked to the wide marble baluster that went around the entire balcony.

Looking down, he watched the city rumbling around in it's own world.

There was so much undercurrent there that very few knew about. So much danger existed under the surface of the world everyone knew.

That was the danger Bruce and Adonis were used to. It was the danger they made sure Clara was not a part of although she was also aware of how they spent their time.

Bruce allowed the pretty brunette to enter his thoughts and realized how stupid it would be of him to let her into his heart.

The moment she entered his heart, Bruce would be bent on dating her or going after her but that would distract him from everything that mattered.

He let out a deep sighed and returned to his usual self.

Feelings, love and the kind were for the people he could see buzzing around the city with no clue of the undercurrents beneath.

They were not for people like him.

Turning around, Bruce corrected his tie and smoothed his red hair.

He hoped the Dearcrofts would have the decency to come before his employers did.

They would at least know that much, he hoped,

Even if the clumsy brunette was unaware, Bruce hoped the other male cousin of hers would understand and bring the other two on time.

The blond also seemed capable. She seemed serious, put together. There was a tenderness to her but she looked earnest.

He liked that.

Unlike the other one that had walked into Clara Kane's room scribbling into a book, not even deigning to look up when they left.

A corner of Bruce's mouth rose but he sobered quickly.

Why wasn't he listening to himself these days?

Why did he keep thinking about her?