Aura Finley
When Rian texted me the address I didn't know that it would turn out to be a grand manor house. The modern piece of architecture, impressive enough to make heads turn. The vicinity was contemporary with a myriad of evenly shaped trees beautifying the vast landscape at the front and on the right side, there was a stunning pool deck with lounge chairs and plants cleverly arranged around it. It was picturesque enough to be referred to as a private sanctuary.
I held my breath and tightened my grip on my suitcase and walked through the abstract pathway created with the marbles of grey and white. The atmosphere seemed chaotic, people running around frantically probably for some planned purpose, some unloading the props from the truck, some chatting casually, perhaps the preparations to embellish the mansion had begun.
I had just taken a step forward when a gentle tap on my right shoulder stopped me from moving. I didn't have to turn to look as to who had stopped me as the person was now before me, waving at me with a wild grin playing on his lips.
"Hello there, cheesesteak. All set to work?"
"First of all, stop calling me cheesesteak. My parents gave me a beautiful name, I'd rather you stick to that." The firmness in my voice must give him the notion of how bothered I was.
"Aura..." His gaze observed me dreamily. "Indeed a beautiful name. It symbolizes wind, doesn't it?" Then I saw a glint of amusement radiating through his eyes. "But where's fun in calling you by your name than it is to see you over the edge...ready to pounce on me." He whispered sensually and winked playfully.
"You—" I was about to pounce on him to scratch that godly face of his but was stopped by Rian's voice.
"Hey, you both have arrived. Welcome."
I saw her coming out of the manor wearing a short kaftan dress and flat sandals with her hair tied in a high bun, looking every bit gorgeous one could imagine.
"Damn, you are soaring the heat, girl! Have some mercy at the males in your vicinity. Do you want us to melt?"
I visibly rolled my eyes at Kian's flirty remark. What else could have I expected from him?
Rian, who was already soaking in Kian's charms since she had met him, blushed while gently laughing. "Charming way to greet girls, Kian. Did you greet Aura the same way or it's just me?"
"Just you, sweets. Can't risk being blown away by the wind here." He laughed, clearly mocking me while glancing at me peripherally.
I scowled, mentally spinning him unrelentingly in the unabated storm of my wrath.
"Hey, Rian. You look beautiful." I smiled at her. I had to compliment her since she indeed looked stunning. I never hesitate to compliment the elements I like.
"Aww, thank you. And I must say, you look gorgeous in this skater dress of yours." She came forward just to hug me. "C'mon, the event planning team has arrived. Let's get you in it."
She then led us inside the mansion and even for that short walk, Kian kept throwing flirty remarks. "Hey, Zoya, here are the interns I was talking about," Rian exclaimed and a group of people directed their gaze at us. Rian was introducing us to Zoya, the team leader when someone called for her from behind.
"Rian."
Rian spun with bullet speed and jumped on the man who had just called her. "Oh my god, Rio! Brother, I missed you so much! You were supposed to arrive the day after tomorrow, weren't you?" She asked him while hugging the life out of him.
"I missed you too, my baby sis. And yeah, surprise." The man whose name was Rio I presumed, smiled at her.
Their adorable interaction reminded me of my brother. Oh, how I missed him. I made a mental note to call him later.
"C'mon, let's surprise others, too." Rio dragged his sister further inside, leaving us in the scrutiny of Zoya.
Zoya approached us and stood with her hands in her jumpsuit pockets. She was young and confident and she looked every bit of a businesswoman. "So, Kian and Aura, I do not generally allow anyone to join my team unless I have interviewed 'em, but Rian's my friend and it's her family event, so I accepted her request of having you on the team. So, welcome. Hope you enjoy every second of being on the team." She smiled gently.
I thanked her for having us on her team and Kian spoke, "Oh, I assure you that you all will enjoy our presence on the team. Aura and I are quite experienced in planning es...uh, events, aren't we, Aura?"
I tossed him a frosty glare with a tight-lipped smile. "Yeah..." For heaven's sake, we were supposed to stay low, but he almost ruined it. Dumb fool!
We then had an introduction with the team which included three girls, Rachel, Mia, and Vinnie. And three boys, Joy, Ezra, and Leo.
