Chapter 41 Chapter Forty One
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Chapter 41 Chapter Forty One
SIX MONTHS LATER.
I picked up my car keys, as I spoke into the phone trapped between my ear and
shoulder, “Tell the pilot to slow down, I’m still at home.”
Grace chuckled, “Why don’t I give the phone to the pilot so you can speak to him
, dummy.”
I laughed out loud, almost letting the phone sl*p from my shoulder. “You brat! I
hope your tongue isn’t the only thing that got sharper during that trip.”
“Come pick me and you’d find out.” There was a pause on her end.
But I could hear the muffled voices of people in the background and the some-
what clear voice of someone softly issuing out instructions. It must be the
flight attendant. “Please, rip your phones, secure your belongings as we would
land in the next couple of minutes.”
“Okay, I’ve got to go,” Grace finally said, “We’re about to land.” Then with a manu-
factured deep stern voice, she growled, “Don’t keep me waiting, Sydney!”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said even though the line already went dead.
I stuffed everything I might need into my handbag, got out of the house and made my way to my car after locking the doors. I started the car and drove to the airport to go pick my friend from her long trip to Paris.
After much deliberation, Me, Grace and the newly appointed board members
had decided that it would be much better if one of the company’s employees would research men’s clothing, learn about it and incorporate it in the company.
After the unfortunate event with that fake men’s clothing supplier, Bran, we didn’t
want to risk it again.”
Though the company had been purged of the betrayers and bad employees that are the likes of Richie, it would be rewarding in the long run if one of our employ-
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ees possessed the knowledge about the new industry we wanted to go into.
Grace, being the utmost fashion lover and enthusiast, had obviously been vot- ed for by the board members and she gladly agreed to go. It was also the per- fect getaway from all of the ruckuses that surrounded us.
Paris being one of the leading countries in fashion had been the country we all agreed on. Grace got registered for a three–month course while we agreed that she would spend three more months carrying out personal research while incor-
porating what she learnt by interning or taking a temporary job.
Just after four months, Grace had already been texting me that she was ready
to kickstart the men’s fashion line for our company. By now, I was, she was fully
fueled and ready to impress our clients when we introduce our latest niche to
them.
During her stay there, she also gisted me about what she had going on there. About her classes, her dates, the fine men, the friends she made both in the in-
dustry she was looking into and random strangers who turned friends. She also
never ceased to gush about the fashion world in Paris. “We’re definitely open-
ing a branch here in Paris someday,” she said in one of those long phone calls.
Just as I pulled up before the airport, my eyes instantly zeroed in on Grace.
Even from the distance, I could see the radiance and confidence that radiated
off her. The confident tilt of her chin was admirable as she strutted toward me.
“Hey bestie,” she chirped as she saw me alighted from the car, a huge grin on
her face.
I pulled her in for a hug and exclaimed, “Welcome back, my queen reborn from
fire!”
Grace laughed and tipped her chin in the air, “Hurry up and worship me. When our men’s fashion line goes online, my worth is going to skyrocket.”
I held back my grin as I took a step back and decided to play along, “Yes, yes, please, my queen, take me with you to success.”
Then I pretended to place a crown on her head. Grace, to most of the passers-
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Chapter 41 Chapter Forty One.
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by amusement, crouched slightly and let me put the invisible crown on her head
When she straightened to her full height we burst out laughing heartily, our loud guffaw echoed right through the airport terminal.
I held my tummy, sobbering up. My eyes perused her face. She was different. Good different…happy different. Her eyes glowed with joy and contentment, completely free from the pain of the emotional whirlwind she experienced six months ago. She had this stunning aura combined with a strong sense of au- thority swirling all around her.
“You look good, girl,” I grinned at her.
She blushed and hugged me again, “Oh please.” She pulled back, “You don’t look bad yourself, either.”
“Sydney!”
Grace and I exchanged a glance when we heard my name being called out
then we both turned to the direction the call had come from.
I raised my brows at the people walking towards us. Truly, these were the last people expected to run into – Mark and Bella. What a surprise.
After Grace left for Paris, it was left to me to oversee the affairs of the compa-
- ny. I had been so busy getting things right and stripping the company of all the employees that didn’t want it’s progress that I didn’t even have any time to think
about Mark or Bella or anyone or even anything that wasn’t relevant to the
growth of the company.
Even whenever I was in GT Group, I have never come across him. Now thinking
about it, I wondered how that had happened. I mean I visited GT Group a num-
ber of times and we never ran into each other. Could he have been avoiding me
then? But it didn’t even matter. It was even a good thing and it wasn’t like I ever
itched to see him.
Seeing them now – a huge grin on Mark’s face and Bella smiling slightly as she
ckubg to Mark – felt like a lifetime since I last saw them.
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“Grace, hello,” Mark stopped before us then he turned to me, “Sydney, long time. no see. How have you been?”
“As you can see, I’ve been good. How about you?”
Mark shrugged, “Life goes on.” Then his brows creased very slightly, “Have you guys got time? We could all grab a cup of coffee.”
Reflexively, my gaze wandered to Bella, who was possessively holding Mark’s
arm.
I couldn’t help but mentally shake my head. So Mark was still clinging to her? Well, none of them or their actions meant anything to me anymore. I had let it all go.
“Hi,” Bella managed out when our eyes clashed.
“Hi,” I answered politely and turned to Mark, declining his offer. “Nah, we don’t have the time, Mark. We have pretty important things to do.”
Mark looked somewhat disappointed. Then ho quickly covered up his disap-
pointment with a smile, “Of course. Next time then.”
I couldnt help the laugh that bubbled up my throat, “Don’t you think a good ex- wife should keep a proper distance from her ex–husband? So, no, thank you.
There won’t be a next time.”
I wasn’t about to invite Bella’s trouble into my life again. She should have Mark
all to herself.
I didn’t wait for his response, I took Grace’s arm and started to veer her toward
the car.
“You guys didn’t notice?” Bella suddenly blurted, stopping Grace and I. I turned to her and saw her stroking her belly. It was then I noticed the big naterball gown she had on and her slightly protruded tummy. I couldn’t stop the raise of my brows. Wow.
She smiled and riveted her gaze solely on me, “Sydney, I’m pregnant. Aren’t you going to congratulate your sister?”
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“Really?” I fully turned around, “Then I must congratulate you on becoming a mother.” I held her gaze, “What does this have to do with me that you had to per- sonally tell me though?I’m sure I didn’t impregnate you.” I scoffed, “How funny.”
I turned and took Grace’s arm. As I veered her toward the car, I said, loud
enough for Bella to hear, “What’s the big deal about being pregnant? I don’t get why she’s so proud. Like she’s the only one on earth who can have a baby.”
Grace responded immediately, playing along, “I know right!” I almost burst out
laughing, her voice was even louder than mine; as usual, she always took
things to the next level. “I bet when either of us gets pregnant, our baby will be
a thousand times cuter than hers.”
After Grace’s outburst, Mark’s words drifted to us. “You didn’t have to tell her,
you know,” he said in a cl*pped tone.
“What’s it to you?” Bella shot back.
Mark must have responded to her but their voice drifted away since they’ve
started to walk away.
By the time we got to the car, my face was hurting from holding back my laugh-
ter. I burst out, guffawing, “Grace, you still haven’t changed, huh?” I said amidst
laughter.
“What?” She shrugged as she laughed with me, “I was simply backing you up.
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