Chapter 116: Inconvenience
Lola had crossed a lot of lines in this life, to the point that her entire world had almost become unsalvageable. But there were a few she wouldn’t cross, such as intentionally hurting another woman over a man or being the cause of a ruined relationship.
But Atlas cleared up all of that, and here she was, grinning like a fool.
Silo slowly moved his face toward her, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. He was squatting beside her, inspecting the unfurnished corner of her future office.
"What’s so funny in there?" he asked aloud, leaning close to the wall. When he turned, Lola snapped back to reality.
"Huh?"
Silo squinted. "Lola, what is it in here? You’re giggling while staring at the dirt. At the dirt, Lola."
"Oh?" Lola sucked in her inner cheeks to stop herself from smiling. "I was?"
"Lola, are you..." He moved closer, making her lean back.
"What?" She looked away. "Am I what?"
He didn’t answer immediately, studying her face. "Have you been... missing your meds?"
"..."
SMACK!
"Ack—!" Silo almost fell face-first onto the wall as she playfully slapped his back.
"Do you think I’m crazy?" she clicked her tongue, rising to her feet. "I’m just thinking of something really funny, that’s all! Also, this work is great. Should be finished in a few weeks."
She dusted her hands off as she turned around, but the corners of her mouth hooked up as her cheeks flushed.
I’m going crazy, maybe.
Meanwhile, Silo kept his eyes suspiciously narrowed on her back. Yet he hadn’t confronted her about what Cedrick had told him regarding her alleged "husband."
Lola and Silo soon joined the lead architect and interior designer to discuss the progress of the renovation. Overall, she was very satisfied. Not only was the work impeccable, but she also felt this... lightness in her heart.
It felt like everything was going smoothly.
Cedrick’s photoshoot progress, the office she was setting up in Novera, and the situation with the twins and their father.
"Say, Silo," Lola called as they walked out of the building, turning toward him. "If things are going too smoothly for me, should I worry?"
"Since when did you start asking me these questions?"
"Since today." She blinked, stopping beside the van he had driven. "Should I worry?"
Confused, Silo scrunched his nose as he studied her expression. There was curiosity in her eyes, but somehow, her face felt different. Not just because she wasn’t wearing that horrendous disguise—something else had changed. He just couldn’t pinpoint it.
"Lola, what happened?" he asked. "You look..."
"I look what?"
"Well, you look..." Again, he paused, studying her before a smile crept across his face. "...you look happy, Lola. It’s been a while since I saw you like this. Did you get the lands from Mr. Young?"
Lola pursed her lips. "Not yet, but I guess I am happy." She slapped his shoulder. "Let’s go see Cedrick. I want to check his acting lessons."
She hopped into the front passenger seat while Silo watched her, smacking his mouth and shrugging with a chuckle.
"She’s happy," he muttered. "Feels like I’m talking to an old friend."
Silo jogged to the driver’s seat, ready to head to their next destination. It wasn’t that Lola had stopped being a friend—it was just that... she had been different. The air around her used to feel a little gloomy; that was why her makeup often matched it.
She had been like a ball of darkness incarnate, after all. Anyone who had spent time around her would agree.
But she had also been like this before—someone who smiled easily, someone more relaxed, not someone calm on the outside while brewing turmoil within. And Silo never realized he missed that version of her until he saw her today.
"Lola, keep smiling like that, okay?!"
****
Meanwhile, somewhere in Novera...
"What are you talking about?" Melissa frowned at the receptionist of Sun Couture.
Pixy and Megan furrowed their brows as well.
"Is there a mix-up?" Megan stepped in. "Melissa has an appointment here today. Can you please check?"
The staff forced a smile, lowering her head. "I’m really sorry, but Mr. Pon isn’t here today, and none of the items are available."
"How is that possible?" Pixy blurted in disbelief. "Can you check again?"
"I’m really sorry," the staff member repeated, without checking.
"I need to speak to your manager," Melissa said, clearly displeased. "She’s the one I was in contact with."
The staff member glanced at Melissa and then at the others, pursing her lips before excusing herself to call the branch manager. She knew the manager would say the same thing, but the ladies were insistent.
Melissa, Pixy, and Megan stood idly outside as the staff didn’t even offer to let them wait inside. Soon, the branch manager appeared.
"Miss Young!"
Melissa perked up at the familiar face. "Manager Spear," she greeted as the manager stopped before her. "Your staff didn’t want to let us in. I think there’s a problem with the schedule—or perhaps she didn’t receive the memo about my appointment today."
"Didn’t get a memo?" Megan murmured. "She didn’t even offer Melissa a seat inside."
Pixy was equally displeased. "Manager Spear, Melissa is an important client. Isn’t it proper to offer her a seat rather than have her stand outside?"
"It’s alright," Melissa said with a meek smile, though she agreed with everything they said.
The manager gave a conflicted but forced smile. "I’m sorry about that, Miss Young. Please come in."
Melissa smiled in satisfaction as she followed the manager inside, shooting the staff member a look of disdain, making a mental note to mention it later. But she barely sat down when the manager spoke.
"What?" Melissa frowned.
The branch manager sighed. "I’m truly sorry, Miss Young. It’s the owner’s instruction. Every single item here was unavailable—someone had already shown an interest in all of them. I apologize for the inconvenience."
"Don’t worry, though!" the branch manager offered a forced smile. "Once something becomes available again, you’d be on our priority list!"
Melissa frowned, clearly unhappy with this. However, throwing a huge tantrum wouldn’t be in her favor. Hence, she tried to appear understanding.
It was a good thing she had other options. So after that, the three of them headed to her second boutique option, only to experience deja vu because, apparently, all their items were ready to be shipped. It was the same with her third and fifth options.
In the end, Melissa came home empty-handed with a load of inconvenient stories that could last a lifetime.