***
Bernadette (POV)
Let me just pretend like I didn't experience what just happened, but I did anyway.
How I felt so full of shame when I was left in the hall way alone, he won the talking bet and I'm finally leaving feeling like a total loser.
I had to hurry myself to catch up with the next bus at the bus station because I hadn't prepared an early cab after all, I never knew I'd be leaving so early.
I made my way to the bus station and before I knew it, I was home.
I walked in without noticing the open door — I was too exhausted to concentrate on anything.
Camille was playing a video game on her computer.
"That rude nincompoop of a specimen, how I hate his guts," I grumbled as I lazily dropped myself to the bed.
"Oh, Bernie, I'm so sorry I left the door open again, I was trying to test the new surveillance camera we're working on." She stood up.
I forgot to say, she was working on a tech project with some business people though for me she wasn't much of a tech gic because I always pictured her being a top notch model and a glossy actress. I mean she met all the criteria and she had the links but anytime I pushed her to it, she wouldn't budge. She had her eyes on technology stuff and it was a dream for her to make the most craziest and for me quite silly gadgets.
"It's not that," I groaned.
"Then what is... Oh, how did it go, tell me about it," she sat on the bed and shifted her attention to me.
"It was so bad I almost cried," I sighed before sitting up.
"Why? What happened?" She placed her hand on my back.
"Did I ever tell you about this bad luck of a guy that ruined my day the last time?"
"No, you didn't, what about him?"
"So, he's like, so rude and the first time we met, he was looking like a criminal with blood all over his hands and he was in his car which he was driving at a very high speed and almost took my life with it." I sighed
"So..."
"So today, I think he and I came for the same interview and he was blabbering about how important he was so, they were going to take him instead of me," I started.
"You know I hate suspense, just wrap it up," she chipped in.
"I know, I know — they chose him over me."
"What!" She shot to her feet
"Why didn't you ask for my Dad, you should have told them about him," she blurted angrily.
"Lys, that guy looked like one who has the wind and sea on the tip of his finger," I tried to calm her down.
"So you just left because some guy intimidated you? This is not the Bernie I know! You left everything you wanted because of a guy who has the same brain as you?" She continued ignoring the cue I gave her to calm down.
"I... I was — I was dumbfounded and —"
"And you were scared?"
"No, I'd never, I just didn't feel right about pressing hard for working in that place — I don't like there." I sighed.
"Hmmm" Camille stared at me, clearly unimpressed.
"So what do you want to do, you wanna keep trying at Jay chemicals? You and I know those people don't want you there,"
"You know, I'd just talk to mum about it." I lifted my gaze up.
"You'd talk to mum about it and next she'd be forcing you to come to Milan for the next fashion week, after all you still have a space there. I see that's what you want now eh?" Camille's face was down and I could tell she was planning to walk out on me.
"Lys," I grabbed her arms just as she turned her back.
"There surely would be another way. And I'm not running off to Milan at my mother's wish this time. We've got a lot to achieve together and if not my yearning to gain experience, I have what it takes to start up something. Lys, I can't do this without you." I said pulling her for a hug.
"Then I can happily say the time is now," she whispered hugging me back.
That was when my phone rang.
"Hello, it's Bernadette Chevalier on the line," I answered.
***
Jeanne (POV)
It felt so good and relieving to finally land LA. It's been like a month since I breathed in this air. It was the air of freedom. No mum to remind me that I'm a Dubois.
ADuboisdoesn't let their feet touch the ground when they walk,
I almost laughed thinking about it.
I just arrived at my besties place, oh Ivy was a sassy young lady who sometimes reminded me of my background obviously because she acted like my mum sometimes.
"You're here Maeve," she said calmly addressing me by my middle name.
"Oh my girl is looking cool as always," I say smiling.
"You've had a long journey, you should rest," she smiled taking out a bottle of mango juice — my favourite.
"Not just long but scary," I frowned as I recalled how the past one month had been like.
"Meaning?" She responded as she handed me a glass of mango juice.
"Oh girl, I think I'm in danger or something but weird things have happened." I say calmly.
"Then why did you come to my house first thing, knowing that you're in danger. I don't have a gun you know." She says very seriously.
"That's not the kind of danger I mean,"
"Hmm," she sighed in relief.
Remember that guy I told you about, the one who looks so familiar and I still can't remember where I know him from? He told me to share some good news with my mum — one strike, yeah that's what he said I should share with her." I sipped some of my juice.
"Yeah, so how are you in danger because of it?" Ivy stared at me questioningly.
"Since then, a strange number kept on calling me and at the airport back there, there was this suspicious looking guy staring at me the whole time but before I could say anything to him, he vanished and I'm very sure I sighted him in the plane I boarded but I lost sight of him again when we landed."
"So?" Ivy raises a brow, "doesn't that mean someone followed you here, which means you're actually in danger and I really don't have a gun Maeve," Ivy starts to get serious.
"C'mon Ivy, cut the act out," I sighed.
"Sorry, I've been practicing how to get very serious lately. Marcus said I need to practice harder to get the role." Ivy grinned mischievously.
"I told you not to worry yourself over that role, I contacted Marcus about it, it's yours already," I smirked.
"I know, but still — everything's gotta be perfect," she smiled, "So have you tried tracking that number?"
"Yeah, but I still don't get it."
"You better hope you were not followed because if it's an assassin, I don't wanna be killed with you, besides, I don't know how to use a gun though I got one." She said looking very honest.
"Can you just stop talking about a gun and get the point of what I'm saying?" I raised my voice.
"Yeah, I understand, so can we talk about something else?" She murmured.
"C'mon Ivy, seriously? Is this the best you can say?" I ask with a slight frown.
"I'm sorry but it's good to always have a positive mindset, so enough with the danger talks. And chill out, I'm sure you've been watching a lot of seriously horrifying movies." She brushed me again. That was how she was sometimes. I knew what I said bothered her a lot but she'd act like she didn't care and maybe during our next meeting, she'd be the one giving multiple suggestions on the issue.
"I'm not a fan of horror movies," I said giving her the "seriously?" eyes.
"Yeah you're not, but forget about being in danger, you're in Ivy Pepper's house for crying out loud."
"Yeah, I'd try to." I bit my lip. My thoughts were still wrapped around everything going on
but I knew I was quite safe with Ivy — she is Ivy Pepper after all.