Desirous

Desirous

Chapters: 66
Updated: 19 Dec 2024
Author: TriciaJean
4.7

Synopsis

Rachel Maxwell, heiress to the Maxwell fortune, bumps into enigmatic Chad Montgomery, playboy businessman and only son of the new-money Montgomery family, at one of the lavish parties her parents are fond of throwing. Despite his bad-boy reputation, she's immediately drawn to him. His arrogance and devil-may-care attitude excite and scare her at the same time. But with the pressures of her family name and a rocky romantic history, Rachel doesn't know if she's ready to fall in love again. When Chad offers to be her business partner in order to save her company, things take an unexpected turn... Can Rachel trust a man who keeps so many secrets? Or is this partnership bound to end in nothing but heartbreak?

Romance Billionaire Contemporary Playboy Arrogant

Desirous Free Chapters

Chapter One | Desirous

Have you ever wondered what the night sky would be like without the moon and the stars? Or the day without the sun shining? The world would be gloomy, filled with total darkness. This reminds me of people who manage to live without love. How they deny the very thing that'll bring color to their lives, I don't know. The world would never survive without the moon and the sun. So, how could they?

Shivering, I put my notebook and pen away as I adjust my coat around me. The cold October air brushed against my cheeks, making me tuck away stray blonde strands from my face. The idea of drinking hot coffee seemed appealing to me at this particular moment. Putting my navy blue colored notebook and pen inside my bag, I stood up from the bench. Waving goodbye to the friendly old lady feeding pigeons across from me, I started heading to the nearest cafe in the vicinity. Laughter reached my ears as children played in the park's swings. A few people were walking their dogs or playing with them. I cautiously crossed the street and made my way to the cafe. I let out a soft sigh of relief once I arrived, opening the door, the little bell above it jingling. Spotting an empty table, I sat on the plush black leather seat, smiling softly at the waitress heading towards me.

"Hello, can I help you with something? We are currently serving our special latte." She said, handing me their menu. I shook my head after a minute of studying the laminated paper.

"No, thank you, I just want black coffee and a slice of cheesecake please."

"Sure, will that be all?" I nodded; she left after telling me to wait for a few minutes. I took my jacket off, and I placed it next to me. As I waited, I stared at the people passing by outside the cafe. "Here's your order, Miss." I snapped my gaze away from the glass window to the young waitress in front of me holding a tray.

"Oh, thank you." Accepting the tray, the young woman nodded slightly and went off to take care of the rest of the customers. I grabbed the fork and took a bite of the blueberry cheesecake. Delicious! Feeling my phone vibrate, I pulled it out of my pocket to see who had texted me. Inhaling the heavenly scent of my coffee, I hummed in contentment as I read the text message.

Francine: Hey Rach! How are you? Look, it's my brother's birthday tomorrow, and I was wondering if you'd like to come.

Just as I was about to reply, my phone rang. This time it was Dad calling. I answered it right away, knowing he'd be angry if I didn't pick up soon. "Hey Dad! What's up?" I greeted him.

"Rachel, where are you?"

I bit my lip at his tone. So straight forward. "You don't have to be worried, Dad, I'm at a cafe—"

"Do you know what time it is? You're supposed to be here, getting ready for the party later this evening!"

I couldn't help but sigh, "Dad, I know. I was just at the park, walking. I'll be home in a bit, okay?" I heard shifting on the line, followed by an argument in the background before Dad's voice returned.

"Fine. Just be home at six o'clock sharp. I'll see you later." The line went dead, signaling that he had hung up. I slumped in my seat. Staring at the time, it was close to five-thirty. Dad will kill me if I don't arrive earlier than six. Devouring the last bit of cheesecake, I took my cup of coffee and drank it hurriedly but carefully. When I was all done, I placed the exact amount and a bonus tip on the table before standing up. Putting on my coat, I grabbed my bag and left, the bell softly jingling away.

