✿ Aileen's POV

Her radiant smile stretches from ear to ear.

“Hi, Lee.”

“Hello Maeve” I smile back politely. “You're a long way from home. What are you doing here?”

She takes a glance around, her brown Hermes Birkin crocodile leather bag held in the crook of her elbow. She fiddles with her perfectly manicured hands before straightening her coat.

“Oh you know” she shrugs, her Louboutins clicking on the tiles as she walks closer. “I was in the neighborhood and I thought I'd swing by.”

“You have business in this neighborhood?”

I tear my eyes away from her feet and at my Cloud Slippers. Suddenly conscious of myself, I tuck my hands into my apron.

When was the last time I got a hundred-dollar manicure?

Maeve laughs.

Never. I've never gotten a hundred-dollar manicure.

“Okay, you caught me. I came to see you.”

I smile.

“Can we talk?”

“Of course. Let's go into the eatery. It's less crowded and... nosy there” I glance at Bonnie and Lyra who quickly turn away, pretending to be fascinated by the menu board.

Maeve chuckles.

“Please come with me” I gesture.

She nods and follows me into the eatery.

“Cute place by the way. I love the rustic, homey feel. And it smells so good in here. What's that?”

“Oh, that's just Leslie sautéing mushrooms. Nothing fancy.”

She smiles.

“Oh please, sit down” I quickly say, forgetting she was standing.

She eyes the chairs around and moves closer to the one by the entrance of the eatery. She smiles at me and casually flips the 'Open and Closed' sign to 'Closed'.

I quirk an eyebrow.

“Can I get you anything?” I ask.

She turns.

“No thanks.”

“Well please, take a seat... anywhere” I grab a chair and sink myself into it.

“Oh, this won't take long” she smiles.

“Okay,” I chuckle and get back up. “What... did you want to talk to me about?”

She clasps her hands together and moves closer to me.

“I just wanted to apologize on behalf of my grandma. She um... we were all shocked but she didn't... take it well.”

“Oh, no, no it's fine"” I chuckle. “I've totally forgotten about last night. What happened?”

She flashes me an enveloped smile.

“You seem like a good person, Lee. And from how I saw you with my uncle last night, I can tell that you really care for him.”

That's one way to put it.

“And so that's why I came by to apologize for my grandma's behavior.”

I smile at her.

“And to ask you to stay away from my uncle if you care about him.”

My smile freezes.

“Excuse me?”

She whips out a tissue, lays it out across the table I'm standing by and sets her bag on it. I scoff.

“You heard me, Lee” she replies. “Stay away from my uncle.”

I close my eyes and shake my head, my smile unfreezing.

“I'm sorry. I'm confused.”

“So am I as to what he was thinking when he decided to go for someone like you.”

I narrow my eyes a bit.

Didn't she say she was thrilled about Reid and me last night? Why would she be here to apologize for her grandmother's actions if she didn't want me around?

“Look, I don't want to drag this. Whatever you have doing with my uncle, it ends today. If you're a nice person like you're playing out to be, save yourself and let me save my family's image before it's too late for all of us.”

It was all an act!

I shake my head again.

“I'm seriously finding it hard to wrap my head around this, Maeve. What exactly are you asking me to do?”

She sighs.

“Fine. I'll spell it out in the language people like you understand” she tells me and reaches into her purse to bring out a checkbook.

I chortle.

“You've got to be kidding me.”

She really is related to him.

Maeve sets it down on the tissue and scribbles her signature on the bottom of the check before ripping it out to hand it over to me.

“Here. This is a blank check in your name. Write any amount you want. Just don't go above fifty thousand. That's my limit for a day.”

I let out a short disdainful laugh.

“If you need movers to come to help you get your things out of the house my uncle bought for you two, just let me know. My fiancé's family owns a small moving company. They'll assist you... on me.”

She eyes me quickly.

“If the reason he feels forced in any way to be with you is because you're pregnant, don't worry. I know a really good doctor who can end the little life growing inside of you and you won't even miss a thing.”

“I'm not pregnant.”

“Oh good. The less messy and scandalous it is, the better.”

I fold my arms.

“Do I look stupid to you?” I ask her.

