AUTHOR'S POV

EXR Enterprises,
06:33 pm

" Babe, calm down okay. I'm on my way. Stay upstairs with aunt". Jane said on her phone while opening the car door for Edwin.

Edwin heard her and also noticed her tense expression. She closed the door immediately after Edwin sat inside the car and quickly headed towards the driving seat.

The speed of the car was faster than usual. She kept on wiping her face with her palm as sweat was forming again and again. Her chest was moving back and forth and her grip on the steering was tight.

" Is everything alright?". Edwin asked.

" Y-yeah". She clearly lied.

The car pulled stopped inside the parking lot of William's mansion. She grabbed her mobile and handed one of the guards the car keys and without wasting a minute rushed towards her yellow car which was in the same parking lot. She quickly sat in and dashed outside with her car.

Edwin felt that something was up. He thought for a second before deciding to follow her. She was fast but Edwin caught her car speed soon. He kept some distance.

Soon her car stopped in front of a one-floored old house. A restaurant was on the ground floor. It was decorated with some colorful balloons and lighting. Some tables and chairs were outside the restaurant in a good manner. But two bulky men were throwing the tables upside down. Trying to destroy everything.

Edwin was witnessing everything from his car window with crashed eyebrows until Jane run towards them and tried to stop them but one of the men pushed her aside. She fell on the ground but again stood up quickly and followed them as they went inside.

Edwin immediately got off the car and went inside to see what was happening there. As soon as he pushed the glass door he saw Jane pleading them. " Please stop. I promised to give the rent at the end of this month as per the deal".

" We know nothing. Our boss sent us to take money or destroy this place". One of those men said in a dead voice.

Tears shimmered in her gray eyes. She has been decorating this place for the last few months. This is the day of opening and the men decided to show up.

" She said she'll pay on the date". Edwin's voice pulled their attention towards the door. Jane's eyes widen knowing his presence will only cause trouble that unfortunately did.

That man grabbed Jane's arm and made her look up at him. " Now you called him to fight. Aren't you getting over-smart?". He seethed in her face and dig his fingers into her arm gaining her whimpers in response.

Edwin tried to go towards them but another man blocked his way. " Wasn't here to pick a fight but you seem in a mood to do so". Saying that Edwin placed a hard punch on that man's face that he fell to the ground.

Jane gaped. That man released Jane's arm. Edwin stepped over the man who was groaning in pain and stopped there. He tilted his head indicating that man to come over.

That man started walking towards Edwin but suddenly Jane stood between them. Facing that bulky man. " Please no. Take my car. It's- it's outside". She said handing him the keys.

That man smirked at Edwin before snatching the car keys from Jane's hand and left the restaurant after picking up his bleeding friend.

Jane turned to face Edwin. " You shouldn't have come here, sir". She sighed.

" I only wanted to he-".

Suddenly they heard sobbing sounds from upstairs. " Alice". Jane rushed upstairs.

Not knowing what to do Edwin followed her behind.

Jane slammed the door open only to see Alice curled up and sitting in a corner. She was hugging her knees out of fear while uncontrollable tears were rolling down her cheeks.

" My baby... I'm sorry I'm late". Jane sat on her knees and hugged her tightly.

" Are they still here?" Alice asked in a shaky voice.

" No, they are gone". Jane said rubbing her back gently. " Shish...Everything is alright".

Edwin witnessed everything. He also saw an old woman sitting on the edge of the bed palming her forehead.

" Let's get ready okay. Guests will start arriving soon". Jane said pulling out of the hug and wiped Alice's tears making her nod. " Aunt, get ready and get her ready too. I'll take care of the mess downstairs". Saying that Jane turned to go downstairs but her eyes caught Edwin standing at the door of the room.

" Who is he?" Jane's aunt asked.

" He's my boss". She replied. " Edwin William".

Even though her aunt was elder she slightly bowed at Edwin. He noticed all of their nature. They seemed innocent and kind of small-town cultural people, unlike Jane.

She has studied in New York for years. She's well aware of city life and the people. Sadly still she has insecurities because of being broke.

Edwin went downstairs along with Jane and without exchanging any words walked out of the restaurant. Jane also didn't stop him. She tied her hair into a messy bun and started to clean the mess.

Only two hours were left until the ceremony and she has to rearrange everything.

Soon she went towards the glass door to tie a red ribbon for the opening ceremony but her eyes caught Edwin. His coat was hanging on a branch of a nearby tree, his tie was loose, a few buttons of his white shirt was open, sleeved were folded up to his elbows.

He was picking up all the thrown tables and chairs outside and arranging them again. " We need to blow some balloons. Those bastard has ruined the decoration near the entrance too". Edwin said dusting his hands.

She smiled at him before nodding her head. They both went inside. He sat on a chair across a table and picked up a balloon. He kept on blowing in it but it wasn't lasting. He let out a big sigh looking at the tiny balloons in his hands.

Jane laughed at him as he was trying his best but failed badly. " Let me do it ". She said taking the balloon from his hand and blew it using a balloon pump. He stared at the balloon with puppy eyes as it was getting bigger. " Easy". She said wiggling the balloon in front of his face.

" Wait... How to tie it?". He asked leaning closer to her. She rested her elbow on the table and bent near him too. She rolled the edge of the balloon around her finger and tied it simply.

Edwin sat back again raising his index finger near his face. " I don't think I'll be able to tie them. Look at my fingers they are thick. You did it easily because yours are slim".

She looked at him with crashed eyebrows thinking what is he? He's a CEO of EXR enterprises but here all pouty over the fact that he can't tie a balloon properly.

" You blow I'll tie". She said handing him the balloon pump. He took that from her and started blowing the balloon. He jumped whenever the balloon busted because of overblowing it.

Jane stared at him as he was paying his whole attention to a mere object, his locks were falling on his eyes hiding half of them, his lower lip was between his teeth, his eyes met her gray ones and his eyebrows lifted. " Hey". He waved the balloon in front of her eyes pulling her out of her thoughts. " Tie this". He forwarded the balloon towards her.

She was about to grab it but it flew away with a weird sound. Both of their eyes followed the balloon before they looked at each other and busted into laughter.

Suddenly she stopped laughing. Her mouth opened wide. He too stopped smiling thinking about what happened to her. " My baby". She said making Edwin's heart flutter.

" Jan-".

Before he could say something Jane stood up and ran behind him. He turned to see her hugging Alice as she walked downstairs wearing a beautiful green knee-length dress. He placed his palm on his chest feeling her pounding heart inside.

" Son?". Her aunt called Edwin.

" I- I was about to leave -". He stood up wiping his sweating palm on his thighs awkwardly. She walked towards him and cupped his face in an elderly manner then rested her wrinkled palms on his shoulders.

" Please join us and give us a chance to give something in return for your help. We are grateful to you".  Her aunt said lovingly.

" Ma'am, actually- I Ummm...  I would gladly have accepted but I've got dirtied by dust-".

" It'll be our honor if you join our little opening ceremony". Alice spoke unaware of the direction Edwin was standing at.

• Your value is not your appearance.

Chapter published on: 17 October 2022.

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