I went back to the park and headed to where I had parked my car. Spotting my black Mini Cooper right on the curb, I walked briskly towards it while fishing for the keys in my bag. When I did, I opened the door with a sigh of relief. "Okay, home it is then." I mumbled to myself. After closing the door and placing my bag on the other seat, I started the car. Making sure no cars were in sight, I backed away slightly and accelerated forward. Soon, I was cruising smoothly down the road. Turning the heat up, I drove past buildings and passersby. I turned the radio on, settling it on a familiar station. The sound of guitars strumming in rhythm filled the car, lifting the atmosphere. As I drove, I couldn't help but ponder. A long time ago, my parents had been too busy to ever have a party, but since Mom had held one in celebration on my seventh birthday, she had been throwing parties every month. Dad uses them to his advantage to gain more investors and partners for his company. It was exhausting for me and my brother, Harvey, who would rather play video games than attend a 'dumb party.' It got so annoying at one point that he locked himself in his own room and Mom had to force him to come out and face her guests.

Turning the car to the right, I drove down the familiar road and slowed down once I reached the tall black gates of my home, the huge 'M' on it catching my eye. The guard smiled and opened the gates to let me in. "Thanks, Percy," I said to him and drove the car in. Circling the fountain, I went straight to the garage and parked my car beside my father's. I turned off the engine and took my bag, heading out. Locking the door, I went out of the garage. Facing the modern architecture of my home, I stared at the white two-story mansion. Shivering, I hurriedly climbed up a few steps and entered the house. The front door swung open before I could open it, and in front of me stood Henry, our butler and a friend of the family.

"Hello, Miss Maxwell," He greeted, gesturing for me to come inside.

"Hello, Henry. Do you know where my parents are?" I questioned, removing my coat once the warmth of the room had comforted me enough from the cold weather outside.

"They are in their rooms, Miss Maxwell." He answered. "Would you like some hot tea?"

"I'd love some, but I'm kind of in a hurry, so maybe later this evening. Thank you, Henry," I walked up the flight of stairs and went directly to my room. I was greeted by the scent of lavender and vanilla, lifting my spirits up. The white curtains concealing the world outside, I turned the lights on. Tossing my bag on the neatly arranged bed, I hung my coat on the coat rack and slipped off my shoes. Putting them away, I took my notebook and pen from my bag, placing both on my desk.

"Miss Maxwell." Hearing Henry's voice behind the door, I stood straight. I headed to open the door to address him.

"Uh, yes Henry?"

"Your mother is requesting that you get ready. The party will start at exactly eight, Miss Maxwell."

"Thank you, Henry," I turn to look at the clock on the wall, seeing that I still had two hours to get ready. "Oh, and please tell Harvey too, he might forget again."

"Will do, Miss Maxwell."

When he left, I locked the door and went straight to the bathroom. Taking my clothes off, I grabbed a towel and headed to take a shower. I let the soothing warm water run down my skin, relaxing my tense muscles. Water splashed around, leaving droplets on the walls. It just took a few minutes for me to finish. The smell of lemon filled the shower room. I grabbed the towel, drying my body, before I tightly wrapped my blue-colored robe around myself. I walked out of the shower room, careful not to slip. As I brushed my teeth, I stared at the white and black walls of the bathroom through the wide mirror in front of me.

After brushing my teeth, I dried my hair with another towel as I headed inside my walk-in wardrobe. Biting my bottom lip, I opened the wardrobe where I kept all my evening gowns and formal dresses. "No, not this." I frowned at the yellow dress and searched for another one. I studied the black evening gown that I bought a few months ago and smiled, "This'll do."

As I was about to put it on, a knock came at the door, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Who is it?" I called out, wrapping my robe tighter.

"It's me!"

I hurriedly opened the door to let my mother in, a bit surprised to see her carrying a white box. She walked to my bed, the end of her royal blue evening gown trailing behind her.

"What is it, Mom?"

I stared at the smile on her face before she gestured to me to come closer. "I saw this at a shop when I was shopping a while ago, and I just thought it'd look good on you. Open it."

I opened the box without hesitation, and my eyes widened at what it contained. Mother let out a soft giggle and took the gown in her hands, giving me a full view of it. It was a bronze-colored evening gown. The straps and the material all the way down to the skirt were covered with small shiny sequins, forming a unique design that shone under the light. The material was soft against the skin, especially on the top. "It's beautiful." I mumbled, smiling at my beaming mother.

