•Word Count: 1,525
•••
Previously on Heiress in Distress:
-Clara got attacked by some strangers and tossed carelessly onto the local park.
-Elias came to their rescue and had his half-sister Juniper take the small family of three into her home for protection and medical care for Clara.
-They've spent a few weeks in that residence and one night, Elias has Mira fighting against his best female fighter, Cordelia, to prove a point.
-Mira still hasn't figured out how she feels for Elias, Aurick is still MIA, and secrets of her past are slowly beginning to uncover.
•••
I figured it's either Elias is schizophrenic, or I'm unable to accurately interpret his behaviour.
Bringing down my cup of coffee after a large gulp that leaves my tongue and throat burning, I swallow once more just because my throat suddenly feels dry.
"I don't know about that," I begin, setting my cup on Clara's bedside table, "I mean, my evening schedule is always packed-" I pause when his eyelids droop on a bored expression, indicating he senses a lie.
"-packed with studying, that is," I say, clarifying what he clearly misunderstood.
He thought I was referring to my evening job at the airline, but I wouldn't dare use that for an excuse; because, for starters, he is practically my boss and he knows I don't have anything bid for me for the next week, and secondly, the whole company, according to him, has the evening off, to attend this event he's currently trying to convince me to join him to.
His mouth forms an 'I don't know' frown, before he shrugs his shoulders. "I was thinking we could take Élise with us, too,"
No. Absolutely, not. Going with him to an event like that, where I'll meet everyone who works at the company, is something, but taking Élise with us, as if we're a happy family of three, is another thing.
Besides, after meeting a few of the members of the airline a while ago during my training, and their asking me about the university I've graduated from, which gave me an insight to the extend of their curiosity, there is no way I'm walking in with the CEO of the airline in front of everyone. And just like that, I know I've made up my mind on the already easy choice.
"Your asking me to join you to this event is... endearing," I say truthfully, shifting my attention away from the intensity of his gaze, "But I don't want my colleagues to think I got the job the way I did-"
"How did you get the job?" He asks, seeming impatient as his jaw locks and a frown mounts his features.
Only yesterday he left without a word, seeming upset with me, and now he's feeling chatty ? I'm not a huge fan of ambivalence, yet Elias tends to keep me suspended in that state forever.
I swallow. "What I mean, is that I didn't even obtain a proper bachelor degree, that admits me to this-"
"You've proven to make an excellent effort in your training and you were given the job through your merit-" He pauses when I shoot him a meaningful look.
He purses his lips, shaking his head, "You're not the first person, by the way. A good number of my employees weren't fortunate enough to study beyond the level of high school, so we offer them a chance to work minor positions at the airline to make a living.
Provided that, they pass their training with excellence, of course," He gestures to me with a flick of his hand, "which you have,"
Still, I missed my first week at work, which was the week Clara was injured and was being kept under Dr Conrad's inspection, and I have no particular explanation for that; for all I know, I should have been fired by now.
"I don't think-"
"She'll definitely go with you, Elias," Someone says from behind me.
I turn to meet the playful but treacherous eyes of none other than Clara, who winks at Elias before looking at me, "You've dedicated the whole past week to me, and I can't seem to return the lost time back, but what I can do is.." She smiles brightly, "help you prepare for your very first date,"
The need to scorn her for referring to this event as a date dies away the second I notice the light sheen that makes her eyes shine with emotion.
I bite my words back and look at Clara, who begs me with her eyes, and I know with that look and the thought that I almost lost her a week ago, I could do anything she asks of me. So, I do the only thing I know that would cheer her up. I nod.
Her eyes widen, and her whole face lights up, and for a second, I don't regret agreeing.
That's until reality seeps in, and Clara looks at Elias, "When and where is this event being held ?" She asks him.
