Aubrey was busy with the laptop, he searched for recent news regarding Lee Group and other companies. It seemed fine and nothing was out of ordinary.
Lucy went out to meet her aunt, who was also the president of Prime Hospital. Aubrey was alone in the house. They got back home around twelve last night since city B was quite far.
Thinking of Lee Group, he wondered what happened to the last project he was responsible in consulting.. well, Lee Group had many other big projects coming in their way. One failed contract worth only 900 million dollars wouldn't affect the company.
Or perhaps it didn't failed. Adamson was clever, he might had settled it himself.
The doorbell rang when he was about to scroll down the latest online news. Aubrey faced the door, who could it be? He got up from the couch and went to see the guest from the intercom.
A woman..?
"Hey sis! Open up! You didn't go to work today too!", Mia was standing in front of the door. Her sister's car wasn't here but she got an inkling that somebody was at home.
Aubrey stood still. Should he open the door? Lucy wasn't home right now.
"Hey, I know somebody's there! Open the damn door!", Mia went silent for a second.
"Ohhhh could it be you're the secret boyfriend?!!", she gasped. If Aubrey really wasn't there, she would be talking with the door, alone.
Aubrey opened the door carefully. He stared at the girl who seemed lively. She wasn't like Lucy at all, except for her hair color. Light brown and straight.
"Oh. My. God.", Mia's eyes got stuck on his face. This guy was hot!
Aubrey started to feel uneasy. If Lucy was a hyena, her younger sister was a lioness.
"Hey handsome, what's your name?", Mia went inside without him asking her to.
"It's Aubrey.", he said simply. He closed the door.
"Ahh.. your name is hot like you too. Just delicious.", she smiled wickedly.
Somehow he felt like rolling his eyes.. this woman was too casual!
"I'm Mia, Lucy's younger sister. we're just a year apart. How old are you?", Mia asked, she was actually curious. He seemed quiet and mature.
"25.", he answered, to which it gave Mia a shock.
"What?! You're younger than my sister and me?!"
Aubrey was surprised too. He didn't expect Lucy to be two years older than him. Well.. he should have expected it since she was a head of her own department. She must had many experiences in her career and was older. Why didn't he realize it?
He remembered Lucy once asked him his age. So she knew he was younger from the beginning..
"I can't believe this.. sis dated a man younger than her and me- her younger sister. So how should I address you?", Mia said, she took a seat on the couch. She was acting like she owned the place.
"Well.. you look mature enough, so I guess it's fine. It's good to have a handsome face..", Mia smiled towards Aubrey.
Her sister had never been in a relationship. She was cold towards men but it wasn't because she disliked them. It was because she didn't hold any interest towards either of them. She took a safe distance between their interaction. And Gary was the closest by far. Mia thought Gary would one day become her brother in law, but now she wasn't sure anymore.
•••
"Aunt Annie, he's living with me just for a while. He wasn't leeching off me. He just has some problems.", Lucy sighed a few times.
Her aunt thought Aubrey was taking advantage of her.. if she knew Aubrey was actually a Lee Group's successor, she may just fainted.
"And when will you introduce him to us?", Annie asked. She wanted to see this person as soon as possible.
"If dad isn't going to acknowledge my partner then I won't introduce him to you guys.", she said, her tone resolute. She wouldn't take no as an answer.
Partner?
"Are you really serious with him, Lucy?", Annie asked again, she was surprised to see this side of her niece.
"Of course. You know I don't play around!"
"But what if he's the one playing around?"
Lucy frowned. Her aunt really had no idea about her relationship with Aubrey. Of course she would think that way.
"Fine.. I won't say anything. I'll support you, dear.", Annie wore a smile, whatever Lucy decided was what's best for her. She then turned to look away, she seemed worried about something else.
"Gary is heartbroken. I have a clue he's actually in love with you, but I never pay attention to it. I know you just see him as a friend.", this time, Annie was the one to sigh aloud.
"I know about it.", Lucy smiled to her aunt, but she seemed sorry.
Of course she knew, as a professional psychologist, she could see past people's action and manners. She once had a guess, but now it was true.
Lucy chose to ignore his feelings since she didn't want them to be awkward later. She was actually glad he didn't take measure to confess. Or she would be troubled to have to reject him.
Annie Kim faced her niece.
"Will you please meet Gary and tell him your thoughts? I don't want him to stay in love with you since you're unwilling.", Annie told Lucy.
"Alright..", she nodded.
•••
Aubrey went to the kitchen to get the blackcurrant juice from the fridge. Mia was with her phone. She just dumped another man last night. Now she wanted to find her next target.
"Here.", Aubrey put the glass on the table.
"Wow, thanks. Looks like you're making this house as your own.", Mia said, teasing him. He didn't respond.
"My sis must've trusted you so much to even leave the house to you.", she continued.
"Well..", he didn't know what to say. It was hard to keep up conversation with a stranger. Especially the talkative one like her.
"So Aubrey.. have you guys done it?", Mia asked. She didn't bother to use honorifics since he was younger.
Aubrey felt like chasing her out from the house. She was shameless.. the same as her sister.
"Oh, what's that?", Mia noticed the black choker around his neck. She moved her hand to touched it.
"Stop.", Aubrey held her hand before it could reach him. His hold was firm and strong. He didn't like to be touched there.. Lucy was the only one who could touch him.
Mia noticed the changes in his eyes. She decided to not pry.
"Sorry.", she said.
"It's fine.", he let go of her hand.