"See! I knew you'd like it." Laughing lightly, she laid the gown on the bed. "Can't wait to see you in it, darling."

"Thanks, Mom," I waved at her as she walked out of the door. Once I locked the door behind her, I stared at the gown in contemplation before going towards it. It doesn't look bad. Gulping, I couldn't help but shake my head at the back of the gown. Assuring myself, I put on the gown, glad that it was just easy to put on. When the zipper was finally done up, I stared at my reflection in the huge full-length mirror. At least it was conservative at the front and wasn't tight.

Walking back to my wardrobe, I grabbed a few pairs of heels that would go well with the gown. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I tried on the heels I picked out. "This is lame," I looked up to see Harvey leaning against the doorway, frowning at his necktie, in irritation, I guess.

"It's about time you got used to it. And who forgets to knock?" I said, strapping on the black heels.

"Sorry." He said before going back to the topic at hand. "How can I get used to this? I should be playing Battlefield 3 or God of War! But instead, I'm stuck in this awful tuxedo for another few hours smiling and entertaining the snobby kids of Dad's partners or Mother's friends."

I don't blame him. Approaching the grumbling ten-year-old, I patted his gelled hair that looked like he just walked out of a hurricane before styling it neatly. "Well, at the moment, there is nothing we can do—"

"Of course we can!" He argued, pulling his tie like it was choking him. "We can lock ourselves in our rooms or pretend that we are sick! Anything is possible, Sis!" I shook my head at his words, shooing his hand away to fix his tie.

"Mom won't appreciate that, and besides, we already did it last time. She can tell if we are faking it or not."

Sighing in defeat, he nodded then stared at my gown. "Let me guess, Mom bought it for you." Chuckling softly, I pinched his freckled cheeks lightly before pushing him gently out of my room.

"Okay, enough questions. You better go and play your video games while you can. Party starts soon, and I still have to get ready."

"I understand, Sis," Giving me two thumbs up, Harvey walked away and went back inside his room, which was a few feet away from mine. Closing the door, I went straight to the corner of my room and sat in front of the mirror. Taking out my lipstick from the drawer, I applied it to my lips and then got my eyeshadow kit out. After a few minutes, I was finished with my makeup. Taking the curling wand, I waited for it to heat up before curling my hair, careful not to burn my scalp in the process. Spraying my hair afterward, I smiled at my reflection in the mirror.

"Miss Maxwell, your father wants me to tell you that the party is about to start."

"Okay! Tell him I'll be down in a second!" I raised my voice so Henry could hear on the other side of the door. Applying perfume, I took my clutch, careful not to trip on my way out. I went directly to Harvey's room, knocking twice before he opened the door. The sound of bombs exploding and men giving out orders blared inside the room. "It's time to go down, Harv. The party is starting."

"Wait, I need to pause the game first." He went back inside, the sound of guns firing stopped, and he came out after turning the lights off. Seeing Henry was waiting by the stairs, we hurriedly approached him.

"Master Harvey, this arrived only a minute ago." He handed Harvey a small parcel, who took it and read the words written in it.

"Please place it in my room Henry. Thanks."

Nodding, Henry walked towards Harvey's room, a small smile on Harvey's face. Curiosity getting the best of me, I cocked an eyebrow at my brother.

"What was it, Harv?"

"Oh, just another video game I ordered online. I found it intriguing." He answered. We both became silent once we started to descend the stairs, feeling everyone's eyes on us. I smiled at the guests as Mother introduced me to all her friends when we reached the bottom of the stairs, being the friendly and well-known socialite she is.

"Look at that, Harvey." I whispered in his ears, gesturing at the five children standing next to one of Dad's business partners. All of them were looking bored, and one of them was about to fall asleep. "They're here today, it seems like luck is not in your favor."

Following my gaze, Harvey's eyes widened in horror. "Why? Why today? Do I have to?" He asked, staring at the children wearily.

"Well, if you want Dad to be happy and satisfied that his partner's children are entertained enough, I'm sure you do." Grumbling under his breath, Harvey went towards the kids. When Harvey seemingly asked them a question, all five of them politely nodded and followed him to the game room. Shaking my head, I followed my parents to the ballroom, which was decorated elegantly from top to bottom. The tables were currently occupied by the great and the good of Cleveland.

