After she finished up and shut down her computer, stretching lazily, it captivated Eric completely. “All done?” he asked. “Yes, all done,” Aurora replied, grabbing her trench coat and the authentic Blue Mountain coffee she had someone purchase. Eric noticed the coffee in her hands. “Looks like you’ve done your homework.”
“Of course, no matter the outcome, I have to give it my all,” Aurora responded with a smile. “It’s rare to find women who are as driven as you these days,” Eric adjusted his glasses. “Everyone makes their choices,” said Aurora, walking ahead. “By the way, where are we heading? I have an interview to get back to this afternoon.”
“Indigo. Don’t worry, we’ll make it in time,” Eric assured her as they reached the underground parking lot.
They stopped in front of an Audi A8. Although it wasn’t as luxurious as the million-dollar cars Aurora was accustomed to, it suited Eric’s position well enough, though his family clearly had much more money, given that Paul had casually handed Genevieve fifty million dollars. Eric was rather pragmatic; Aurora habitually sat in the back. Typically, only a man’s intimate partner would sit in the passenger seat. “Sit in the front, it’s better for chatting,” Eric suggested. “Oh,” Aurora replied. She placed her coat in the back seat and sat in the passenger seat. Eric started the car. Aurora found it odd that, given their familiarity, this drive seemed unrelated to her, and wondered why Jason had agreed to meet for coffee.
Eric was quiet during the drive. Aurora, having not slept well the night before and worked all morning, soon fell deeply asleep. Eric, watching her sleep peacefully, smiled gently. He pulled over to the side of the road, sent Jason a message, and rolled down the window, letting in the gentle breeze. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting mottled light on Aurora’s flawless, pale skin. Her lightly made-up face, her lips shimmering with gloss, and her naturally thick, curled eyelashes gave her the allure of a doll. Her high nose and beautiful facial contours made her stunningly beautiful, unlike the typical surgically altered faces. She looked like a fairytale’s sleeping beauty, making it hard for Eric to look away, especially at her slightly pursed lips that seemed to silently tempt him. He drew close several times but always pulled back, afraid to disturb her sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, Aurora finally opened her eyes. She glanced around the car, noticing Eric was not inside but found his coat covering her. Had he gone to his appointment already? That thought crossed her mind just before she spotted Eric nearby, outside the car. She removed the coat and stepped out, finding Eric comforting a crying little girl. He held a freshly bought skewer of candied strawberries. “Here, take this, no more crying, okay?” The little girl hiccupped, “Thank you.” Eric dusted off her clothes. “Why are you crying? Were the other kids bullying you?”
“They keep calling me a motherless bastard.”
“Next time they say that, slap them,” Aurora’s voice intervened. Eric looked up at her; she stood there like a queen on high. The little girl rubbed her eyes, “But I can’t beat them.”
“It’s because you’re too weak that everyone thinks they can bully you. Only when you become strong will you not be bullied,” he said.
The little girl nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you, I know what to do now.” With those words, she took her lollipop and ran off.
Aurora glanced at her watch. “I actually slept for an hour. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I just got a call from Mr. Gilpin. He has an appointment at noon, so he’s canceled our meeting. We’ll reschedule.”
“Canceled?” Aurora frowned slightly.
“Yes, apparently he has to entertain an important guest,” Eric explained.
“We’ve got an hour before work. Let’s just find a place to eat and then head back to the office,” Aurora, always conscious of time, suggested.
“I know a good restaurant nearby. I think you’ll like it.”
“Is it far?”
“Don’t worry, it won’t delay your work.” Eric pointed to a spot not too far ahead. “It’s right there.”
“Alright then.”
They walked there in just a few minutes and as they arrived at the building, Aurora spotted two familiar figures.
Inside the restaurant, Hayden was on one knee before Susan, who looked utterly surprised. She had never dreamed Hayden would propose, especially since they had argued just that morning.
Hayden knelt on one knee, “Susan, will you marry me?”
The beautiful rose in the sunlight shone brilliantly, with a ring nestled among its petals.
Tears streamed down Susan’s face as she exclaimed, “I will!”
The crowd around them cheered, some whistling, others taking photos to post online, and some media even captured this spectacular moment.
Through tear-blurred eyes, Susan saw Aurora. Her smile widened provocatively as she laughed towards Aurora.
Hayden saw her too, and his expression turned awkward, but Aurora had already looked away. “Let’s go,” she said.
Eric, aware of their past relationship, watched Aurora carefully, but seeing no emotion on her face, he looked away.
Neither mentioned the incident as Aurora enjoyed the signature dish he had ordered for her.
“The taste is really authentic,” she praised repeatedly.
“The desserts here are even better.”
They didn’t talk business but reminisced about their time at the same university, a coincidence since Eric had graduated several years before her. “Do you remember the blue lake on campus?”
“Of course, I do. I was warned as a freshman that a couple dies there every year and to stay away. I found it funny, though. Since it was always couples, and I was single, I often read by the lake.”
“Seems like you were quite brave. I loved the blue lake too. If we had been the same age, we might have been classmates.”
“At least we went to the same university. That’s something,” Aurora said, a slight smile unknowingly gracing her lips.
“You’re graduating next year, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there at your graduation.”