n

n

nIn a haste, Cassidy scrambles all around the place before scurrying out of there with all the necessary documents in hand.

nThat phone call with Cecile had taken much of her time. Her appointment with the investor she would be meeting that morning had almost slipped her mind.

nShe is still not that good in dealing with other business owners at this point, and she rarely makes a long-lasting impression on them. Then again, being all prim and proper for more than an hour has always been torturous for her.

n'It will be bad if I get late! This investor is said to be an overly strict and fastidious one!' she exclaimed in her head as she made a run for the bus station.

nGetting investors is not really of utmost importance to her, though. She could fare well with her current money and savings, and she wasn't really aiming to be a full-blown businesswoman. But still, an opportunity is an opportunity. She might need this in the future.

n'In any case, I don't have to force myself to get anyone's investment. I just need to work hard, and the rest will follow.'

nFortunately, Cassidy managed to arrive on time, met up with the investor with no trouble, and carried out a seamless and productive discussion with the other party.

nIt was true that the investor was a nitpick of an old man with lots of cash on his hands. She had a hard time sitting still and playing the decent manager that she was supposed to be, especially with that stern gaze of his. In fact, she even messed up several times in their conversation, but in the end, he still agreed to invest in their humble business.

n'Talk about lucky. I never thought of myself as good in this money-making game, but I think I'm just that fortunate or something…' Cassidy mused and smirked to herself as she headed out of the office then back in the lobby of the building.

n'Or maybe they figured out how cool it would be to hang out with an awesome person like me?'

nWhenever she finds herself uncertain and puzzled over the reason why things end up working for her sometimes, she only plays it cool and blames it to her awesomeness – a childish feat of hers, she admits. But then again, she wasn't trained enough to manage a business, and she was certainly not a fast-learner in this kind of stuff. She's even shocked that she's able to attract an investor in the first place.

n'Well, whatever. I'm awesome – let's just leave it at that…' Cassidy thought until she suddenly caught sight of an ice cream shop across the street.

n'Oh, this calls for a celebration!

"

nBarely hiding her excitement, she went ahead and made her way to the store like an ecstatic toddler.

nThere are things that really haven't changed even after a couple of years. She's still that young-at-heart ice cream lover that she's always been. It's probably one of the things that will never change about her.

n

"One strawberry ice cream, please. Make it large and with this syrup and those toppings,

" Cassidy told the cashier at the counter, placing her order.

n

"Is that all, Ma'am…?

" the employee asked with a knowing grin to which she nodded hesitantly in return – for some reason, she was getting a funny feeling from this.

n

"Well then, congratulations, dearest customer! You just won yourself a special seat for being our hundredth buyer for today!

"

n

"H-H-Huh?!

"

n

"Our shop has a promo, Ma'am. We will be reserving a table and a special menu for you. Furthermore, this will all be on the house! It's our special treat!

"

n

"Woah! Seriously?!

"

nCompletely thrown off guard, Cassidy only blinks and gapes at the cashier's beaming face for the next seconds to come. She tries to search for any bluff but only ends up reacting incredulous once she finds none. Before she could even give another response, though, the other employees already gathered around her and led her to the upper floor.

n

"W-Wait, wait, wait! You sure this is on the house?! I'm warning you! I'm really gonna eat a lot! Like… a lot!

"

n

"Of course, Ma'am!

"

nAs soon as they arrive at the balcony, Cassidy finds a table that has already been prepared for her. It's filled with ornamental decorations and a scatter of scented petals, making the setting somewhat picturesque.

n

"You've gotta be kidding me,

" was all she could spout out at that moment, struck astonished.

nApart from this, Cassidy also had no idea how this shop even learned all of her favorite sweets.

nApparently, this special menu that they were talking about had all of her most-liked savories. Not only was there an entire balcony reserved for her, but the kitchen staff seemed to have also made a whole new menu of desserts just for her.

n

"Now, this is getting a little hard to wrap my head around. Just how lucky can I be today…?