"Rachel," Dad mumbled under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear. His eyes roamed around the crowd. "Please tell me Harvey is with Mr. Ben's children."

"If you are talking about those five children, then yes. Nothing to worry about, Dad, he's got it all covered." I grinned, proud of my brother, doing his best to make our parents happy, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness.

A breath of relief escaped his lips, "That's good. Why don't you join your mother and her friends? Or even better, play the piano for us?"

Knowing that he liked me to play the instrument (and I liked the idea better too), I chose the second option. Heading towards the grand piano in the middle of the room, I felt all eyes on me as I sat down on the stool. I start to play a familiar tune, hitting the first notes of Fur Elise. Hearing the gush of excitement, I switched to a vibrant tune. The piano keys against my fingers had felt familiar to me since the age of eight. Having had piano lessons until I grew up, it is the only instrument I could really play. Usually, I only played it to make my parents feel better or to stop Harvey from crying. Now, Mother would urge me to play at her parties, earning a few compliments (and some occasional negative feedback), but I honestly didn't care. As long as my parents wanted me to, I'd play it.

I looked up to smile at my parents, who were watching not too far away, smiles on their faces. I suddenly switched to playing Moonlight Sonata, one of the most difficult musical pieces I had to learn when I was young. Picking up, I moved my head along with the melody. Hitting the last note, applause erupted from the crowd, echoing through the walls. I stood up and bowed slightly, thanking them. The applause died down, and I joined my parents. "As usual, you did excellently." Dad beamed, patting my back lightly. Mother nodded in agreement.

My gaze went from my parents to Harvey, who entered the room with the five children in tow, all sporting smiles. "Now, I know how it feels to be a parent." Harvey panted, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "I have decided not to get married. I'd rather be a lonely hermit than have five rowdy kids!" He exclaimed in annoyance. I hushed him.

"Keep it down Harvey. By the way, what did they do to make you sweat like you ran a hundred miles?"

"Oh, you don't know what I've been through, Sis! Those children are fast, ninja fast! We decided to have a game of tag. I was hiding, but the next thing I knew, I was on the ground, nursing a headache. Boy, they play a mean game of tag!" His rambling was cut off when Dad approached us, a couple following behind him.

"Rachel, have you met Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery?"

Dad beamed as he introduced the couple to us. Mr. Montgomery was tall, with shaggy brown hair and blue eyes. You could tell he was an easy-going person from the way he smiled like there was no tomorrow. Mrs. Montgomery, on the other hand, had a strict face on. Her blonde hair was styled into a bun, and her pink dress was neatly pressed, not a wrinkle in sight. "How are you?" Smiling widely, I shook hands with the two of them.

"Charming…"

"Rebecca and Max, this is Rachel. My daughter."

Suddenly, as if realizing what Dad just said, Mrs. Montgomery smiled sweetly. "Oh, I didn't know you had children, Damon. Yes, she looks like your wife, Helen."

"And this is Harvey, my son."

At the mention of his name, Harvey stepped forward and greeted the couple. "Such lovely children, Mr. Maxwell," Mr. Montgomery chuckled, placing a hand on Dad's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Damon, I'd love to introduce you to our only son, but it seems like he has disappeared, again."

Dad waved off Mrs. Montgomery's apologies. "Nothing to worry about, Rebecca, I'm sure he's just here somewhere."

"Honey, who's this?" Mother asked when she joined us. Mrs. Montgomery's blue eyes lit up at the sight of Mom. 

"Mrs. Maxwell! Hi! Perhaps you have heard of me? I'm Rebecca Montgomery, and this is my husband, Max."

Mom smiled, "Yes, I do know you. Hello! I'm hoping that you're having fun, and if you're hungry, the buffet section is right over there."

"Rachel, why don't you and Harvey go grab something to eat? I'm sure the boy is hungry." Dad mumbled, and I nod, taking Harvey by the arm. "Sure Dad."

"Are you hungry, Harv? We got steak, pasta, salad. What do you want to eat?" I questioned him as we walked to the buffet section.

