"Are you running out of the country, Destiny?" I could hear my mom's voice, high-pitched and filled with worry, coming from the other side of the phone. It was typical of her, always jumping to conclusions before letting me explain. I let out a sigh, feeling a smile tug at my lips despite the situation.
"Dad, can you put her on speaker so I can explain everything properly?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light. My mom had a tendency to blow things out of proportion, and I knew if I didn't explain soon, she'd be planning an international search and rescue mission.
I heard my dad chuckle softly in the background. "Hold on, sweetheart," he said, and a moment later, I could hear the familiar shuffle as he put the phone on speaker. "Okay, go ahead. She's listening."
"Mom, I'm not running away!" I began, trying to stifle the amusement in my voice. "I just forgot to tell you guys that I got the job at Collins Company. I'm working as an assistant for the CEO, and we're heading to London for business."
The silence that followed my statement was quickly replaced by a sharp intake of breath from my mom. "You got the job?! Oh, sweetheart! I'm so proud of you!" Her voice softened, and I could hear the emotion in it.
"Congratulations, cupcake," my dad chimed in. "You've become such a wonderful woman." His voice was shaky, and I couldn't help but smile at the affection in his words.
"Dad, are you crying?" I asked teasingly, already knowing the answer.
"Oh, don't mind him, baby," my mom jumped in before he could respond. "You know how he gets. If he makes you cry, I'll make sure he sleeps on the couch tonight!" I couldn't help but laugh at that. My mom always knew how to lighten the mood, even when emotions were running high.
"You can't do that!" my dad protested, though I could tell he was smiling. "And besides, I know you wouldn't want to stay away from me for too long—you know I'm too handsome for that."
"Mom! Dad! Can you two please stop flirting? You have all the time in the world when I'm not around, but right now, talk to me!" I whined, unable to stop the laughter bubbling up inside me. They never missed a chance to tease each other, no matter the time or place.
They both laughed together before my dad cleared his throat. "Alright, alright. So, Collins Company, huh? That's impressive, cupcake. I've heard good things about that place."
"I didn't realize how big it was until I started," I admitted, leaning back against the couch. "The pay is great, though, so I'm happy."
"That's wonderful, dear," my mom said, her voice softening again. "So, how long will you be in London?"
"Three days, I think. We'll probably be back by Saturday night or Sunday morning." I tried to sound nonchalant, but a small part of me was still nervous about the trip.
"Well, be careful, and don't forget to have a little fun while you're there," my mom added with a chuckle, her maternal instincts still kicking in.
I laughed softly. "I'll try, Mom."
"How are your siblings doing?" I asked, realizing I hadn't heard from either of them in weeks. The last I heard, Amanda was going through the adoption process.
"Amanda's doing well. She just finished the adoption paperwork for the baby," my mom replied, and I could hear the pride in her voice. "As for your brother… well, we haven't heard from him in a while."
I smiled at the mention of Amanda and her new baby. "I'll visit Amanda once I get back from London. As for my brother, I'll have a talk with him later." My brother was always unpredictable, but I loved him all the same.
"Take care of yourself, dear. And don't forget to come visit us soon," my dad said, his voice filled with warmth and love.
"I will, Dad. I promise. Love you both," I said, my heart swelling with affection for my parents as I ended the call.
The clock read 5:00 PM. In two hours, I'd be on my way to London. After packing my bags earlier, I realized I hadn't updated my parents on the trip. Now that I had, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. But there was still a nagging feeling in the back of my mind, a mix of excitement and anxiety. Traveling with Liam, my boss, was nerve-wracking, to say the least, especially after what happened yesterday.
My thoughts drifted back to the kiss on my cheek. The brief touch still left a tingling sensation, even now. I had spent the entire day trying to push it out of my mind, but it lingered. How could he act so casually after all the trouble he had caused me?
This morning, I had kept things professional. I handed him his coffee, briefed him on the meeting, and then left as soon as I could. He had told me I could take the afternoon off, and I gladly accepted, eager to get away from the confusing feelings swirling inside me.
To kill time, I decided to call my best friend, Ava. It had been days since I last spoke to her, and I missed our usual banter.
I dialed her number, and after a few rings, she picked up. "Hello, who is this?" she asked in an irritated tone, clearly upset that I hadn't called sooner.
"Your favorite person in the world," I said cheekily, hoping to soften her up.
"I don't have one," she shot back, but I could hear the smile in her voice.
"Ava, I'm sorry! I've been so busy, but I promise I'll make it up to you in the future."
"It's okay, Sky," she sighed. "I miss you. What are you up to right now?"
"I'm actually about to leave for London," I said, trying to match her excitement with my own.
"What?! You're going to London?! Oh my God, that's amazing!" Her excitement was contagious.
"Yeah, it's for business," I explained. "My boss is picking me up any minute now, so I won't be able to chat for long."
"You're traveling with your boss?" she asked, and I could almost hear the smirk in her voice. "Well, well, isn't that interesting."
"It's strictly business, Ava," I replied, trying not to let her tease get to me. "I'll be back by Saturday, though."
"Alright, fine. Just make sure to have fun and don't let him boss you around too much!" she added playfully.
I laughed. "I'll try. Talk soon, okay?"
As I hung up, the doorbell rang, signaling that Liam had arrived. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself before opening the door.
But when I swung it open, it wasn't Liam standing there. Instead, a tall, muscular man in a black suit greeted me, his expression serious. He wore dark sunglasses that made it impossible to read his eyes.
"Miss Walker?" he asked in a deep voice. I nodded. "I'm Mr. Collins' driver and bodyguard. He has asked me to escort you to the car."
"Okay, just give me a minute," I replied, rushing to grab my luggage and handbag. When I turned around, I noticed the man had already picked up my bags and was waiting for me by the elevator.
"Thank you," I said softly, slightly taken aback by his efficiency. He simply nodded and gestured for me to follow.
As we approached the parking lot, my eyes widened in shock. Parked there, gleaming under the dim lights, was a sleek black limo.
I stopped in my tracks, staring at it with wide eyes. "Is that for us?" I asked, pointing at the limo, my voice filled with awe.
The bodyguard looked at me with a slight smirk. "Yes, Miss Walker."
Before I could fully process the situation, the door to the limo swung open, and out stepped Liam. His tall frame moved with an effortless grace as he approached me, dressed in a tailored suit that made him look even more intimidating than usual.
He waved a hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my daze. "You alright, princess?"
I blinked, looking up at him. "We're going in that?" I pointed to the limo again, still in disbelief.
Liam chuckled at my reaction. "Yes, is there a problem?"
"No, no problem," I said quickly, my excitement bubbling over. "It's just... it's one of my dreams to ride in a limo!" I couldn't help the giddy smile that spread across my face.
Liam's chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh. "Well then, dreams do come true, don't they?" He gestured for me to get in. "Come on, we don't want to be late for our flight."
I practically bounced on my feet as I climbed into the limo. The interior was just as luxurious as I imagined, with plush leather seats and a mini-bar. I felt like I was living in a scene from a movie.
Liam climbed in after me and closed the door. "Give me your passport and other documents," he said, holding out his hand.
I rummaged through my bag and handed them to him. He passed them to the driver through the partition window, and we were on our way.