Chapter 9: 4.𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞

"Lucas be honest and tell me where's my dress" my sister shouted at Lucas more like she was threatening him because he misplaced her dress "I don't know " Lucas replied back .

This has been going on since an hour now and is nowhere to stop . My head is gonna burst open if they continue to fight like children, Mia doesn't seem to let go of the dress and Lucas doesn't want to say what he did with the dress. Mom is not at home or this might have stopped ages ago .

"Lucas, that's a custom made collection. I had to beg mom to give me that if you don't tell me what you did with that then I will" Mia picked up a knife and pointed it towards him . Lucas raised his hands in surrender "woah calm down put that knife away" he tried to take the knife from her but when she took a step forward he got scared and stopped

"Where is my dress?" she asked again. I think I have had enough. I got up from the couch and approached Mia from behind. She didn't notice me grabbing the opportunity I snached the knife from her hands . Seeing this Lucas dropped his hands down and smirked "give it back" she tried to take the knife from me but it far from her reach "good job" Lucas said ruffling Mia's hair annoying her

"Ok stop you two , you are not children fighting around like that"

"But he was the one who-" before Mia could rant again I asked Lucas "Where is her dress?"

"I didn't pick it up . But I will soon" was his excuse "I want it by evening" Mia ordered him, It's not very hard to convince Mia , she gets angry easily and calm down the next moment. Teenage I guess .

But not me Mia left for her school leaving me and Lucas alone in the house "It's peaceful now" he commented

"It will be more peaceful if you leave too . Don't you have class today?" He frowned at my words "They don't start until Afternoon but why are you in a rush to send me away"

"Because you both already gave me too much of a headache I can't tolerate your presence anymore" I took out a mug from the cabinet and started to brew the coffee. The chef arrives in the afternoon so the breakfast duty is on us. Luckily my siblings doesn't like my cooking so we just stuffed ourselves with cereals

Mia is in 11th grade whereas Lucas is in 1st year for business finance as his major . Usually these both leave early in the morning leaving me alone but today's schedule has something else in it .

After my coffee was ready . I passed Lucas a glass of juice "So whom did you give the dress to?" My question made him choke on his juice, spilling some of it on the kitchen counter. He grabbed some paper towels and cleaned the mess. "How did you know?"

"So you did give it to someone" I knew he picked up the dress but I wasn't confirmed if he actually gave it to someone but his actions made it clear "please don't tell me you sold it or something"

My comment made him roll his eyes , he would never do that but there's some fun to tease your siblings for no reason "you think I would do something like that" i shrugged my shoulders "i don't know"

"Then I won't tell" saying this he got up to leave but I stopped him . There's no way he can leave without confessing the truth "just say it . I won't tell anyone" he squinted his eyes in suspicious, it's that expression of his when he judges others

" well I didn't mean to it was an emergency" he spilled . I know he was hesitating wheather to say it or not , Lucas isn't the type of person to do something without a reason but also the type to suffer in silence "Tell me what happened" he sat back

"Yesterday in a bakery I stumbled upon my steps and my chocolate pastry fell on a girl's dress . She was dressed formally it looked like she was having an important meeting and I thought I was ruining it so I just gave the dress to her " He explained . He gets his gentleman genes from dad for sure.

He looked at me to get a response but I just gave him a nod, making him amused. "So what am I gonna do?"

"Nothing just tell Mia the truth" I suggested "oh come on you know she loves the dress she will be furious and I don't even know whom I passed the dress to" he whined "you should have thought about this before giving the dress to a stranger"

"I just explained my situation to you . How can I leave someone just like that?" His words reminded me of someone "why are you smiling?"

I tried to neutralize my expressions "It's your problem handle it yourself" I patted his shoulder and headed out . I could hear him calling my name but I couldn't help him here .

When I sat in my car a message popped up on my phone from Lucas

Lucas: I hate you

I smiled at the screen and started driving. On the way I gave a call to my mother with just a few rings. She picked up "Good morning son , so how did you suddenly remember your mother today" her sweet voice greeted me . I laughed at her words "good morning. Well your son didn't forget you but I think she forgot me"

"I am sorry you know I am busy with the new launch-"

"Mom ! I know i understand" i stopped her midway. It's been a while since I saw her as she is busy with work but she always calls or atleast messages us to check if we are fine

"Actually your son needs your help"

"Sure what can I do for you" it didn't take her time respond

"Not me Lucas" I said "Did something happen to him ? Is he fine" her voice tone changed to a serious yet concerned one "He is totally fine but he messed up the dress you sent for mia" with the silence I know she is also shocked "that's unusual of him"

"Yeah I know. But Mia loves that dress, she has been nagging him since yesterday but he doesn't have a answer . could you please arrange something for her?"