"I'm not that hungry—wait! Is that what I think it is?" Following his line of sight, it was a chocolate fountain, with bowls of fruits and marshmallows below it. Without a second thought, he rushed towards it.

Laughing, I went the other way to have a helping of pasta. Just as I was about to get a plate, I winced in pain when something hard collided with my shoulder. "Ouch!" Seeing the fleeting person who bumped into me, I grumbled. "Watch where you're going!"

The person turned around briefly, his eyes a nice shade of blue, like the sky without clouds, before continuing his way. He didn't even bother to apologize. I was stunned for a bit, until I frowned slightly. How rude of him! I glared at the tall blond man, shooting daggers at his head as he disappeared from my view. "What's the matter, Sis?" I turned to look down at Harvey, chocolate staining the sides of his mouth as he ate a chocolate-covered strawberry.

"Nothing's wrong Harv." I mumbled, "Why do we have to deal with rude people every day?" I asked in annoyance. He merely shrugged.

Chapter Two | Desirous

Pride. One of the many reasons why a relationship is broken or badly built. At first it’s small, but then it grows and before you know it, you find yourself single again. Notorious for being one of the seven deadly sins, it’s fair to say that you should avoid pride at all costs. It destroys everything in its path. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

“What are you playing?” I asked loudly, pulling the pen away from my notebook to stare at the boy who sat inches away from the huge flat-screen television. The sound of men and women crying, screaming for mercy filled the room. Blood spilled on the sidewalk as the man shot them with a gun. A policeman came by, shot the man and before I knew it the words ‘wasted’ appeared on the screen.

“Oh! That’s not fair!” Harvey whined when his character died. Turning to me, he grinned. “I’m playing the video game I received yesterday. It’s called GTA.” He faced the screen once again, clicked the control and went back to his game. Shrugging, I decided to continue writing but nothing seemed to pop into my head to make the paragraph more interesting. “By the way, what are you writing?” Harvey questioned, clicking on the control madly.

“Oh, just a mere hobby, Harvey, I’ve got nothing to do at the moment, you see.”

“Miss Maxwell,” I sat up straight, seeing Henry walking towards us.

“Yes Henry? What is it?”

“There are two people at the door. They requested to see your mother. I told them that she’s not around but they keep on insisting to see her.”

I stood up in curiosity, “Did they say who they were?”

“Montgomery, Miss Maxwell. Does the name ring a bell?”

What? They’re here?

“Yes, please let them in, Henry.” I replied, taking my things and placing them on top of the long wooden coffee table. Henry nodded and left to let the visitors in. I brushed away the small crumbs of cookies from the skirt of my dress before fixing my hair. “Please lower it down Harvey, we have visitors.”

He paused the game and turned to me, “What? Who?” As if on cue, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery walked inside with Henry leading them, the yellow dress that Mrs. Montgomery wore making me squint a little. “Hello!” She smiled widely, rushing towards me and embracing me. My lips parted in surprise when she kissed both of my cheeks but nevertheless I greeted the couple.

“Good afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, what a pleasant surprise.”

“Hello Kiddo,” Max Montgomery ruffled Harvey’s hair playfully, grinning at the short boy.

“Hello to you, too.” Harvey mumbled, his face twisting in irritation before turning to me. “Uh, I’ll be in my room Sis.” He hurriedly escaped Mr. Montgomery and made a run for the stairs.

“Please, have a seat.” I gestured to the couch, and they accepted my invitation. Henry went over to the television, turning Harvey’s game off along with the television. After that, he stood in front of the couple, asking.

“Can I interest you in a drink?” He looked at the two visitors with his usual professional aura.

“Orange juice will be fine.” Max answered.

Henry nodded and headed to the kitchen. I turned to Mrs. Montgomery and smiled slightly; “I’m sorry if it took so long for you to get in, but my mother didn’t mention that you’d be visiting.” I said, placing my hands on my lap. “I was... surprised.”

“Oh, you don’t have to apologize or worry about anything, Rachel dear. Your mother told us that she’ll be here in a while. We told her that we would wait.”

Henry appeared with a tray of drinks, handing each one of us a glass. Taking my phone, I used my time to text my mother as Mr. Montgomery complimented Henry.

