Page 73 of The Brides Brother

My phone began to ring then, and I ignored it. But when it called again, just as I was heading down the staircase to Aurora's room, I had no choice but to pick up in case it was her. What I saw, however, was that it wasn’t her. Instead it was Drake, and although butterflies instantly fluttered in my stomach at seeing him, I was already nervous because whatever he was going to say was for sure going to make me lose my head, and I couldn't, not anymore, at least for the rest of the day. I had to make up for disappearing and give my whole attention to Aurora.

Still, I picked up just as I arrived in the hallway leading to her bedroom, and he replied.

“Are you with Aurora?” he asked.

I couldn't quite keep the smile off my face, but after noting the coldness in his, it immediately started to falter. He wasn’t the most bubbly person when he spoke, but he usually didn’t sound so stern and gloomy, at least when he spoke to me. Or perhaps it was in my head, and this was how he always sounded? Whatever it was, I was quite startled and a tad bit worried.

“No, I'm not,” I replied. “I'm just heading up to her room now.”

“Alright,” he said, but then he went quiet again. He seemed so distracted and distant that I wondered what was wrong. Had I done something?

“Um,” I eventually spoke. “I'm at her door now. I’ll have to end the call.”

“I'll call you back,” he said, and I wondered why.

“A-alright, sure,” I replied.

The call disconnected then, and I stared at the phone quite strangely. Then I knocked on Aurora’s door and headed in. I had to admit that I was nervous because obviously I wasn't exactly on her good side currently. However, I didn't feel quite nervous about it. Not till I got into the room and saw the three women that were present.

I didn't even recall that Victoria had barged in on us until I saw the scowl on their faces, and then I sighed.

I didn't even have a confident leg to stand on because I felt in the wrong, but I wasn't going to be made to regret my night with Drake either, so I readied myself to accept the criticism, whatever it may be.

“Do you know how much preparation has gone into today?” Victoria asked.

I glared at her in response, and then I turned to look at Aurora. She lowered her eyes from me and returned them to her phone. She had a hair stylist working on her hair and a few others sorting through some clothes on a rack.

“I'm sorry I'm late, Aurora,” I apologized and picked up my camera.

“Why exactly are you late?” The girl Lindsey from the previous night asked, and at first, I ignored her. I picked up my camera and started tinkering with the settings, getting ready for my day, but she soon got pissed off by my attitude.

“You’re going to ignore me and act like you're in the right here?” she asked.

I looked up then. I stared at Aurora, but she was acting for all the world like she was deaf, so I ignored her.

“Please let me do my job. It’s nothing to you if I was late.”

“It's something to me if you were late because you were with my boyfriend,” she said.

I stopped then and sighed because she was that girl. She'd acted like it, she definitely looked like it, and I was in no way going to participate. The only unfortunate thing was that Aurora was present, and her ears were no doubt going to be soiled as a result.

“Please take it up with him, not me,” I replied. “I really don't have anything to add to this conversation.

“Even if you told me not to do it again, I would. All so that you can stop this conversation right now and allow me to do my job.”

“You're a fuckin-“ Victoria started, but at the harsh look I sent her, the rest of the insult quickly died on her lips.

“Be careful,” I told her. “I can be tolerant of the guest but not you. Be very careful with how you speak to me. I haven’t dealt with you yet on how you barged into my room. What kind of disrespect is that?”

She scoffed.

“Do you deserve any respect? Your client is right here and getting re-“

“Oh, please shut the fuck up,” Aurora suddenly spoke.

At first, I was startled, but when her words registered, my head lowered as I tried to hide my smile.

I knew she wasn’t happy with me either, but she wasn't about to tolerate whatever nonsense they were starting. I couldn’t even stand it and would have preferred to just leave. Whatever they wanted to say about me within themselves, I really didn't mind. I just truly didn't want to be in the vicinity.