Once we were dissolved in the team, Zoya spoke. "Now, quickly go to your rooms, get settled, and come back right away. I'll assign you your duties."
We all ushered to the back of the manor towards the cabin to have ourselves settled. Rian had already informed us that Zoya had arranged a comfortable stay for her team since she didn't want the team to waste time traveling as every person came from a different area and some from afar, that's why Kian and I had come prepared with our bags.
I was left awestruck once we all reached in front of the cabin because it was more than just a cabin. It was a small, yet extremely beautiful house from the outside. Once inside, all the girls gasped, admiring the gloriously cozy house with optimum space that could accommodate a small family perfectly.
We all paired to share rooms. Vinnie and I decided to share. Mia and Rachel paired. Then with the boys; Kian and Leo in one room, Joy and Ezra in another.
I was about to enter my room when Kian called for me. Huffing, I turned to face him.
"Err, I was just wondering...did you quit your job or took a medical leave?" He inquired.
"I find no obligation in having to tell you what I did." I scowled, crossing my arms. I didn't want to tell him or anyone how I begged for leave from my HR. He technically threatened to have me fired, but I played the innocent card of involving my ailing brother—who was fit as a fiddle.
Sorry, bro, but you had to be of some use after all.
Kian groaned. "Geez woman, you are so damn cold! Your coldness is what helps people sustain themselves in this scorching summer!"
"At least I am of some use unlike some people here." I taunted, which I believe he got the reference to as he narrowed his eyes at me.
"You are an utterly rude, stone-hearted, cold devil... disguised as an angel. Fine! Be quick with the settling and all and meet me before the team meeting. I have something planned already."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold your horses, mister." Frowning, I raised my hand, showing him my palm. Then I moved my index finger between us. "We both are going to work on this...together. So, whatever we do, we do it together, are we clear?"
Instead of understanding, that rascal smirked. "Together, eh? Aren't you moving too fast? I mean, you were cold a second ago, and honestly, we just met and you want us together? Not that I —"
I grimaced and snapped, stopping him from daydreaming. "You very well know what I'm referring to."
"Geez cheesesteak, you are no fun! Fine, we'll formulate something...as you put it...together. Happy?" He smiled mischievously and stepped backward, not leaving my gaze. "See you in a few." He winked and disappeared into his room which was the corner one, near the open kitchen.
Ugh, how was I gonna work with this flirt? God, save me. I prayed
I went inside my room feeling extremely agitated and slumped on my bed with a groan. Vinnie, who was unpacking on her bed, raised her head.
"Tired already?"
"More like irritated," I muttered under my breath. "Not actually, just wondering how we will wrap up the work. I mean, the mansion is huge and I believe there're going to be some random parties as well considering how big the wedding is going to be."
"Well, you are right there. Zoya did tell me that the guests will be staying until after the wedding. So, a bachelorette and other random parties will be in line. Be prepared to get tired." She chuckled.
"How long have you been working for Zoya?" I asked, observing her black bob hair that fluidly bounced as she paced near her bed, aimlessly spreading her clothing on the bed. She was tall, beautiful in her olive skin, and emitted the light of being friendly. However, I had yet to find that out.
"Been a year or so. It's Joy and I who joined her first in this team, else are new, but older than you—not in age, eh? Got what I am referring to? No? Jesus, I am so bad at making jokes!" She sheepishly laughed at herself which brought a smile to my face. She was bubbly as well.
"Oh, shoot!" She face-palmed all of a sudden. "I have something to discuss with Zoya, I'll be back in a jiffy." Saying that she dashed out of the room.
I chuckled and slumped back in the bed, pressing my face to the pillow. I huffed thinking how will we have Rian flee from between so many people.
I again pondered over her excuse of having to run away from her responsibilities. Her brother could also have stepped up if she didn't want to work under her father, or there was something more to it?
Feeling that I wouldn't be able to guess, I gave up thinking and picked up my phone, I dialed my brother's number.
"Who's this?" Came the question as soon as my baby brother picked up the call.
"The one you can't think of living without." I chirped, trying not to burst out in fits of laughter.
"Uh oh, your voice does sound familiar but I can't think of a reason why I can't live without a stranger." I felt a hint of joy in his voice and I knew he was smiling as I was but he wouldn't accept it yet.
