Ann opened her eyes the next morning to see Grace glaring at her angrily. "What?" She managed to ask with a cracked voice. Her lips looked very dry, and her throat was parched. She was having the mother of headaches.
"What? You ask me what? How could you drink so carelessly?" Grace asked Ann angrily.
"C'mon, loosen up, will you?" Ann said and winced when she felt like her head was going to rip into two equal parts.
"Loosen up? Do you have any idea what you're doing to my image and reputation?" Grace asked angrily.
"You didn't have much of one. You were more like a robot without feelings apart from anger until I showed up. Nobody is going to judge you simply because you got drunk once. People have real-life problems to worry about than your reputation," Ann said, trying to stand up.
"So you think. You'll have to suffer the consequence of your actions. Get ready. We need to leave for work!" Grace announced.
"But I don't feel well," Ann said, holding her stomach as she rushed to the bathroom to throw up.
"That's what you get for acting rashly. Get ready to leave. We have a meeting to attend," Grace said as she walked into the closet to select an outfit for Ann.
"Here, take this. I don't want you embarrassing me at the office," Grace said, handing her hangover pills and a glass of water which Ann gratefully accepted.
A few minutes later, Ann was dressed and ready to leave, but a brisk knock on her door had them both looking at the door. "Yes?" Ann asked reluctantly.
"It's your father. I need to talk to you," Chairman Jiang said from the other side of the door.
"Oh! Okay. Come in then," Ann said as she opened the door.
"I would love to speak with my daughter alone," Chairman Jiang said, giving Grace a pointed look that told her he wanted her to excuse them.
"Oh! I will be outside waiting," Grace said with a frown before leaving the room. What did her father want to talk to her about? She wondered.
Ann turned to look at Chairman Jiang with a frown. What was he up to?
"Why did you get drunk last night?" Chairman Jiang asked, sitting on the chair beside the bed.
"Are there rules against alcohol in the house? I just wanted to have fun and unwind after a stressful day. It was nothing serious," Ann said, sitting down opposite him.
"I see. What did you do or say around Tae-Joon to make him think you're a lesbian?" He asked curiously.
"What? A lesbian?" Ann asked with wide eyes. Why would he think so? She had kissed him before, hadn't she? Then she remembered their conversation the other night, and then she understood why he must have felt so.
"Yes. He came last night to tell me he wanted us to cancel the marriage plans because he thinks you are both lesbian partners," Chairman Jiang said.
"What? No! He can't do that!" Ann exclaimed, making Chairman Jiang frown at her.
"You don't have feelings for him, do you?" He asked Ann with narrowed eyes. Grace was meant to marry Tae-Joon, not Ann, and he didn't plan on changing that.
"I had an agreement with Grace. I am covering for her on the ground that she wouldn't go on with the marriage. I've always been in love with Tae-Joon long before now," Ann explained.
Grace was getting impatient with each passing second, so she tapped on the door. "We are going to be late for the meeting, ma'am," She called, interrupting their conversation.
"Let's talk about this after work. But for the time being, I need you to correct whatever impression you gave to Tae-Joon and work on being less dependent on Grace," Chairman Jiang advised before leaving the room.
"What was he talking to you about?" Grace asked immediately after she entered the room.
"Tae-Joon thinks we are lesbians," Ann said with an unbelievable expression on her face when Grace simply giggled.
"It's not even funny," Ann said with a disgusted frown.
"I think it is funny, my dearest lesbian buddy," Grace said, trying to plant a kiss on Ann's cheek. Just then, the door opened.
"What is going on here?" Mrs. Jiang asked in horror. She had heard Grace's last statement about Ann being her lesbian buddy, and she had seen the puckered lips.
"I was trying to get something out of her eyes," Grace lied as she stepped back from Ann.
"Dearest Lesbian buddy?" Mrs. Jiang asked furiously.
"I always knew you were up to no good. You think you can come into my home and do this nonsense with my daughter? And you, Grace, how can you be so shameless?" She asked, raising her voice angrily.
"It's not what you think, mother. Please calm down," Ann said, trying to get her to reduce her voice.
"I want this thing out of my house by the end of today. I don't care what you do or how you're going to do it but make sure she doesn't spend one more night under my roof!" Mrs. Jiang said angrily before walking away.
She had told her husband, but he had refused to listen to her. A mother was never wrong about these things. She had known that girl was trouble from the moment she set eyes on her. So, Grace is a lesbian? She needed to do something about it before things got out of hand.
***********
"You're really making the trip yourself?" Rosalyn asked Brad as she watched him fold his clothes into a bag.
"Yes, Grandma. I can't have a stranger do this for you. If I find out she is going to cause you trouble, I won't bother coming with her," Brad said.
"I want to see her and her family, trouble or not. You could just send an invitation letter to them," She suggested.
"I can't take that risk with you. You're so fragile, and I don't think your heart can withstand any more heartache from her. Now, Grandma, it's either we do it my way, or I call my dad and tell him all about your plans," Brad said stubbornly.
"Have it your way then. But make sure you bring her to me. I want to see my Maggie and her daughter, Ann," Rosalyn said as Brad shut his suitcase.
"I'll be back in a week's time, grandma. Until I return, try to stay safe. I'm sure you know what to tell my father if he asks of me," Brad said as he walked outside with his suitcase.
"Travel safely, Brad. I'm going to miss you," Rosalyn called.
"I'm going to miss you too, that you can count on. But look on the bright side. By this time next week, you'll meet with your granddaughter," Brad promised with a wave before leaving.