"Get your hands off me," Grace said, pushing Brad away. She wasn't used to such public displays of affection, especially not from a man, not even one who had given her her first kiss, even though it didn't seem like a big deal to him.
"You should get used to this, Cuz. I don't intend to stop," Brad told her as they got into the car.
Brad sat on the passenger seat in front of the car with the driver while Grace sat alongside Ann in the back seat.
"He is cool, isn't he?" Ann asked Grace with a wide smile making her roll her eyes.
"He's a nuisance," Grace muttered back, even though she didn't feel that way.
"So Brad, do you have a girlfriend?" Ann asked for Grace's benefit. She was never one to believe in coincidences and seeing as Grace had spent the night with him without even knowing who he was, then that was a sign from the deity as far as she was concerned.
"Why? Are you interested in filling that position if there is a vacancy?" Brad asked, turning in his seat to look at Ann.
"Maybe. So?" Ann asked again.
"I'm not big on relationships, but I do have lovely women who keep me company when I'm lonely," Brad said with a wink making Grace roll her eyes. He was definitely too full of himself.
"I see. So what do you think about me?" Ann asked expectantly.
Brad considered her for a moment, "I think you're hot but could do with a little more fire. Maybe if you and Ann were to swap attitudes, then you would be just perfect for me," Brad said with a grin making both Ann and Grace exchange a look.
"Do you believe in soul swaps?" Grace asked hesitantly.
"Well, anything is possible. We see it in movies all the time. If a human mind can think it, then it can happen," Brad said with an indifferent shrug.
"He likes you," Ann whispered excitedly. So Brad liked Grace's body and attitude, and now they were going to be together, even if it was just as cousins. This whole situation was getting interesting.
"He is just a womanizer," Grace muttered quietly before looking out of the window. She wondered what had made her father tell Brad to keep his hands off her.
Ann's phone rang out, making Grace glance at her, "Who is calling?" She asked in a whisper.
"Jin," Ann informed her.
Grace's heart twisted painfully as she shook her head. "Don't take the call," She was still very hurt over what the girls had said about her.
"Yes?" Ann spoke into the phone, making Grace's eyes widen in surprise.
"Hey, Grace! It's been long since we hung out together, so I was thinking maybe we could meet up and do some shopping together. What do you say to that?" Jin asked with a giggle making Ann smirk.
"Sure. Let's meet up. My personal assistant will be coming with me," Ann informed her.
"What Personal assistant? I thought you said you didn't like anyone following you around?" Jin asked in confusion.
"Well, I don't. But right now, I do need her to help reduce my workload. You'll love her when you see her, trust me," Ann said with a smile.
"Okay then. Where and when are we meeting?" Jin asked.
"What about the other girls? Or is it just the two of us?" Ann asked calmly.
"Let's catch up together first. They can join us later," Jin said gleefully.
"Alright then, let's meet at the club in two hours," Ann said before dropping the call.
"What did you do that for?" Grace asked loudly, making Brad turn in his seat. For a personal assistant, his cousin did talk to her boss with too much authority. Brad thought to himself.
"My mother always used to say if you hear something hateful about yourself, you should confront it and be done with it. There is no point staying angry when you can clear it up," Ann said with a shrug making Brad frown. That was something grandma Rosie always said.
"But I obviously can't do that," Grace said quietly.
"Then let me help you. I will do this for you. See it as a farewell gift," Ann said with a reassuring smile.
"We are here!" Ann announced happily, making Brad frown again. Shouldn't Grace be the excited one?
The moment Sara saw them stepping out of the car, she rushed over to greet them.
"Ann! I've missed you so much," Sara said, hugging Grace affectionately, making Ann laugh. She really missed Sara and wished she could joke around with her like they used to. But unfortunately, she could only watch Sara from a distance now.
"Miss Grace," Sara greeted Ann with a polite bow.
"How have you been, Sara? That reminds me, how is your Jinyong?" Ann asked, making both Sara and Grace look at her in surprise.
"How do you know my Jinyong?" Sara asked, making Ann giggle.
"Ann told me about him. She wanted me to help speak to CEO Tae-Joon about looking out for him," Ann said, making Sara look at Grace.
"You're such a good friend!" Sara said, giving Grace a hug. Grace had absolutely no idea who Jinyong was, but she could guess he was Sara's boyfriend.
"Of course, I have to look out for him," Grace murmured against Sara's back while glaring at Ann for raising such a subject.
"Are you all going to stand out all day? Come on in already!" Mrs. Shu yelled at them.
Brad watched everything with an air of aloofness, even though he couldn't seem to shake off the feeling that something was off between both ladies.
"Howdy, Sara?" Brad greeted, making Sara blush. She had seen him in the news as the guy who was mistaken for CEO Wang Tae-Joon, but why was he with them? Had Ann decided to settle for him in place of Tae-Joon?
"Hello, ma'am. I'm Brad Carter, Ann's cousin," Brad introduced himself to Mrs. Shu, making both her and Sara's eyes widen. How on earth could Ann's cousin look so much like Tae-Joon? Could that possibly be why she was drawn to Tae-Joon?
"I guess this explains your fascination with CEO Wang Tae-Joon," Mrs. Shu said without thinking and quickly apologized with a smile when both Grace and Ann looked at her with displeasure.
"You're fascinated with him? Yet you called him boring?" Brad asked Grace with a frown. Just what was going on with all of them?
"Don't tell me you are over your years-long feelings for him already?" Sara asked Grace, making Ann grit her teeth in frustration. What was wrong with them? Did they have to talk about her feelings in the presence of Grace and Brad?
Grace simply looked at Ann with a smile before giving them a shrug. "Seeing as my cousin is more handsome and lively than he is, I just might transfer my fascination to my cousin. Who knows, we might make good kissing cousins," Grace said teasingly.
"Ew!" Ann and Brad said in unison while Mrs. Shu hit Grace on her back.
"Ouch!" Grace yelled loudly, attracting the attention of other customers before glaring at Mrs. Shu.
"Stop saying such abominable words," Mrs. Shu scolded her harshly before turning to look at Brad with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, she was raised better than that."
"It's fine. Ladies react to me that way. I guess even my own cousin can't help it," Brad said, winking at Grace, who scowled at him.
**************
"Shouldn't you undo this already? You're complicating their lives," The goddess said to the deity as they both watched them.
"Am I? Don't you think they are now beautifully paired?" The deity asked with a grin.
"It can only be undone when they have all learned their lesson. Only when each of them has learned what love truly means can things return to normal." The deity added.
"I'm going to step in and help the situation if you don't stop," The goddess threatened as she stood up from her seat of power.
"By all means, do what you want. You just might end up messing up things for them all," The Deity said with a chuckle making the thunder rumble.