This day was unlike any other day, at least in Renata's family. Aunty Popo had been busy in the kitchen since this morning, cooking all Renata's favorite dishes. Brigitte had been busy finishing her decoration in their dining room. Patrick was always Patrick, busy working, but just for this day, he would work for half a day.
Brigitte left the dining room for the living room, where she found her husband sitting on a couch near the fireplace with his laptop. He looked dashing with his glasses on. She kissed his temple and asked, "Has Frank left?" Brigitte won over his laptop as she sat on his lap.
"Yes, they should be here any minute now." Patrick gave her a kiss while placing his arms around her waist. He lifted her troubled face. "What's the matter, Gigi?"
She shook her head and said, "Nothing. It just seems unfair to Renata." She paused briefly. "Other kids got a holiday in Malibu or somewhere else. She couldn't, because of me."
Patrick lovingly looked at her. "Don't say that. She can go with her friends if she wants to, but she always refuses. She loves you, Gigi; you know that."
Brigitte snuggled her head in the crook of his neck. She gazed at the piles of new Gudetama merchandise she had bought online and had been collecting for less than a year. Out of guilt and out of love, the next best thing she could only give her daughter was the items she was fond of.
"Am I interrupting?" Renata arrived with a cheeky grin.
"Hey, Birthday Bear. " Patrick and Brigitte hugged her before settling down again. " How was it? Did you have fun?" Patrick asked Renata
Renata dropped her many shopping bags on the floor beside her legs and said, "Yes, daddy. Here is your card. My friends and I were having a blast....." Renata told her parents how she spent the day. A lovely spa day with a manicure and pedicure, a late brunch in a popular cafe with her friends, followed by shopping in several malls. All expenses were paid with her father's Amex black card. Only on her birthday could she shop until she couldn't feel her legs. Calling her ecstatic would be an understatement.
Patrick and Brigitte watched their daughter brag about her birthday gifts from her friends. "That's a nice scarf. The pattern is exquisite; I might use that pattern for our next piece. What do you think, Gege?" Brigitte said as her fingers traced the unique pattern on the scarf.
"Oh, right, dad. What happened to Gillian Reinhardt's agent? Are we still going to use her?" Renata suddenly remembered that rude man at the Waterfront Restaurant.
Patrick frowned as he recalled the incident involving his daughter. "We canceled the agreement and made announcements on our website and in some newspapers." He was sure that those newspapers gained many profits because of the news. "We are still looking for some models, but your mom here was hard to please."
Brigitte bumped her tiny fist at his chest. "Those models are not suitable. They are good, but their auras are just not right." Patrick went blank when his wife talked about auras and their kinds.
Renata had seen the Spring campaign collections. The first time she saw them, she remembered a particular girl who looked like a beautiful boy. She pulled out her BlackBerry and browsed Facebook. "Mom, how about this girl? What do you think?" She handed over her phone to her mom.
Brigitte looked at the picture and scrolled, "Who is this? I think she has potential."
"That's Millie's girlfriend, Jackie. Her actual name is Jacqueline Ardrey. Millie told me she is an aspiring model, already scouted by some agents two years ago. Do you want to try her?"
"Oh, I don't know about that, silly bear. We've already set a date for the audition. Besides, isn't she an amateur?"
Renata shrugged, "Well, I guess. Can she come for the audition? "
"Sure, but we couldn't promise her anything." Brigitte said; she wouldn't budge if it were not for the best.
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A week passed so quickly that Renata reluctantly returned to school, accompanied by her father. She pouted all the way while staring at the bustling city from inside the car. As they arrived at the school gate, she wouldn't let go of her father. Seven days off were too short.
Patrick chuckled at her. "Little Bear, I'm going to be late for a meeting. And your friends are watching you." Only then did Renata release her hug.
"Good morning, Sir. I believe you are Renata's father, Mr. Patrick Tan?" A voice jolted her; it was Lyle.
Renata frowned; she still didn't want to talk to him. For the past few weeks, she had blatantly avoided him when he approached her.
"Yes, are you Renata's friend?" Patrick briefly smiled. Renata would say "no" if she didn't mind being impolite.
"Yes, I was with Renata in the restaurant when the rude man attacked her. My name is Carlyle Rosenburg. My mother mentioned that you were once a business associate of hers; her name is Carol, Carolynne Rosenburg." Lyle flashed his megawatt smile at Patrick.
Some people might find his smile disarming, but not Patrick. Years in business numbed him to any kind of flashy charm. "I see, you are Carol's son. Well, Renata, I must go now. Stay out of 'Trouble', OK?" He gave Renata a warning stare before he politely nodded at Lyle.
Renata watched the car get further away, smaller and smaller. She was annoyed that her time with her father was interrupted. "Hi, Lyle. What's up?" She turned her heels and walked into the gate. Lyle was walking next to her.
"Are you mad at me?" Lyle finally asked, "We have never hung out anymore lately. Did I do something wrong?"
Renata rolled her eyes. "I was busy studying; we were having a fall exam, remember?" She fastened her steps.
"We are not anymore; let's hang out, Little Rabbit. Oh, btw, happy belated birthday." His words stopped her.
Renata faced him in confusion and said, "Thanks, and I think you already congratulated me the other day?"
Lyle grinned at her and said, "I was planning a small party this evening, for you." He got closer to her, step by step, until he had her trapped between him and a wall. As he caressed her long black hair down the length, he took a lock of it and inhaled deeply. Renata couldn't help but quiver when she saw the lust in his eyes.
Out of nowhere, Wilson grabbed Lyle's shoulder and shoved him away. "Renata!! Are you alright?" He swiftly went next to her. It was out of character for him to act that hostile toward anyone; obviously, his lack of sleep got the best of him.
"Student President, nice seeing you around aside from the library. Do you mind? I'm having a chat with my girl here." Lyle might sound civil, but something in his tone made Renata unsettled.
"Wilson, I'm alright." Renata patted Wilson's arm before she continued, "Lyle was just telling me he would set up a birthday party for me later. Why don't you come this evening? Where was it you said, Lyle?" She glanced at Lyle.
"The game room at Helios Dorm, first floor. I have permission from the teacher. You should come too, Pres. It's going to be fun." Lyle's grin didn't reach his eyes.
"Then, I guess that's all you want to talk about. See you later, Lyle. Let's go, Wilson." With that, Renata left Lyle, with Wilson following her.
Lyle was still smiling at her back even as she had gotten farther and farther with Wilson. However, no kindness shone from his eyes—only malicious intention.