Kiera had gone from not seeing and actively avoiding her sisters to seeing them almost daily since that eventful luncheon. That was not the only change in her life.
She had also gone from barely holding it together, working at the café a block away and begging jobs from her previous agency to actually resigning from both. She was even shock how easy it was to break her contract with her previous agency.
When she tentatively informed Thea, she still hasn't informed her previous agency, her older sister has deeply sighed and shook her head. "You're an idiot."
All it took was for Thea to send a formally worded letter informing them of her desire not to renew her contract and that her financial manager would get in touch to finalize the back pay she was owed.
Kiera didn't even know she had any back pay. Eileen gave her a critical look when she shared that with her.
"We might have sheltered you too much. We'll go through your previous contract and we'll go through all your job agreements and the payments you received. If we even find one credit they did not give you then we'll send Thea after them."
She had the feeling Eileen was quite eager to go to financial warfare, but the agency was more accommodating than they ever were. They had immediately provided everything they could have ever asked for and had wired a hefty enough sum to her account.
Eileen had frowned when she found nothing to nitpick over, she had sent her twin sister a glare, "Your firm's fancy newsletter just ruined my fun." Thea had just rolled her eyes then.
Eileen also took Kiera flat hunting against her own will.
"If you really don't want to buy one then fine, but real estate in the city is a good investment. I'll buy the unit and you can rent it, if you're so averse at paying for it. Too bad the building we live in doesn't have any available units for sale or for rent."
"It's the center of the city, getting a good unit is shooting for the stars."
Eileen waved her hand, as if to dismiss Kiera's pessimism that it was impossible, "At times like this you make money talk and doors open. Thea and I have sent inquiries, we should get news soon."
And they did get a list of units to look at but nothing pleased them both. It was either too small, in a bad location, or just felt wrong.
Eileen drove to the last address on their list, it was at the west of the city, just pass the bustling metropolis and into more private and more expensive residences.
Kiera looked at her sister as she studied the manicured lawns, the fountains and the general flaunting of wealth as they got out of the car.
Eileen handed the keys to the valet and marched towards the lobby, her stiletto heels click clacked and her tamed wavy auburn hair swayed as she walked.
"This one is way out of my budget."
"Not really, you should be able to afford it but the ostentatiousness does feel off-putting. The newly-rich do love to flaunt."
"As far as I know you are new money too."
Eileen gave a good impression of flicking her hair over her shoulder, "Darling, we have the blood of aristocrats. Impoverished aristocrats but noble blood gets you places."
"A baronetcy was a dime a dozen." Kiera teased.
"Ah, but you forget a baronetcy with land. Landed gentry who kept their land in the family despite the state of the coffers. Our ancestors have survived on grit and pride. But the persistence to keep that land in the family did pay off. You have no idea how many offers we get for the estate, but it would be such a sin for that place to be sold off and transformed into some resort."
Kiera can picture the seemingly endless pastures of their country estate, the horses and fresh country air.
She had never gone back since she ran away from home and the sudden homesickness was rather unexpected.
In this life she'll visit and maybe she'll find her home in the city as well.