Abbie knew no one at Misurton apart from Thomas. She answered the phone with a confused look on her face, “Hello?”
“Is this Miss Clark on the line? My name is Emily Poland and I am Azalea’s aunt. Would you mind if we meet up for a while?” Emily’s tone was very gentle.
Abbie frowned and refused, “Unfortunately, my schedule is rather packed at the moment. Miss Poland, I would prefer if we speak on the phone instead.”
Emily had expected her to reject the meetup session but decided to try her luck once again, “Well, I think it would make things clearer if I were to meet you in person. Miss Clark, I sincerely hope that you would agree to my request. I came all the way from Misurton just to get ahold of you!”
“But…” Abbie frowned and eventually agreed, “Okay. Where shall we meet up then?”
Abbie suggested a venue and eventually ended the phone call. Valeria, who was seated opposite, stared at her and asked, “Who is that?”
“It’s from Emily Poland. She is the aunt of Azalea!” Abbie frowned and continued speaking, “It looks like she wants to meet up for the sake of Azalea. Pfft!”
“You can always refuse to meet with her, right? Why do you eventually agree to her request?” Valeria queried with a displeased look on her face.
“It’s an unwise move to reject her invitation as she came all the way from Misurton just to meet me. She might even be so thick-skinned like Azalea to camp at my home if I were to deny meeting with her. I reckon that she is not the friendly type judging by how Azalea behaves!”
Valeria agreed with her, “Abbie, you’re absolutely right. Emily and Azalea are about the same shitty person. I advise you to meet up with her at a safe spot to protect yourself.”
“Hmm? But, I have just suggested meeting with her at a random place. Don’t you think that it’s rather inappropriate for me to change the venue all of a sudden?”
“Why would you think so? Azalea is such a shameless person and I doubt that her aunt would be any different from her. Are you expecting her aunt to be kind and gracious to you? Well, it is assumed that things would get messy judging by current circumstances. Wolf Group would be the perfect safe spot for you. I have countless tricks under my sleeves if she were bold enough to lay a finger on you!”
“Alright, that sounds like a good idea. We shall meet with her at Wolf Group then!” Abbie immediately called Emily and updated her on the newest location of their appointment.
Emily parked her car at the parking lot of Wolf Group Hotel. She then got down from her vehicle and entered the hotel.
This was the first time that she had visited Wolf Group. She then asked the receptionist about the cafe’s location that Abbie had arranged upon entering the lobby.
A man with sunglasses who was seated on a sofa immediately glanced towards Emily’s direction upon hearing her voice. The man was taken aback and swiftly got up before heading towards her way.
Emily did not notice the man’s unusual behavior as she headed straight towards the elevator after asking for directions. Both the man and Emily eventually entered the elevator as soon as the door was open.
Emily reached out and pressed the eighth-floor button upon entering the elevator. That was the place that Abbie had agreed to meet with her. The other guests eventually pressed their desired floor levels apart from the mysterious man. He stood quietly in the corner as he was clearly tailing Emily.
She got out of the elevator upon reaching the eighth floor. The man swiftly followed behind her.
Emily soon entered into a private room and the man swiftly made his way to a quiet spot. He switched on his phone to make a call. The phone was soon connected, and the man said hurriedly, “Mr. Floyd, I happen to see Miss Poland just now!”
“Where did you got ahold of her?” Callum asked.
“She is currently in the coffee shop of Wolf Group Hotel and just went into a private room not long ago. Mr. Floyd, what do you have in mind?”
“Alright, thanks for the heads up. Do keep an eye on her and I shall be there as soon as possible.”
Emily entered the room and realized that she was early. She took a seat and ordered two cups of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. She then waited for Abbie to arrive while enjoying her beverage.
The door of the private room was finally pushed open after she had waited for about half an hour. Abbie walked in and was very polite despite not having a good impression on Emily, “Miss Poland, do forgive me on my late arrival. I was caught in the traffic just now.”
“It’s fine as I have just arrived not long ago.” Emily took a good look at Abbie and realized that she was a pretty and graceful woman. This was completely different from the negative comments that Azalea had told her last time.
Could Abbie be good at pretending? Emily thought to herself. Abbie then said, “Miss Poland, I have brought my best friend along to meet with you.”
Valeria, who had a visible bulge on her stomach due to pregnancy eventually came in. She glanced at Emily and was stunned for a moment. Why did Emily look so familiar?
She thought to herself and greeted Emily, “Hello!”
“Nice to meet you!” Emily was taken aback upon seeing her. She did not expect both Abbie and Valeria to be on such good terms.
Abbie helped Valeria to take a seat. Emily took a quick look at the pregnant person who claimed to be Abbie’s friend. Azalea claimed that Valeria was a bossy and arrogant person. However, Emily did not feel the same thing as her. She found Valeria to be gorgeous and seemed like a friendly person.
Emily was doubtful once again that Valeria may be a good performer just like Abbie. She then asked Valeria in a gentle tone, “I did not get you anything as I have assumed to meet with Miss Clark only. What would you like to have?”
“No worries. I would like to have a glass of fruit juice,” Valeria answered in a polite manner. Emily struggled to make a firm order as she knew that some fruit juices were off the charts for pregnant women. Abbie chimed in and told the waiter, “My friend here would like to have a glass of lemon juice.”
“I don’t want that. It’s too sour for me!” Valeria refused.
“There, there. Lemon is rich in Vitamin C and would keep your babies strong and healthy. They might even turn out to be fair-skinned little ones! Hang in there and you can have everything that you desire soon.”
“Since when it is confirmed that they are little girls? What if my babies turn out to be twin sons?”
“I don’t see any problem for baby boys to have fair skin as well. The decision is final and you shall have lemon juice for today!”
Abbie gestured to the waiter and confirmed her order, “Do give us a fresh glass of lemon juice, please!”
The waiter smiled and left them alone. Abbie then shifted her focus on Emily and asked, “Miss Poland, what would you like to discuss with me?”
“I…” Emily paused and took a peek at Valeria. Abbie knew what was on in her mind and smiled before speaking, “My relationship with Valeria is as close as siblings. We are aware of the deepest secrets within us. Hence, you need not feel uncomfortable upon her presence.”
Emily then began to speak after listening to the clarification from Abbie, “Miss Clark, I would like to have a word with you about Azalea. I am feeling troubled as she has been starving herself these few days. I would like to seek for your help as you have grown up with Azalea as sisters.”
Abbie smiled and said, “Miss Poland, you have overestimated my relationship with Azalea. I would like to make a firm stance since I have no idea what she had told you last time. We are more like acquaintances instead of siblings as we are not close with each other. I am a blunt person and to be honest, I am genuinely disgusted at Azalea. My parents were very protective towards her to return the favor that her father had done. Otherwise, I would have gotten rid of her long ago. Hence, it is impossible for me to lend her a helping hand!”
“But… Miss Clark, why do you despise her so much?”
Abbie replied with a displeased look on her face, “Why? Miss Poland, let me give you an example to illustrate my point better. You are living with a person who loves to play the victim just to receive the attention from your family members. Furthermore, she would come up with countless ways just to bad-mouth you in the face of your lover. Miss Poland, do you know where I am getting at?”