Andrew POV:
I had just left Bose's office and was deep in the throes of organizing our upcoming fashion show. With Celia's growing reputation, the stakes were high. Bose, as usual, had left the bulk of the work to me, from handling invitations to setting the theme and collection name. Despite his constant delegation, I didn't mind. I'd been with Celia since its inception and knew how crucial this event was.
This morning, I'd emailed the organizers the theme and collection name for the new summer line, which we had creatively dubbed "Sunny Horizons." The collection, featuring 129 vibrant new pieces, was designed to embody the essence of summer. The theme was sunny and cheerful, reflecting the bright, sunny outfits that would be showcased. Bridget was set to announce it on our socials in three days, a move I knew would generate excitement.
With the theme set, I focused on the invitations. I'd sent the list to Bose for approval, and he had given his nod. Then, I forwarded it to a few designer teachers in the designer department responsible for crafting invitations, furniture, and other event materials. Also fashion, but they only design it, they don't make it, meanwhile in the fashion department students at least create and design, you can also choose to only create. The designer department is our biggest department. They'd get started on the design immediately. I also reached out to the teachers of the cooking department to arrange for Spanish appetizersâperfect for the sunny theme and a nod to the vibrant flavors of summer.
As I worked, Mika's image popped into my mind. She seemed like the perfect model for our collectionâradiant, effortlessly sunny, and a natural fit for the mood we aimed to evoke. I still needed two more models, and in an hour, new candidates would arrive to audition. I wasn't interested in the typical, uninspired runway look. I wanted diversity, and Bose agreed with me on that.
At 11:45 PM, a knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. It was Bridget, looking distressed. She plopped into the chair across from me, her face flushed and tear-streaked.
"Hey, Bridget. What's going on?" I asked, concerned.
She sniffed, her mascara running. "I'm just... I'm so confused." she said, her voice trembling.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I fell in love," she continues.
I raised an eyebrow, bracing myself for what was coming. "And which man is the lucky person?"
"It's not a him," she said slowly, meeting my eyes.
My jaw dropped. "Wait, it's a her?"
"Yeah," she confirmed, her voice barely a whisper.
I was taken aback. Bridget had always struck me as the straightest person I knew. "I never saw this coming. How did it happen?"
She hesitated, then explained, "She's my brother's girlfriend, and we became friends. A few weeks ago, after feeling rejected by Bose, I confided in her. Last night, she came over, and we..." she refused to say it out loud.
"You got into a heavy make out session?" I finished her sentence.
"Yeah you could say that." she said while shedding a few more tears.
"Wow. So, she came over to kiss you? And how did you feel about it?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation light.
"I guess I liked it, but... don't tell anyone," she pleaded.
"I won't. But what's troubling you?" I asked, trying to offer some guidance.
"I don't know if I like her or if this is just a phase. How did you figure out you were bisexual?" she asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.
I thought back to my own experience. "When I was 13, after my dad died, I had a close friend who was a boy. He comforted me a lot. And then we kissed, and I realized I was attracted to both boys and girls. It took time to come to terms with it."
"It's confusing, but take your time. You'll figure it out," I advised her.
"Thanks, Andrew. Can I have a hug?" she asked, her voice softening.
"It takes time," I continued. "Just give yourself space to figure it out. You don't have to rush."
"Thanks, Andrew. Can I have a hug?" she asked, her voice trembling.
I walked over and hugged her, feeling her distress deeply. "It'll be alright. Just take your time."
She nodded, and I glanced at my watch. "I need to prepare for the models. Do you know which hall I should be in?"
"Hall three," she said, still sniffling.
"Great, thanks. I'll see you later," I said as she walked out, heading back to her office.
I never expected Bridget to be exploring her sexuality, especially given her past. It seemed to be a major reason for her current emotional state.
At 2:45 PM, the auditions wrapped up. I reviewed the models' performances with another organizer, and we agreed on only one standout candidate. The others would be sent home. I asked the organizer to handle the dismissals while I rushed to pick up Lily from school.
I arrived just in time to see Lily burst out of the school door. "Hi Andrew!" she called out, running towards me.
"Hey Lily. How was school?" I asked.
"Not great. Faye took my lunch and didn't give it back," she said, her face scrunched up in frustration.
