"Oh, stop it! You can't tell me that your profession doesn't add a plus to your attractiveness,when it comes to the ladies,"Sandy texted Ricky, giggling as she dropped her phone back onto the bed.
As she began dressing up,she let her thoughts drift to her closeness with Rick. She have been in constant communication with him for the past two weeks, and their latest conversation had started when she asked about his dating history.
Sandy wasn't naive,she knew that a guy as handsome as Ricky would have several women dying for his attention.And given his profession which made him even more desirable,it was like adding icing on an already yummy cake. But lately, she couldn't help but think that she was falling for him.
After their lunch that day, he had proceeded to ask her out again, but she had declined,along with several other attempts he had made to get a date with her.
Although Sandy couldn't deny that she did find him attractive, but lately she have been trying to regulate her feelings especially since she was still healing from the whole Michael situation.
Even after turning down several of Ricky's requests, he had still continued to call and text her. So they have been in communication every single day for the past two weeks,and Sandy was having a blast;Ricky was funny, always finding a way to make her laugh, with his relentless teasing and also a gentleman.
Smiling, Sandy buttoned up her jeans as she inspected herself in the mirror. Dressed in a blue jeans paired with a black off-shoulder long-sleeved top,that complimented her broad shoulders.
Now, fully dressed her gaze drifted to her makeup-free face, and her smile widened. The bruise had healed, returning her skin to its natural clear state,she had never really had to worry about acne as puberty had taken pity on her.
She sat down as she began applying light makeup when her phone beeped, signaling a new message. She smirked,already knowing it was Ricky, probably replying her with a long, defensive text,courtesy of begin a lawyer she thought.
She turned her head as her gaze fell on the bouquet of red roses on her dresser,a gift from Ricky. Since rejecting his offer for a proper date, he had resulted to sending her flowers every two days.
Even now, while he was away on a work trip, he had still arranged for them to be delivered. At first, she thought it was just another one of his tactics to get her to say yes to him,but when the flowers kept coming, she had to beg him to stop sending flowers.
As it was already causing several raised eyebrows, especially from her father and stepmother. But Ricky had told her that he would only stop when she said yes to a date with him.
It had taken an entire week of her room being flooded with different kinds of flowers before she finally said yes,just to stop the flowers from coming. Only for him to inform her of his trip. But even then, the flowers had kept coming, a silent reminder that he was waiting.
A second beep from her phone pulled her away from her musings. She quickly finished up her makeup with a nude lip gloss, grabbed her black Hermès Kelly bag,a birthday gift from her stepmother to finish off the look.
picking up her phone from the bed,she dashed downstairs.She was heading to Selene's house.
She hadn't visited in a while, mainly because Selene had hired a new nanny who comes twice a week and a regular babysitter for Cyrus,so her wasn't needed as often anymore. But last night, Selene had sent her a cute picture of Cyrus playing with the toys she had brought over, and her heart had tightened with longing as she stared at the picture,She hadn't realized how much she missed her nephew.
She had also made up her mind,that she was going to finally let the cat out of the beg. She was finally going to tell Selene about Frank and Ivy's engagement today.
It had been eating her up inside,to the extent that she had even discussed it with Ricky, though she had lied about the names, swapping Frank and Ivy's identities just in case Ricky happened to know them. His advice? "Tell your sister."
As she dashed down the flight of stairs, her phone vibrated with a third message from Ricky.
"Oh wow! Ignoring me? That hurts a lot, sweetheart."
Giggling as her eyes read through the messages, her fingers hovered over the keyboard about to type a response when she heard a very familiar, annoying voice coming from the sitting room. She slowed down her pace as she tilted her head, peering inside. To get a good view as the voices became more clear enough to make out their words.
"So, sir, all I'm saying is that Sterling Holdings needs investors like you. Someone who believes in us and is willing to give us a chance, regardless of everything we've been through," Frank said. Sandy could see him seated on the leather couch beside her father.
Sandy felt her blood boil. As fumes of anger evaporated from her ears. The Audacity!
