Rachel entered the cafe, spotting Derby sitting at a table. A bright smile appeared on both of their faces as they locked eyes.
"Look at you, it feels like it's been ages since we last saw each other," Derby exclaimed excitedly, standing up to greet Rachel with a tight hug.
Rachel returned the hug warmly. "I've missed you so much," she replied sincerely.
"Not as much as I've missed you. Modeling without you just feels weird. Every time I do a shoot, all I can think about is you," Derby said with a hint of sadness, as they both took a seat next to each other.
Both Derby and Rachel were fashion models, showcasing popular consumer brands, fashion designers, and artists, advertising a wide range of products such as expensive perfumes, jewelry, and clothes.
"You looked amazing in your latest posts, by the way," Rachel said, rolling her eyes playfully.
"Are you kidding me? I'm miserable without you," Derby responded, pouting. "You said you wanted to take a short break, so why aren't you back yet?"
Rachel let out a sigh. "Trust me, Derby, I have way more important problems on my plate," she replied, her face turning serious. It was only then that Derby noticed the worry in Rachel's eyes. Her usually cheerful friend seemed weighed down by something.
"Are you alright?" Derby asked with genuine concern in her voice.
"Well, you wouldn't believe it, but..." Rachel began to respond.
"Rachel!" someone called out, interrupting her. The voice sounded very familiar.
Rachel looked up and to her surprise, she saw William standing there. Her heart fluttered with excitement as she leaped from her seat and jumped into his arms like a little girl.
"Will!" she exclaimed with pure joy, hugging him tightly.
William expected her enthusiastic reaction and caught her, spinning them both around the room without a care for the onlookers.
"I can't believe you're back," Rachel said, letting go of the embrace.
"It's good to see you, Ray. You're still a little ray of sunshine," Will said, giving her a soft smile.
Rachel smiled back as she gazed into his eyes. He looked even more handsome than she remembered from a year ago. His black hair was longer now, adding to his stunning appearance, and his blue eyes still held the same captivating depth.
"I'm not a ray of sunshine anymore," Rachel admitted as they both took their seats.
"Yeah, she's more like a gloomy cloud now," Derby chimed in.
William's concern deepened. "Why, what's wrong, Ray?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine care.
He had always been genuinely concerned about her ever since they met in middle school. They had been friends for so long, and Rachel contemplated confiding in both of them about what was bothering her.
"It's complicated," Rachel replied evasively.
"Is it about your classical musician boyfriend?" William asked, his frown betraying his dislike for Brandon, whom he had never warmed up to.
"You mean the classical liar, not to mention cheat," Rachel said, her frustration evident.
"He cheated on you?" Derby asked in disbelief, her face displaying shock.
"Yeah," Rachel replied sadly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. You must be heartbroken. Why didn't you call me and tell me this?" Derby said, her concern overflowing.
"It's fine, Derby, really. I'm fine. I'm kind of glad my parents exposed him. To think I also thought he was perfect," Rachel said, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and relief. She looked up at her friends, realizing they had confused expressions on their faces.
"What?" she asked, sensing their curiosity.
"You said your parents exposed him?" William asked, his disbelief evident.
"Yeah, it's a long story," Rachel replied, brushing it off for now. "But forget about me. What about you? What have you been up to?"
"Mostly work," William replied. He was about to continue when Rachel's phone suddenly rang, interrupting their conversation.
"Sorry, it's my mom. Excuse me," Rachel said, answering the call.
"Where are you?" Maria asked urgently from the other end of the line.
"I went out for lunch."
"You have to come home right now and get ready. The Hills will be arriving soon."
*****
Nick stood in front of his mirror, adjusting his tie. He was dressed to the nines, ready for the dinner. His splendid royal blue suit perfectly showcased his physique and exuded class.
"What do you think she'll be like?" Nick asked Timothy, glancing at the gold watch his loyal butler handed over to him.
"I'm sure she'll be great, sir. Your parents have surely found someone perfect," Timothy replied in his usual composed manner.
"Yeah, a perfect someone to do their bidding," Nick muttered with a sigh. "I still can't believe I'm getting married. I can't even remember my last committed relationship."
"Well, I can," a voice echoed in the room.
Nick turned around to see his sister, Ashley, entering with a mischievous smile. She was dressed in an elegant, form-fitting dark green dress, radiating confidence with every step.
"You look so gloomy. You should be excited to meet your future bride," Ashley remarked, her smirk still intact. "It's not too late to catch the next flight back to the States and forget about all this. You won't go broke anyways, and you'll have your freedom. And that's more important isn't it?"
"You never change, do you?" Nick responded with a deep frown etched on his face.
With feigned innocence, Ashley replied, "I'm only trying to help."
"I don't need your help," Nick retorted firmly, turning away walking out of the room.