I frowned. "And what did the teacher say?"
"Nothing. Because when I told her, she didn't help, so I punched Faye," Lily explained, clearly upset.
"You can't just hit people, Lily. Let's go talk to this teacher," I said, grabbing her arm.
We walked to her classroom and knocked. "Come in," a familiar voice called.
My eyes widened as Sarah, my ex who had cheated on me with George, appeared. "Sarah? What are you doing here?"
"Andrew, what a surprise," she said with a smirk.
Lily looked confused. "Do you two know each other?"
"Yeah, we used to... um, be close," I said awkwardly.
Sarah chimed in, "Lovers until you decided to leave me."
"Leave you? You cheated on me with one of my best friends and treated me badly. I had every right to leave," I said, my voice rising.
"If you have a problem with me, take it up with me, not Lily," I told her firmly.
Sarah replied with a disinterested shrug. "Fine. But, only if you agree to date me again."
"No chance," I said, shaking my head.
"Then don't expect any favors," she said, turning back to her desk.
"Let's go, Lily," I said, leading her out of the classroom.
Once in the car, Lily sighed. "What now? My teacher is going to hate me."
"I'll handle it Lily. And by the way, let's talk about something fun! Someone's babysitting you tonight," I said, trying to lift her spirits.
"Wait really? Who?" Lily asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Her name is Mika. She's a friend of a friend," I told her.
"Oh, and does she have a problem with you, like my teacher does? Because if she does, I'm not letting her babysit me. I'm already scared of my teacher, and I don't want to deal with someone else who might not like you," Lily said, her anxiety clear as she spoke.
I glanced at her, trying to provide some comfort. "No, Mika's fine. She's a friend of a friend so she'll babysit you very well. Let's just go home and get settled. Everything will be alright." I reassured her.
Mika POV:
I pulled up to Andrew's house and couldn't believe I was actually doing thisâdriving all the way to Rivalton to babysit the little sister of a man I can't stand. But as I approached, my annoyance faded, replaced by surprise. His house was impressive, a modern villa that exuded style and luxury. It wasn't the kind of place I expected someone like Andrew to live in. I rang the doorbell, still marveling at the architecture.
A young girl opened the door, her big brown eyes lighting up when she saw me. "Hey, you must be Lily!" I greeted her with a smile.
"Yeah, and you're Mika, right?" she replied, grinning.
"Sure am. Can I come in?" I asked.
"Of course!" Lily said excitedly, grabbing my hand and pulling me inside. "Look how big and pretty Andrew lives. Look at the garden!"
" Yeah he definitely lives in a beautiful house, although my place is bigger and prettier." I remarked casually. I wasn't lyingâmy own villa, paid for by my high-paying job as the CEO of a secret agency, was indeed more expansive. Not that anyone knew that about me. I told people I was in tech, developing computers and technology. It was a simpler and safer explanation than the truth.
"Wait, really? How can a place be bigger than this one?" Lily asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"It's not much bigger, but maybe just a little," I said with a smile, pulling out my phone to show her pictures of my house.
"Wow! Your style is so much prettier than Andrew's already. Can I please come over to your house sometime?" Lily asked, her expression full of hope.
"Of course! We can gossip, eat popcorn, and watch movies," I replied playfully.
Lily cheered, clearly thrilled at the idea. But then we heard footsteps on the stairs. I looked up just in time to see Andrew coming downâshirtless. Was he seriously showing off his abs right now? What was his deal? Did he want to flaunt them and make me feel ridiculous for admiring them? If that was his goal, he succeeded, because I couldn't take my eyes off him.
"Hi Mika." he said with his low voice.
"He really needs to show off, doesn't he?" I muttered under my breath, feeling slightly irritated.
"Yeah, it's so annoying," Lily whispered back, clearly on the same page as me.
Andrew finally grabbed a shirt from the ironing board and put it on, carefully buttoning it up. Lily ran over to him, her excitement returning. "Andrew! Look at Mika's house! It's so much prettier than yours!"
Andrew glanced at the pictures Lily was holding up to him. "You've got style, Mika, and wealth. Want something to drink?" he offered.
"No, thanks," I replied, not interested in prolonging our interaction more than necessary.