First, he was marrying Ivy,Selene's ex-best friend. And now, he was trying to get her father to invest in his sinking company? Hot, volcanic anger bubbled inside her, but she held back, choosing instead to eavesdrop.
"Hmm," Mr. King hummed, using his fingers to graze over his beard as though in thought. "Let me see the slides of the project again,just to be sure of what I'm investing my money on."
Frank quickly retrieved his tablet, flipping through the slides and explaining each one in detail.
"Okay, okay," Mr. King finally said. "You've successfully convinced me."
Frank grinned.
"But," Mr. King continued, "I'll need to go through these files personally."
"No problem, sir! I could leave this with you," Frank said, placing the tablet beside him.
"No, no," Mr. King chuckled. "I want hard copies. I'm still not used to reading important documents on a screen like you kids. I prefer the old-fashioned way."
Frank laughed politely, nodding his head in agreement.
That was all the cue Sandy needed as She stepped into the room, determined to put an end to this nonsense.
"Hi, Daddy," she said smiling,bending to kiss her father on his cheek while ignoring Frank.
"Sandy," Frank muttered, with disdain look on his face. She said nothing,not even sparing him a glance.
"Oh, hi, sweetie," her father greeted warmly,smiling at her oblivious to the tension between Sandy and Frank. "Frank and I were just discussing business" he said. "Join us." He patted the seat beside him.
Sandy sat, determined to put a stop to Frank's deception.
Immediately she sat down,as though sensing her plan.Frank stood up. "So sir, I'll send the hard copies of those documents as requested," he said with a stiff smile on his face. "But I have to go,got a company to run."
"Company, my foot," Sandy muttered under her breath.
"Stop that, Sandy," her father scolded. "This young man is doing great things with his company,unlike you, with that hobby you call a job."
Sandy's face stiffened. But she said nothing.
Turning back his attention to Frank who now had a grin on his face, Mr. King smiled. "Yes, son, please do. I will take my time to go through them and give you my feedback."
"Thanks for your time sir,i really do appreciate"Frank said politely. "Do have a lovely day."Then, glancing at Sandy, he added mockingly, "And you too, Sandy."his grin widened.
Sandy rolled her eyes,as she stared at his retreating figure.
Once he was gone, Sandy turned to her father. "Daddy, you can't possibly be thinking of investing in Sterling Holdings," she said, her tone firm.
Mr. King who now had a political magazine in his hands,flipped through the pages. "And why shouldn't I?" He asked lifting up his gaze to meet hers "The young man has dreams, and it's important to support people with ambition."
"But—"
"There are no 'buts,' Sandy," he interrupted,a frown now plastered on his face"I've seen what he has planned, and I'm willing to support them." He snapped.
Sandy fell silent.
Mr. King sighed. "And stop with the cold shoulders. Your sister was the one who left him at the altar." He said as his jaw tightened.
Sandy dropped her shoulders,as her face turned red with sadness. Not knowing what next to say,she had never been good at handling her father's scoldings. Selene had always been the strong one.
Immediately Mr King noticed the effect of his words, his face softened. He reaching out, he lifted her chin so she would look at him. His eyes,now softened with emotions.
"I'm sorry, sweetie," he murmured,apologizing for his harsh words.
Sandy forced a small smile.
He sighed deeply,like he has been holding a huge a weight on his chest. "Besides, Sterling Holdings was your sister's business before she left five years ago. I refuse to watch it fall apart when I have the means to help,even though Frank and Selene are no more together." His gaze turned distant, filled with sadness.
Sandy's heart clenched,as realization hit her.This wasn't about Frank.
She smiled sadly,as she reached for his hand, pressing a soft kiss to it. "You're doing this for Selene, aren't you?" she whispered.
Her father said nothing, but simply nodding as he returned his attention back to his magazine.
Sandy smiled deepened, her heart swelling with love and admiration. Although she knew how stubborn her father could be,but deep down, he was still a good father.Even though he had a hard way of showing it.
Her only hope was that one day, he and Selene would let go of their anger,so they could finally be one big happy family again.