I sat up on the bed and adjusted to sit crossed-legged with a pillow on my lap. "I presume you have forgotten the beating I gave you when you refused to identify me in front of your friends, Alec baby."
"Well, you shouldn't have come to receive me at the bus stop in that witch costume of yours. I swear you looked real, Windy." He finally laughed, making me laugh at the nickname he had for me. He had been calling me that ever since he had learned the meaning of my name.
"Hey, I had just arrived home and mom didn't give me time to change since your school bus had arrived and she was busy in the kitchen," I remembered the day when I had just come back home from grade school after acting a witch in a harry potter play and mom had asked me to pick him from the stop. And I, without giving a thought to what I had been wearing went out of the house. It was so damn embarrassing, but I took my revenge by beating him with his lightsaber, breaking it in the process.
"How have you been, Windy?" He asked lowly. "It's been two years since I last saw you."
My throat began to clog up with emotions as I remembered my little family. After traveling to many cities in California for years, dad had finally decided to settle in San Diego, my parents' hometown. I had last visited them after my graduation.
"I'll be there soon," I mumbled, resisting myself from crying. I missed them too but my work and my debt didn't allow me to visit them.
"Tell me, have mom and dad been fighting like before? They wouldn't tell me." I asked. Dad's unstable jobs and his moving to different cities with family since mom would go restless without him had caused some rifts in between them. Mom was fed up with dad's taking up different jobs and moving from one place to another. Regardless of countless fights, the love between them never wavered.
"They are in the loveliest phase they have ever been. Since dad has decided to listen to mom about getting settled at one place, everything's perfect." He chuckled.
I smiled ear to ear. "That's superb."
He scoffed. "Not that I am complaining, but you got to live your best high school life staying in dorms with friends, but when it came to me, dad decided on this and now my dream of living in a dorm has been snatched brutally from me."
"Only if you knew what it felt like while leaving for dorm after school when my classmates went to their homes, to their parents. I didn't have a choice, Alec." I sighed painfully. I didn't want to jeopardize my studies so, I decided to live in a dorm in San Diego, CA for my high school while my family traveled. My brother was currently in his sophomore year of high school and desired to live in a dorm.
I felt our conversation had taken a sad turn so I decided to make it a bit cheerful. "Besides, you wouldn't be able to share the dorm room because you fart a lot." I laughed.
"Hey, I do not." He protested. "And even if I do, it's natural." And that made me fall back and roll on my bed, laughing.
"Natural doesn't mean pleasant." I laughed harder, taunting him.
"Yeah, shut up you stinky!" He chuckled then his voice became somber. "You know, Dad won't even let me work saying I must concentrate on my studies." He whined.
"That's great, bro. You should appreciate this. Study when you are given the chance. I don't want you to end up like me, struggling endlessly."
"Hey, don't be sad. I trust you. You will have a better job and of course, you will live the life you have always wanted." He tried to cheer me up and couldn't be more thankful for having him in my life.
"Aww, thank you for motivating me, my baby brother." I smiled, my gaze landing on the abstract carpet on the floor and it stayed there, my mind trying to create new patterns.
I heard him groan. "I am not a baby anymore. And Windy, we all miss you. Come back soon, or should I ask dad to plan a visit to you?"
"I miss you all, too. And no, no need to trouble dad. I promise I'll visit you when I have settled a few things here. I'll send you some pocket money okay?" I said to him. He had never been demanding; had never asked for anything from me or our parents, but as an elder sister, I felt obliged to have his pockets filled even though I couldn't give him much.
"Nah, no need. Don't tell this to dad but I have taken an online job." He whispered as if fearing dad would listen, which meant he was home.
I chuckled. "As long as you don't compromise with your studies, I have no problem. Don't forget your dream is to go to med school."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I wouldn't risk it for anything. Anyway, I have gotta go out with my friends. Now be a good girl and concentrate on work, windy."
"Don't forget I'm the elder one here. Talk to you later, Alec baby"
I felt refreshed and energized after disconnecting the call. I somewhat needed that light-hearted conversation with my brother. Now, I was ready to face all the risks that were about to come my way.
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Next update: Tomorrow. ❤
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