She shrugs.

“I don't know how you see yourself. But to me, I think you're smart enough to know Reid Dalton would never go for someone like you.”

Someone like me.

“I mean, you're not his usual type. You're not even his drunken type. And I don't believe that story of you not being a gold digger" she scoffs and eyes the eatery. “Don't get me wrong, Lee. I love the rustic vibe and everything you've got going on here. But let's be honest with ourselves... who'd be comfortable with a life like this?”

I press my lips into a thin line.

“It's okay to want more, Lee. And I think you're as sweet as your baked goods” she giggles. “That is why I'm here to present to you the opportunity of a lifetime. No one has to know” she whispers, reaching out to take my hands.

She slaps the check into my palm, her cold fingers pressing into my skin.

“I know you are smart enough to do the right thing. And I know you don't believe that my uncle truly loves you” She presses my fingers in my palm. “If he did, he wouldn't have bought you that forty-dollar ring you have on” she laughs.

I watch her brush her fingers across her oval-shaped diamond ring.

“Take the money, Lee. And if you need more I'll be more than glad to lend you some. You don't even need to pay back.”

I exhale deeply through my nostrils and nod.

“Thank you for your 'not even close to tempting' offer, Maeve” I smile.

She arches her brow at me.

“But I'll pass” I whisper and grab her hand like she did to mine, and slap the check back into it.

“A hundred thousand” she offers.

I give her a sharp smile.

“Get out.”

“Don't be stupid, Aileen” she grins. “You're turning away thousands of dollars and an ally for what... dignity? C'mon, you're too smart for that.”

“You're not an ally” I scoff. “You're just a silly little girl with zero morals who's going to give me nothing but problems.”

She laughs.

“You show up here to offer me money so I stay away from Reid... can't you see you're the one tarnishing your precious family's image?”

“Oh please” she scoffs. “If you cared about my family's image you would take the money and leave my uncle alone because we both know you're not the right woman for him.”

“And who is the right woman for him?”

“Anika.”

“Ahh,” I whisper with a sarcastic smile.

“It's only a matter of time before the new fiancé is out of the picture and she and my uncle fall back in love again.”

“I see.”

She watches me carefully and flips open her checkbook again.

“Five hundred thousand dollars and that's my final offer.”

I let out a short laugh.

“Tell me something Maeve, who sent you? Was it your grandmother? Did she send a twenty-one-year-old college undergrad to do her dirty work for her?”

“I'm an adult, Lee. I don't run errands for anyone” she smiles. “I'm here on my own... out of my own free will, and so, I suggest you cooperate. Or else you're not going to like me.”

I smile back.

“Oh, I already don't like you.”

She closed her checkbook.

“And so I'm going to ask you, one last time, Maeve, very politely... to grab your shit and get out.”

She nods, still smiling.

“The hard way it is then, Lee” she sighs, picking up her bag. “Don't say I didn't warn you.”

“Ha,” I shake my head.

Maeve gives me one last disgusted one over before strutting out. The moment she's out, I drop back in the chair and a hand goes to my stomach.

It's okay, Lee. It's okay.

“And to think I was going to make that brat a pot roast.”

My head snaps up and Bonita is glaring at the door Maeve went through.

“Bon—”

She holds her hands up to stop me as I stand.

“Is this the kind of family you want to be married into?” she whispers. “A family where everyone belittles you and treats you like the enemy? Lee. Why would you be comfortable subjecting yourself to this kind of life... to this kind of future? In the name of love? Because you love him?”

“Bon, it's nothing like that, I promise.”

“So you don't love him?”

I open my mouth to talk when my phone buzzes inside my back pocket. I give Bonita a hesitant look before she nods at me.

“Answer it.”

I exhale and pull it out.

'Armani'

God.

I swipe my thumb across the text message and it opens.

“How's my favorite fiancée doing? Come by my office when you get off work. I have a surprise for you ;)”

“Are you going to tell him how his precious niece came here to disrespect you?”

“Bonnie it's not necessary.”

“Hmm,” she hums over my shoulder as she folds her arms. “Well, are you going to see him? He has a surprise for you. Don't you wanna see what it is?”