"Lily's bedtime is 8:30 since she has school tomorrow," Andrew informed me, his tone authoritative.
"No, please let me stay up a little later," Lily begged, her voice turning into a whine.
"You know I've discussed this with Mom. 8:30 is your bedtime, or else she'll come after me," Andrew said, staying firm but with a hint of humor in his voice.
Lily groaned in frustration. "I hope Bose gets here soon so you can leave," she muttered, sticking her tongue out at Andrew.
He laughed and finished buttoning his shirt before reaching for his suit jacket draped over a chair. "I'll be back around, let's say 10," he said, adjusting the collar of his jacket.
"Good, and you better not come after midnight. I'm not in the mood to drive back to Swellview after 12," I warned him.
Andrew smirked. "Andrew, you're now like Cinderella," Lily teased him.
I laughed. "And you're now like her evil stepmother because you're mean," Andrew shot back, clearly enjoying the banter.
Lily giggled, then Andrew asked, "How do I look?" he added quickly, "Only nice words, please."
"You look okay," Lily said, clearly not very impressed.
"Okay? That doesn't sound very convincing," Andrew replied, mock offense in his voice.
"Well, Mika, what do you think?" Lily asked, turning to me for backup.
"He looks like the opposite of his annoying, self-absorbed personality," I said, trying to keep a straight face.
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Is that a compliment on my looks and an insult on my personality?"
"Absolutely," I confirmed, meeting his gaze.
Lily tilted her head. "Wait, you don't dislike my brother, do you?"
"Sometimes," I admitted, not wanting to lie to her.
"Then do you dislike me as well?" she asked, her eyes wide and innocent.
"No, of course not. You're not himâyou're Lily. And you're so much cooler, better, and prettier than him," I said, ruffling her hair.
"Ouch," Andrew said, feigning hurt.
"You'll get over the truth," Lily said matter-of-factly, making me laugh again.
"Please don't be mean to me tonight," Lily said, looking up at me with a hint of concern.
"Oh, Lily, I won't be mean to you. I like you a lot already. Where are you getting these ideas from?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Because my teacher, who's his ex, dislikes my brother, and now she's very mean to me," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Lily, you didn't have to say that to Mika," Andrew interjected, his tone slightly reprimanding.
"It's okay. But I'm not your teacher, and I'm not his ex, right? He's just extremely annoying sometimes," I said, trying to reassure her.
"Am I really that annoying?" Andrew asked, looking between us.
"Yes, you are," Lily and I said in unison, our voices blending perfectly. We both burst out laughing.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Finally, Bose had arrived.
"Finally, I'm saved from the two of you," Andrew said with a relieved sigh as he opened the door to let Bose in.
"Hi Mika," Bose greeted me with his usual calm demeanor.
"Hey Bose," I replied, glad to see a familiar face.
"Hey Bose!" Lily shouted and ran towards him, clearly happy to see him.
"Hey Lily, how are you?" Bose asked, crouching down to her level.
"I'm good. Can you guys go now?" Lily begged, her impatience showing.
"With pleasure. Lily, will you show Mika around? And Mika, feel free to grab food and drinks," Andrew instructed.
"Great," I said, ready to get this night started.
"Bye now!" Andrew shouted as they left.
As the door closed behind them, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of relief and anticipation. Babysitting Lily might actually turn out to be fun, despite the fact that her brother drove me crazy. But for tonight, I was in charge, and I intended to make sure Lily had a good timeâaway from all the drama and annoyances that came with Andrew's presence.
Bose POV:
Sitting in the car with Andrew on our way to my stepfather's mansion in Swellview, I couldn't shake the familiar feeling of dread. This wasn't just a visitâit was a performance. As we pulled up to the sprawling estate, Andrew looked over at me. "You ready?" he asked, his voice steady.
I hesitated. "Yeah, I am," I finally replied, though I didn't really feel it.
"Great, let's get in," he said, sounding more confident than I felt.
We rang the doorbell, and it wasn't long before Norah, one of the housemaids, opened the door. "Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Fitzgerald! Good to see you," she greeted us warmly.
"Hi Norah," I replied, forcing a smile as she led us to the dining room.
There, sitting at the head of the table, was my stepfather. His presence always carried a weight that made the air feel heavier. "Hello, Bose, Andrew," he said, his tone as formal as ever.