"I will but I need to know what Lucas did with that dress" She asked I don't think it's a place for me to explain it to her "I think you should hear it from him i shouldn't-" when I tried to explain why I didn't want to interfere but she understood it before "yeah I got it. Tell him to pick up the dress from me today at 5pm"

"Yes I will thanks mom"

"Anytime son take care"

I stopped the car outside the firm and texted him walking inside

Pick up the dress from mom today at 5pm

His reply came in few seconds

Okay

Not even a thank you? I scoffed this brat .

My workplace is a little bit farther from my home , that's why I have a apartment nearby in this area , i usually keep rotating between 3 places my apartment, my home and my office

As mom is not at home I need to stay there to take care of those trouble makers

Few of my colleagues greeted me as I entered the office. This is the place where designers, stylish , illustrators like me come together to design a new trend , it's a firm under NYX . I have been working here for 2 years as a fashion illustrator

"Hey Liam what's up. How are you doing?" Zac, one of my co-workers, greeted me . A little bit more friendly than usual , wrapping his arm around my shoulder "I am doing good" my reply was rather dry than how he greeted me and his face showed he didn't like that "Are you having any trouble at work if you do I can help-"

"Come to the point Zac what do you want" his lips sealed. People don't act so friendly here unless they have some work from me. Everyone looks for their own benifit and have competition against each other to get promoted and Zac was one of those people "Well you know, it's time for rookie selection, my sister also studies fashion designing and she is quite good . Maybe you can recommend her to your mother"

I knew where this was going; it has mostly been like this since the start. Me being the oldest son of Emily Carter the founder of NYX brings many advantages and disadvantages like I have many friends but they are good with me so they could get something out of it . Zac was still rambling about how good his sister is but honestly I could not help him in any way.

"Hey, are you even listening?"

"Yeah I don't think I can help you in this matter" .I cleared myself. He was surely annoyed by my refusal and didn't even hide it . Luckily he didn't try to argue or try to convince and left from here silently . He will come back

"Good morning Carter '' Adam greeted me and placed a tabloid in front of me. I picked it up , it contained some basic designs by the team they looked basic rather than impressive Adam sighed "I should tell them to redo it right" I nodded , he took back the tabloid "I feel really bad for the students who will be submitting their designs this year , they don't know they are gonna get rejected in snap by you"

"I am not on board Adam you need not worry "

"But I thought you would be-" I shook my head in denial. His smile dropped for a minute but he carried it "Oh students are lucky " he joked . Adam is one of the actual friend of mine who didnt fake his intention with me.

This year I was selected by main NYX or I can say my mother to appoint and interview new designers but I rejected it because if I accepted it then I would receive requests like zac's on a daily basis.

One thing my mother hates so much is biased judgment, as she built her own career without any support. She hates people who try to get recommended due to their connections. She tries to polish the real talent who are capable of shining in the future but not everyone is willing to go on the same journey as my mother .

"Are you free this weekend?" Adam questioned "we are having a little party" if he haven't mentioned the word party it would have totally slipped out of my mind "I can't, I already have plans"

"A date?" He smirked "no a friend's birthday"

"I hope you find someone to date there" saying that he left the room . He is too interested to know about my love life . A friend or more like a family friend invited me for his birthday party as my mother couldn't attend it. This is my responsibility.

My thoughts got interrupted by a call and it's Ian's

"Hey Liam! Are you gonna come to the party?" Direct to the point I don't know if I like this or not "yeah I am"

"You are one hundred percent coming right?" He asked again "yes I am"

"Remember that and don't eat your words" what's with him today "why are you so eager to see me?" He laughed "no but some of my friends are" i sighed not this again "Ian what did you do"

"What nothing really" he assured but I couldn't believe him "Some of the freshers need your help" before he could complete I cut him off "Ian if this is about NYX selection then let me make it clear I am not-"

"No dude hear me out first. You remember the group assignment we had in our 1st year? Yeah they got that" he didn't need to speak further i already understood what happened with them "so why do they need my help?"

"Of Course to mentor them! They asked me first but I don't have time so I just gave your name"

My head fell back on the chair "You shouldn't have and I don't think I should do it. They can figure it out together"

"Just meet them once . Trust me" he pleaded and I had to agree he doesn't ask many favors and meeting them won't harm me so let's give them a try .

I am not a fan of parties but due to these circumstances I am used to these high class society events. This party is not a big deal . Wait, should I buy him a gift?

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Author's Note

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