I press the side of my phone and shove it back into my pocket.

“No.”

“No?” Bonita questions.

“No, Bon. I'm not in the mood for surprises.”

“You know it's not fair for you to take out your anger with his family on him.”

I shake my head.

“I'm not in any way angry.”

“Really now?”

I nod.

“Well then, allow me to carry your rage for you,” she says in a dangerous tone. “I love you Lee, and I don't want to see you get hurt. That is why I'm begging you to walk away from this before they do something to you.”

Her eyes search my face as she grips my shoulders.

“You heard that girl. She threatened you. Yet you refuse to tell your fiancé—”

“Because I don't want to create problems for anyone, Bon” I sigh deeply. “You should see him with her... with his family. Bonita, he cares about them. Telling him what happened here—”

“Might get him to start seeing his family in a different light and Virtuous Aileen would rather be put second by her fiancé and get walked over and disrespected by his family to ever risk that happening.”

Bonita let's go of me.

“You're a grown woman, Lee. And as both your mother and your best friend, I am going to beg you to do the right thing... whatever you think it is. And even if I don't like it, I'm going to support you. Because that's what real moms do.”

I squeeze my face and pull her close to me for a hug.

“Thanks, Mom” I whisper.

She lets go of me, not looking too pleased, but smiles anyway.

“I'll be in the bakery,” she tells me and moves over to the door to flip the sign back to 'Open'.

I smile as I watch her walk away. Then when she's out of sight, I rub my arms and let the nerves swirl in my stomach. I knew just what to do.

And it was going to feel good.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

“Oof!”

The pressure on top of me increases as the movements begin and small little fingers trace patterns across my cheeks. A loud sigh escapes my nostrils.

“Cami, what are you doing?” I ask, my eyes still closed.

“How'd you know it's me?”

“I don't need a PhD to tell it's you when you smell like sugar frosting and baby powder.”

“That can't be my natural scent” she whines.

“Well, it is... now get off.”

“Why are asleep?”

“Because I am. And shouldn't you be in school?”

“School was out three hours ago.”

I open my eyes and it's already evening.

Did I sleep that long?

“Lee, are you awake?” Bonita hollers as she passes the hall.

“Thanks to your daughter!” I call out and sit up when Camari rolls off me.

“Why'd you skip work to come take a nap?”

“Because I needed a nap or else I was going to explode.”

She sits beside me and takes my hand to chip away the rest of the worn-out nail polish off my fingernails.

“Why?”

I shrug.

“I was having a bad day” I mutter. “What about you? How was school? And how's your special friend?”

She looks up from my hand.

“Who, Grace? Yeah, we're not doing that anymore.”

I chuckle.

“Why not?”

“She doesn't deserve me.”

Bonita steps onto the balcony before I can get my reaction out.

“Cami, Daddy's home” she informs.

Camari grins and tugs at my hand.

“C'mon Lee!”

Then she jumps off the bed and races out.

“I thought you were going to sleep forever” Bonita folds her arms.

“I thought so too. Till Cami happened.”

She smiles.

“C'mon. Dinner's ready.”

I sigh and get up, following her out of my room and down the stairs into the kitchen.

“Hello Papi” I greet and walk up to kiss him.

“I hear you left work to come take a nap.”

I nod.

“Yeah, I really needed it.”

“Has that boy been keeping you up at night?”

My lips curl into the tiniest of smiles.

“No, this has nothing to do with Reid.”

“What is this about then? You leaving work to come home to take a nap... what's that about?”

I shake my head.

“I was just having a tiny bad day.”

His brows tumble together.

“I hired this new Filipino kid and he's just a lot to handle” I quickly add, getting his brows to relax. “What about you? How was your day?”

He takes a seat on one of the kitchen stools.

“Fine. No surprises.”

I nod and smile at Camari who makes faces at her brussel sprouts.

“Speaking of which, have you got any more for me?” he asks.

“What?” I ask, looking up at him.

“Have you and that boy got any more surprises for me? Anything I should know?”

Bonita meets my eyes as she turns off the stove.

“Or has he asked you to lie about it in the name of keeping it a secret?”