Elias seems pleased by her reaction, "This weekend, 8:00 PM at my associate's Hotel," He looks at me with a smile, "It's a suit and tie event, in case you need reference to your wardrobe,"
When Elias bids us 'Goodnight' giving Élise a parting peck on her cheek, and placing my thoughts at an inconvenience by telling me he looks forward to this weekend, I do my best at keeping my accusatory eyes for myself and not directing them at Clara.
"Are you mad at me ?" She asks carefully.
I sigh, looking at her, "I'm not mad.. I just.. I don't have anything to wear,"
I deliberately leave out the nuisance about 'the others' to Clara, knowing she's facing enough emotional stress and I shouldn't put her through more.
But it's true, I realise, I have nothing to wear to this event, as I've always been on a budget and soirée dresses weren't on the list of my priorities.
"Then buy something, M" She purses her lips when I shake my head, "You would have attended this event on your own so you would've had to buy something either way"
She's right but, "Élise has nothing to wear,"
I mean I stuffed her wardrobe with everything a baby could need but something to wear on an event.
From her perch on Clara's side bed rods, Élise looks at me the second she hears her name. She waves at me and then brings her palm to her mouth as if to send me a flying kiss, and I can't help the shock that brings a burst of laughter out of me.
"When did she learn how to do that?" I ask Clara, equal parts surprised and proud.
Clara laughs too before leaning over and placing both her palms on the bedside table, "Wait till you see this,"
She begins drumming her palms on the bedside table, singing an unfamiliar nursery rhyme and Élise begins bouncing up and down, bending and unbending her knees, making me throw my head back in laughter.
The rest of the evening goes on the same way, Clara and I chatting, with Élise playing in the background until it's her bedtime.
Clara tells me not to worry about Élise's dress because she was wondering what her Birthday gift would be and figured a dress is the perfect gift.
It's only then that I realise that Élise is two months away from turning 1.
As per expectation, the realisation brings with it a series of disturbing memories and I have to curb the rising emotion as I walk into our bedroom with Élise on my shoulder.
Nearing the bed, I notice a familiar shopping bag on the bed, and as I'm helping a fast asleep Élise settle on the bed, I finally recognise it.
It's the shopping bag Elias brought back with him from the mall in Lyon, and I never got the chance to peek inside it until now.
My curiosity is replaced by shock as I pull out the contents of the bag.
It's a full outfit meant for a 10 to 14 month old, and a tiny, handwritten note. Unfolding the dress makes me gasp as I hold the two pieces outfit out; the baby blue dentelle fitted dress with a chiffon hem is coupled with a beautiful white shrug, the edges of which clipped by a circular diamond brooch in the middle. A matching white satin bow sits proudly at the lower left portion of the dress, right on the demarcation between the dentelle and chiffon materials.
There's a beautiful baby blue fishnet head garment with a bow, an adornment that's the exact same shade as that of the dress, that covers her whole head as if it's a beanie. A pair of beautiful, pearly white Mary Janes meant for a newly walking child glint under even the moon's scarce lighting, the diamond adorned strap winking mischievously.
The next thing that catches my eye, is the tiny note, and as I unfold the piece of paper somewhat eagerly, I have to work to convince my heart from quitting the ridiculous swooning.
Whether it's Élise's notable absence on our trip to L'île Barbe or her permanent lodging in my heart elicited the vision, I'm quite certain I saw Élise in these as I passed by the shop.
But what I find myself secure in my belief about is your irrefutable kindness that won't turn a poor man like myself down when I ask this of you:
Kindly bring Élise to the event in these because as important as this evening is to me and the airline, your (plural) presence poses a greater significance on various levels.
••••
Okay everyone, I don't know what to say but, this past month had been hectic.
We had to deal with two more deaths in the family and I had to go through two tests.
I also had to go around all day, everyday, searching for a good school to put my brother in.
But that doesn't justify my abandoning this book and you guys.
I owe everyone here an apology 🥺♥️
Do you accept it ?
If you do, thanks again for reading (=
Don't forget to tap that little star and watch it magically turn orange ♥️
-Asia