" Cassidy thought out loud with a look of utter disbelief.

n

"Or perhaps, I should get suspicious now?

"

nAt that, she narrowed her gaze for a bit.

nIt's not like she didn't find herself in a similar situation before. She does get this 'lucky' from time to time. But since she still can't believe it up until now, she tends to think of other possibilities other than them being mere coincidences.

nIt can be that someone is behind all of this.

n'No, that's hard to believe too. Let's not assume. As if anyone would go all through this trouble to arrange this for me. That is too unrealistic…' Cassidy continued to ponder, finding her own thoughts funny.

n'Asher isn't that type of guy. The others aren't best in surprises or keeping secrets either. And as for Adrian… Well, we never saw each other again ever since the time he showed up at the bar two years ago. I barely even know anything about how he is doing now.'

nThe things was, she never saw her husband again for two whole years, much less talk with him. She didn't hear about him from anyone aside from those news reports and TV commercials. He seems to be doing fine just like her, though - considering how active he is in the industry again.

n'I guess we've already settled down, huh?'

nAnd that is probably for the best.

nEventually, Cassidy just decided to go with the flow of things. She digs right in and enjoys the ice cream shop's special treat to the fullest. After this, she thought that earning an investor and winning this hundredth-customer-promo are enough for today.

nBut then came another surprise for her.

n

"Aira?! What are you doing here?!

"

nIt just happened that Cassidy saw Aira at the lower floor of the building right before she left.

nShe hurried to her and found that she was not alone – going by the empty dessert bowl on the opposite side of her table, that is. But right now, she appears to be on her own, and for some reason, she is dressed in a kind of clothing that she usually doesn't wear.

n

"Big sis…!

" Aira blurted out, mirroring her flummoxed expression.

n

"I didn't know you're here, big sis!

"

n

"Same to you, young lady. Why are you here and not at school…?

" Cassidy inquired with a stern tone and suspecting glare.

n

"Don't tell me you're cutting classes?! I keep telling you not to take after me! I'm a bad influence!

"

n

"I-I'm not...! What are you saying? To begin with, I don't even have school today.

"

n

"Oh.

"

nAs Cassidy dropped her strict big sister act at last, Aira only giggled at her.

nTwo years ago, she had welcomed the orphan in her abode after Josephine had been taken in by her grandchildren. The two of them no longer had a home or family to return to, and with that, they just decided to live together from then on. Asher and the others are looking after her as well – they all served as her guardians ever since she came to the city with them.

n

"So, why are you here, Aira? I thought for sure you're staying at Asher's place this week…

" Cassidy proceeded to interrogate, not letting her off the hook.

n

"Did you lie to me and decide to live on your own or something? If you did, I'd give you a good spanking-

"

n

"Of course not! You're overreacting…!

" Aira giggled once more.

n

"It's just that I've met up with someone today.

"

n

"Oh, how interesting. Mind telling me who this is?

"

n

"I myself don't know much about him. He wouldn't tell me his name either. But we're friends.

"

n

"Huh?! What kind of idiot would befriend a stranger whose name they don't even know-

"

nThen, Cassidy paused.

nShe recalled that she used to be that idiot once upon a time.

nIt seems like Aira has really taken after her in one way or another. Still, they are different, and so are their circumstances. As a concerned guardian, she will have to meddle in her business whether she wants to or not.

n

"Alright, then. I'll just stay and see for myself. Where's the guy?

" Cassidy demanded before taking her spoon to have a taste of her chocolate ice cream.

n

"Comfort room. He'll be back soon...

" Aira said with an unamused look, sighing as she watched her gobble up her dessert.

n

"You're such a glutton, big sis-

"

n

"Sorry for making you wait, Aira. Shall we get going?

"

nRight then, her companion has finally come back, revealing himself as this all-too-familiar figure that made Cassidy choke on her spoon.

n