“Henry” Bonita frowns at him.

He looks at her.

“Was that necessary?”

“No, no, Bon. Of course, it's necessary” I cut in.

My uncle turns to me.

“But there's nothing I know that you don't.”

“Nothing?” he asks again.

“Nothing I'm aware of” I nod.

He nods back and stands.

“Well when you do, be sure to remember to let me know.”

Bonita shakes her head as my uncle reaches into his pocket for a piece of paper. He grabs his jacket off the bamboo coat rack stand and reaches out for his car keys.

“Where are you going?” Bonita asks.

“I forgot to get the groceries you asked me to get so I'm—”

“Lemme do it Papi,” I say to him.

“No, no. I'll—”

“I insist.”

He stares quietly at me.

“Besides, I need to stretch.”

He nods and hands me the paper.

“I'll just change and go.”

“No detours!” Bonita cries out as I race up the stairs.

“I promise.”

I pull up in front of the convenience store and lock my car before stepping inside. It doesn't take long to get everything on the list and soon I'm in the queue to pay.

Someone slips behind me but before I can glance at whoever it is, my phone beeps in my hand. I flip it over and it's a text from Bonita.

“Hey, could you pick up a pack of Mountain Dew and some applesauce? I forgot to add them to the list.”

I adjust the basket in the crook of my arm and text her a reply.

“I already got the Mountain Dew. But applesauce? Can't we just make some?”

Bonita's reply is instant.

“You're already there, Lee. Just get it.”

I chortle and turn around only to find Reid staring at me.

“It's good you know how to reply to text messages you read” he smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes.

“W-What are you doing here?” I ask, balancing the basket on my arm.

Reid shrugs.

“Ooh you know...” is all he says.

I step back and turn away from him.

“Did you follow me?” I ask as I move to the canned fruit aisle.

“Why would I follow you?” there's something in his tone, “Oh I know... maybe because you read but didn't reply to my text” he continues with a fake gasp.

I refuse to look at him.

“I told you I had a surprise for you and you didn't care to find out what it is?”

“I hate surprises” I lie, doubling my steps down the aisle.

“And that stopped you from replying?”

“Get over it Armani” I roll my eyes.

But before I can take another step, he grabs my arm and whirls me around.

“Hey!”

“We have a deal, Lee.”

“So?” I scoff. “That deal doesn't involve you following me around like some love-sick puppy.”

He chortles.

“I'm not in love with you, Lee.”

That statement unexpectedly hits me hard and I step back from him.

“And that's why you have no right to ghost me like that, c'mon” he frowns, letting go of my arm.

I shake my head, but the statement keeps ringing at the back of my mind.

“What do you want, Armani?” I ask, not meeting his eyes.

“You at my office early tomorrow morning.”

“I have a job too you know?”

“Well maybe if you'd just shown up like I asked, you wouldn't have to be doing that tomorrow morning, now would you?”

I finally glance up at him.

“What is this about, Armani?”

He puts his hands in his pockets.

“My text still stands. It's a surprise.”

“I told you I hate—”

“Better start getting used to it then” he cuts me off.

I roll my eyes.

“First thing tomorrow morning, my office.”

“Okay,” I mutter.

“I mean it, Lee. My office, first thing in the morning.”

“I said okay, Armani” I frown at him.

His emerald eyes search my face.

“Hang on. Are you okay, Lee?” he asks. “You look a bit—”

“I'm fine” I blink and look away from him.

I spot the applesauce and reach out for it but Reid beats me to it. We stare at each other for a while till a baby's shrill cry cuts through the store. I blink and put some space between us.

“That's a Maeve-worthy cry” Reid chuckles, gesturing to the baby being taken out of its stroller by the mother.

I remain quiet.

“You know, I'm glad she likes you... Maeve” Reid smiles softly. “I can see you two scheming against me.”

That's unlikely... but okay.

I just give him an enveloped smile and he puts the can of applesauce into my basket.

“I'll be expecting you bright and early tomorrow, Lee.”

I nod.

“I'll be there” is all I say.

He winks and grins at me before turning away, leaving me with those words echoing in my head.

Thank you for reading!
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Ciao
~the_atticwriter