To: Mom Mom, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are here.

I looked up from my phone once the message was sent, watching as Mrs. Montgomery admired our family picture situated on the stand next to her. In just a mere second, Mother replied.

Mom: Yes, I’m on my way there. Just entertain them. (:

“So, Rachel... ” Mrs. Montgomery began. “I heard that you are going to take over your mother’s company soon, is it true?”

“Yes. I’m currently building up my own business. Mother says it’s a good start before I take over a much bigger company soon. She believes experience is a good mentor.”

“Well! That’s wonderful to hear! My son graduated Ohio State with honors, such a good boy. How about you dear? Where did you graduate?” I sipped my juice before answering.

“Oh, I graduated at Harvard last year.” The look of surprise was evident on her face but it only lasted a second, the smile on her face quickly appeared again. “Really? That’s lovely.”

“What’s your son’s occupation, Mrs. Montgomery?”

“He’s going to take over Montgomery Inc. soon. He takes after his father, a brilliant businessman. He’s busy running our branch here at the moment. He always works hard just to please us.” She answered. I stood up straight once I saw Mother entering the house, a small scowl on her usually happy face.

She smiled brightly once she saw her visitors, greeting them politely. “I’m sorry if I took so long. I was so busy and lost track of time, but I drove back here as fast as I could.”

“Helen!”

The two women hugged each other, Mother giggled softly and pulled away first. “I’m so sorry if I made you two wait.” She apologized, shaking hands with Rebecca’s husband.

“Oh, no it’s all right Helen. You arrived just in time, anyways. You didn’t mention yesterday that your daughter graduated from Harvard.”

Mother grinned at me. “Ah yes, she did. She’s currently training herself to take over our company. Rachel is a really big help.” Their conversation was cut short when the telephone rang, Mom gasped lightly. “Excuse me for a minute, I have to answer this. Probably from Damon or work.”

As she conversed with the caller, I grabbed my things and slowly walked away, my room calling to me like a siren luring a sailor. Writing and relaxing sounds good at the moment. “Rachel, where are you going?” Mother asked, covering the telephone’s mouthpiece.

I pointed to the stairs, “In my room, I’ve got a few things to finish up.” I clutched my notebook and pen to my chest as she processed my words. Please say okay. “I still have some things to do along the way.” Shrugging, she dismissed me and I happily went on my way. Climbing up the stairs, I passed by Harvey’s room, with loud sounds of guns firing from inside, and went inside mine. Dumping my things on my bed, I took the remote and flick through channels.

I settled on a random channel which was broadcasting a series of advertisements, and lay down on the soft bed. The adverts stopped and soon a reporter began babbling about politicians. Sighing deeply, I gathered my long blonde hair and tied it into a ponytail, keeping the stray strands away from my face. I stared at the ceiling and frowned, the word ‘party’. Sitting up, I listened to the female reporter announce that a celebrity was celebrating her 21st birthday.

Wait a minute! My eyes widened in shock. I grabbed my phone and went to read Francine’s message again. Of course! It is Sean’s birthday today, how could I forget? So stupid of me. I even forgot to reply! I stood up from the bed hurriedly as if I was touched by a live wire, and ran to get a pair of shoes. “How could you forget?” I asked myself as I put on a brown coat over my light blue dress. Snatching my bag and car keys, I rushed out of the room.

Running down the stairs, I felt my cheeks flush red as Mom and her visitors stared at me in confusion and surprise. “Where are you heading?” Mom had a worried look on her face, obviously because of me.

“I’m running late! I have to go Mom, it’s Francine’s brother’s birthday today.” A small smile graced her face.

“Okay dear, be back soon. Greet little Sean for me.” She kissed me on both cheeks, and I waved goodbye to them and briskly walked to the door, which Henry opened for me.

“Thank you, Henry.”

“Have a safe drive, Miss Maxwell.”

Passing the silver BMW parked close to the fountain, I headed to the garage and opened my car, and climbed inside. It’s probably the Montgomerys’ vehicle. Turning the engine on, I shut the door and backed out. Before I knew it, I was out of the gates, Percy waving goodbye. As I drove, my mind began to whirl around as I tried to think of a gift that was perfect for a little boy. I began to look at shops, skimming them before I spotted a toy store. I parked my car and got out, my breath puffing out in steam as I went inside the store.

