"Yeah! Wanna hang out?" Carissa asked, raising an eyebrow, from the tone of Katelyn's voice she could sense uneasiness
"Yeah… but it's kinda complicated," Katelyn replied, gritting her teeth.
"What do you mean?" Carissa asked.
"Well, Stuart invited me to dinner tomorrow night, and I was hoping you could tag along," Katelyn admitted, a little flustered.
"This is your thing, girl. Just go and have fun—and try not to drink too much," Carissa teased.
"I know, but… I'm feeling a bit uneasy about it, his not gonna be there alone he would be with friends. So please, don't say no!" Katelyn pleaded. Carissa could tell from her tone that Katelyn really wanted the support. After a moment of thought, she relented.
"Okay, I'll go with you," Carissa said, and Katelyn let out a little squeal of excitement.
"Yes! I'll pick you up at 6 p.m.," Katelyn said.
"That works for me," Carissa replied with a shrug.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day, after work, Katelyn freshened up and drove straight to Carissa's place. Carissa, who was about to call her, heard Katelyn honking outside her gate. She stepped out, looking stunning in a long-sleeved tank top and loose-fitting blue jeans, while Katelyn had chosen a simple black dress and low heels, her hair tied back in a sleek ponytail. She smiled as Carissa climbed into the car, and they used the GPS to navigate to Stuart's mansion, a place Katelyn hadn't been before.
"Wow! This place is even bigger than I imagined," Carissa said, her eyes wide with admiration as they approached the gates.
"Yeah, it's impressive," Katelyn replied, equally awestruck.
As they pulled up, a well-dressed man in a black suit approached. Katelyn rolled down her window. "Hi, I'm here to see Mr. Brown," she said politely.
The guard, unfamiliar with her face, made a quick call to the butler, Mr. Nate, to confirm they were expected. After a brief conversation, he returned with a warm smile.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, ma'am. I'm Mr. Park, the mansion's security assistant. Please, feel free to go in."
Katelyn and Carissa got out of the car and were greeted by Nate, who was waiting by the door.
"Welcome, ma'am. I'm Nate, the butler," he introduced himself, leading them inside.
"Nice to meet you, Nate! I'm Katelyn, but you can call me Kate, and this is Carissa, my best friend," Katelyn replied with a friendly smile. Nate noted her politeness and was pleased; if she was Stuart's girlfriend, he thought, she'd be a refreshing change from the haughty Tracy Mikel.
They walked into the spacious, 86-square-meter living room. Everything about the decor was tasteful and elegant, with a neutral color palette and luxurious accents—a signature of Victoria Hagan's refined designs. Katelyn admired the chandeliers, the carefully chosen furniture, and the overall sophistication of Stuart's home. It was a stark contrast to her last visit when she'd been too upset to notice much of anything.
Carissa gave Katelyn a playful nudge, whispering, "Better take a good look, this could be your future home."
Katelyn rolled her eyes, feeling her cheeks heat up. "Don't be silly," she whispered back.
At that moment, she heard footsteps on the stairs and looked up to see Stuart smiling down at her. She blushed and smiled in return.
"Looks like Mrs. Scott's future son-in-law is here," Carissa teased, and Katelyn chuckled softly.
"You're incorrigible," she replied, just as Andy's voice echoed from the kitchen.
"So, the ladies are here!" he called out, coming into the living room. His eyes landed on Carissa, and for a moment, he seemed taken aback, as if recognizing her. Carissa raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised to see him.
"Hey!" Andy greeted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Hey, Mr. George. Nice to see you again!" Carissa extended her hand, grinning.
"Nice to see you too, Ms. Jones," Andy replied, meeting her gaze as he shook her hand, planting a light peck on it. Carissa blushed, feeling unexpectedly flustered.
Stuart invited them to sit, settling beside Katelyn, while Andy took a seat near Carissa. They chatted and laughed, enjoying drinks as they waited for Victor's arrival.
A few minutes later, Victor arrived with two guests, a young man and a beautiful woman by his side, their hands intertwined.
"Sorry I'm late, guys. I ran into Charles Morgan on the way here, and he insisted on joining us," Vic said, introducing them.
"Charles!" Andy greeted, giving him a quick hug. "Man, it's been a while!"
"Good to see you too," Charles replied, giving a nod to Stuart, who acknowledged him with a polite smile but remained somewhat reserved. Although there was no animosity between them, Stuart and Charles had never been particularly close.
Andy's eyes fell on the woman beside Charles. "And who's this lovely lady?"
"This is Veronica Marshall, my fiancee," Charles introduced her with a proud smile.
"Oh, congratulations! So… wedding bells soon?" Andy asked Veronica, with his usual curiosity.
Veronica laughed, glancing at Charles. "Yes, that's the plan," she said, blushing.
Just then, Nate walked over to Stuart, leaning in to whisper something in his ear.