"Hello," I echoed back.
"Have a seat," he instructed, gesturing to the chairs opposite him.
Before anything else, I asked the question that had been on my mind since we arrived. "Where's my mom?"
"She feels sick, so she's in bed. Don't worry too much about her; she'll be fine," he said, dismissing any concern with a wave of his hand. Andrew and I exchanged a glance, but neither of us said anything.
"So, as I let you two know," my stepfather began, "I want you to arrange a big party in Rivalton for Williard Enterprises academies. I expect perfection. I will be there as well, not to enjoy, but to watch. I need this to be perfect. My business allies will be invited, and I need their children to apply to our academies."
Andrew was quick to respond, taking the lead as usual. "Yeah, we'll make sure it's perfect."
I nodded in agreement, grateful that Andrew was speaking for us both. Answering my stepfather felt like walking on eggshells, and I hated it.
"Oh, and Bose," my stepfather continued, turning his sharp gaze on me, "Vogue has contacted me. They want to interview you, mainly focusing on the fashion department. You need to do this, because it will attract many new people to our academies."
Andrew's reaction was immediate. "Vogue? As in Vogue wants to interview him?" His disbelief mirrored my own thoughts.
"Yeah, and not only himâwhich I understandâbut also you," my stepfather added, pointing at Andrew.
"That's amazing! When will we be interviewed?" Andrew asked, his excitement palpable.
"The interviewer from Vogue will also attend the fashion show we're hosting next week. She'll stay over in Swellview and will come by Rivalton the day before the show begins. She also wants you to model for Vogue, but only for the interview. If you do a good job, you might end up on the cover," my stepfather explained.
"No way!" Andrew exclaimed, his enthusiasm uncontained.
"So that's settled, then. Make sure the interviewer is nicely welcomed and ensure everything is neat and not chaotic," my stepfather concluded.
"Noted," I said, keeping my response short.
"Now, let's eat," he said, signaling the end of the business talk.
Dinner was tense, as always. The conversation was minimal, the atmosphere heavy with expectations and unspoken resentments. After the meal, I mustered the courage to ask, "Can I see my mom?"
He hesitated but finally nodded. "You may, so I won't have to see your face," he said coldly.
I ignored the sting of his words and made my way to my mom's bedroom. She was lying in bed, looking pale and tired. "Hi Mom, how are you feeling?" I asked softly.
"Oh, hey Bosey. My head hurts a lot, but thank you for checking up on me," she said, her voice weak but filled with love.
"No problem," I said, sitting on the edge of her bed.
"How are you, baby?" she asked, her concern for me evident despite her own discomfort.
"I'm fine, until I had to show up here and have dinner with the one person who truly hates me," I admitted.
"Sorry for that, just don't mind his words," she told me, her voice gentle.
"Yeah, I'm trying," I said, though it wasn't easy.
"Do I need to get you anything else?" I offered, not wanting to leave her side.
"No, no, honey. It's fine. You can go home now and leave us," she said, giving me a weak smile.
"Thanks, Mom," I said, standing up and heading back to the hallway. Andrew was there, waiting for me.
"Where's my stepfather?" I asked.
"He said we could go. He doesn't need to see you anymore; he's said all he needed to say," Andrew replied.
"Great, let's go," I said, eager to leave.
We walked out to my car, the tension easing with every step away from the mansion. The drive back to Andrew's house was quiet, both of us lost in our own thoughts. As we pulled up to his place, Andrew broke the silence. "Did my neighbor get a new car or something? Look at that one. Whoever's car that is has taste," he said, pointing at a sleek Porsche 911 parked nearby.
I laughed. "Oh, that one's Mika's."
"What? She owns this kind of car?" Andrew said, clearly surprised.
"Surprised?" I asked, amused by his reaction.
"Hell yeah," he replied, still staring at the car in disbelief.
"Come on, let's go inside. I'm tired and need to go home," I said, ready to wrap up the night.
Andrew stepped out of the car. "Bye, Bose," he said before heading inside.
I watched him go, a mix of relief and exhaustion settling in. Tonight had been draining, but at least it was over. I started the car again, eager to get home and leave the weight of the evening behind.