I maneuvered myself past parents and little kids, trying to find a good toy. I smiled in delight at the sight of a red aircraft inside its box, the paint reflecting the store’s light. I took a box, examined the contents and grinned when I saw that the aircraft could fly and was guided by a controller. Yes, this’ll make Sean happy. I hurriedly went to the cashier and purchased it, “Can you wrap it up?” I asked the cashier, “It’s a birthday present you see.”

“Sure thing Ma’am, wait right here.”

The cashier went off to wrap the gift up, and as I waited, I pulled my phone out of my bag. I directly called Francine, who answered on the third ring. “Hey Rachel!” She greeted me happily, the background noisy due to the cheering and laughter of children.

“Hey Fran, listen, I wasn’t able to reply to you because I was busy last night. I’m coming over, please tell Sean that I won’t miss his birthday.”

“Okay, I’ll tell the birthday boy. See you in a while!”

Hanging up, the cashier came back with the box all wrapped up. “Thank you.” I grinned, taking the box.

“No problem Ma’am, and don’t forget to shop for toys here next time!”

I rushed out of the shop, shivering due to the cold weather. I walked back to my car, heels clicking against the pavement. Entering the car, I carefully placed the gift along with my bag on the passenger seat. Backing out the car, I hummed softly as I drove down the road heading to the Winstels’ house. Turning the radio on, a woman singing an emotional song filled the whole car as I drove. I slowly turned to a stop when the traffic light ahead of me turned red. I drummed my fingers against the steering wheel, waiting for the light to turn green.

A black motorbike suddenly pulled up beside me, the driver’s face unseen due to the helmet. The driver kept looking at my side, and I stared at him in curiousness. The driver slowly drove forward until he was in front of my car. What is he doing? I frowned. When the traffic light went green, the driver of the motor bike didn’t move. The cars behind me began honking loudly as the other cars just drove past. Frustrated, I pushed the horn twice but still he wouldn’t budge. Is the biker deaf or something? Just as the light went yellow, the biker sped away and before I could even step on the pedal, the light went red again. I bit my lip to contain my anger. Lashing out in the middle of the road was not my kind of thing. Man, I hate motorbikes, but it seems like I hate the drivers of wretched things, too. What a jerk!

It took a few minutes for my anger to cool down and for the light to go green again. I drove forward, continuing my way to Francine’s house once again. If I ever see that driver, I’ll make sure to give him a piece of my mind. Turning left, I entered Francine’s neighborhood. Memories of walking around here with my best friend flashed before my eyes. The houses were not that huge, and the people living here were middle-class, but they were happy. Contented with life and the friends around them. I pulled up in front of a beige two-story house with a white fence around it. The lawn was neatly trimmed, and colorful balloons decorated the front door. The engine died down and I climbed out of the car, Sean’s gift in hand. I walked up to the door and knocked twice. The door swung open, revealing Francine, her red curly hair tied into a bun. The green dress she had on complimented her skin color. I grinned and hugged her, “Hey Fran.”

“Rachel!” She smiled widely, her green eyes shining in happiness. “You’re just in time, come in!” I nodded and went inside, my eyes following the two children running around, balloons in their hands. The living room was decorated with streamers and balloons. I waved at the kids and some parents that sat on the couch. “Sean! Rachel’s here! Come and see her.” Francine said. Sean stood up from his seat, ran towards me and hugged my legs with his arms. I giggled softly and bent down to hug him.

“Hey Sean, happy birthday.”

The little boy smiled, dimples showing, “Thank you Aunt Rachie.” I chuckled at the nickname, squeezing his freckled cheeks gently. I handed the wrapped box to the boy, earning a gasp of surprise from him.

“Here’s a little gift that I got you, I hope you like it.”

In excitement, he unwrapped the box, and a huge smile broke out on his face when he caught sight of the red aircraft inside. “Wow!” Francine stepped forward and stared at the boy.

“Now, what do you say Sean?”

“Thanks Aunt Rachie, this is cool!”

“You’re welcome Sean.”

Eyes bright in happiness, he called his friends and showed the red aircraft to them. Mrs. Winstel popped out of the kitchen with a cake decorated with blue icing. Six candles sat on top of it, the flames flickering. “Hello Rachel, it’s great to see you.” She grinned, then turned to her son. “All right pumpkin, it’s time to blow out the candles.” Hearing her words, the kids cheered and gathered around Sean, who stared at his cake in glee. The whole room became silent for a second before everyone began to sing the traditional song. I sang along too.

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Sean, happy birthday to you!”

After making a wish, Sean blew out the candles, and the flames died out. The kids clapped their hands and waited to be served cake. “By the way, how are you?” Francine inquired, handing me a cup of chocolate ice cream.

“I’m fine, how about you?”

She shrugged, licking a spoonful of vanilla ice cream. “Same. How’s Harvey doing?”

“Same as always, he’s at home at the moment. Playing video games.” I answered, my gaze drifted to Sean and smiled. “Can’t believe Sean is already six.”

Francine nodded in agreement, “He really likes the toy you gave him.” The boy made whooshing sounds, playing with a small motorbike, the toy guided by his hands. On his other hand was the toy aircraft I gave him. My thoughts went directly to the driver I encountered a while ago. I frowned.

I hate motorbikes.

“Rach? What’s wrong?”

I turned to face a worried Francine. “Huh? Oh, nothing. I just remembered something unpleasant.” I mumbled, dismissing the thought. “Anyways Fran, where's your dad? Shouldn’t he be home for Sean’s birthday?”

“He was called to work this morning,” She answered. Leaning closer, she whispered, “But he planned a surprise for Sean later. Don’t tell him.” She added, eyes trained on the boy who was now busy eating a slice of his cake. I chuckled and made an action of sealing my lips.

“Not a word.”

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to face one of the mothers of Sean’s friends. The woman squinted her eyes, as though she were taking a closer look at me, and smiled. “Excuse me, you seem familiar. Are you Damon Maxwell’s daughter? Rachel, right?”

I nodded hesitantly. “Yes, that’s me. D-do I know you from somewhere?” The woman smiled and let out a gasp, approaching me in small steps.

“Of course, I know you! You and your family always appeared in magazines, especially your parents. Tell me, how does it feel to be a billionaire’s daughter? By the way, what happened last year?” I took a step back in alarm, caught off guard by the questions.

“W-what?”

Francine frowned at the woman. “Um. Please Mrs. Kentleburgh, let’s just give my best friend some space.” However, the woman didn’t pay attention to Francine’s words and continued advancing.

“Rachel Maxwell, based on what I read in the news, why did you disappear before your w—” She was cut off by Francine, who blocked her from me.

“I’m sorry Mrs. Kentleburgh, but Rachel is just about to leave. You don’t want the whole Maxwell family waiting for her.” Without giving her another second, Francine grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the surprised parent. She opened the front door and pulled me out with her. She let out a sigh in relief and laughed. “Don’t mind her Rachel, she’s always been one of the nosiest parents, but she is harmless.” When I didn’t reply, she glanced at me, worried. “Hey, are you all right?”

I nodded quickly. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m all right. Just caught off guard by her questions.” It was clear from her face that she was not convinced, but she didn’t question me anymore.

“Okay, let’s not go back inside while that woman is in there. I'm sure Mother can manage without me.” I nodded once again, staring at the trees dancing against the cold air. Noticing it too, Francine smiled.

“Can’t believe it’s almost winter.” My phone rang once again, and seeing that it was my mother, I picked up.

“Hello Mom.”

“Hello darling, when are you coming home? The Montgomery’s are going to join us for dinner.”

“All right, I’ll be there. Bye Mom.”

“Okay, bye dear.”

I turned to face Francine with a bit of sadness. “I’m sorry but I have to go,” I mumbled, but she shook her head.

“It’s okay Rach, I understand.”

Smiling widely as I hugged her, I whispered. “I’ll text you later.” She nodded, and I pulled away. Taking out my car keys as I headed to my car. I got inside, thankful to be out of the cold. Waving goodbye, I drove out of the neighborhood and back to my house.