Astraea

After spending her afternoons at Miliani, Brylee still failed to get a chance to meet Lydia Hale.

It looks like they really have to wait for their scheduled appointment.

Finally, it's the week of their appointment. And she is anxiously waiting for Briony outside her school.

Tapping her finger on the steering wheel, she frequently glanced at the window of her car searching for the brunette twins.

Finally, she spotted them walking arm in arm. Once in a while, Briony would stop to greet and chat with an acquaintance she meets on the way making her groan.

She could see that Brina is patiently waiting for her but it was obvious that she doesn't like attention. Brina is a typical introvert while Bell is the ultimate introvert. Bianca, on the other hand, is the epitome of an introvert.

"You are late." Brylee scowled at Briony when she opened the door of her car.

"No, I'm not! You are just too early." Briony rolled her eyes at her. "Bye, sis!" Then she bid Brina farewell.

Brina waved her hand at Briony and Brylee. "Bye! Don't let Bell or Uncle Lorcan catch you two." She said then she walked towards her and Briony's car.

"Oh! I'm so excited!" Briony claps her hands while beaming with excitement.

"Damn me too!"

"Brylee!" Briony widened her eyes at her sister when she heard her cursing again.

"Oopsie!" Brylee just smiled sweetly at her. She should learn to minimize cursing. She wonders how Bell would do it.

After thirty minutes, they parked at Miliani's.

The bell of the glass door chimes when they enter and it caught the attention of the same sales assistant that has been assisting Brylee throughout the week.

"Good afternoon Miss Brylee and Miss Briony." She has obviously become familiar with them to the point that she already memorized their name despite the number of people coming in and out of the boutique.

"Hi!" Brylee smiled sweetly at the sales assistant.

"Miss Lydia is waiting for you. This way please." The sales assistant smiled back at her.

The sales assistant leads them to a stair that is concealed in a wall. Brylee and Briony followed the sales assistant on the second floor.

When they reached the second floor, they were welcomed by a well and neatly organized workroom. There is a large work desk in the center with drawers underneath it. On one corner is a desk with a laptop and sketches on it. Behind it are bookshelves.

There is a wall cabinet that is filled with fabrics, yarn, and accessories. There were also already made suits and dresses hanging on one side.

Different sizes of mannequin stands were all over the place. Some were dressed while some were bare. Lydia Hale's workroom is cozy and warm.

But they cannot find Lydia Hale in there. Brylee and Briony walked around the workroom, their shoes thou not heeled were making sounds on the wooden floor.

They noticed two other doors. One with a sign that says 'fitting room' and the other one opens up revealing the pretty girl that they have been hunting for two weeks now ever since they saw her at their Uncle Lorcan's pad.

The last time they saw her, she was miserable and heartbroken.

Now she looks...normal? Had she already moved on? Brylee and Briony had the same thoughts until Lydia smiled at them. Her smile doesn't even reach her eyes. It was obvious that she was just trying to live normally, she's trying to move on.

"Miss Lydia, these are Miss Brylee and Briony Villan. They wanted to commission you for a couple of dresses." The sales assistant introduced them to Lydia.

For a moment there, Lydia's smile faltered. It looks like she recognized their names, or maybe their surname because they were not sure if Uncle Lorcan had told her about them.

"Miss Brylee, Miss Briony, this is Miss Lydia Hale." They heard the sales assistant said.

"Hi, Miss Lydia." Brylee greeted her with a sweet smile then she took a few steps closer to Lydia. Briony followed her.

"We finally get to meet you. We have been waiting for this day." Briony said ardently.

Seeing that the two already met Lydia, the sales assistant left them.

When Brylee and Briony get closer to Lydia, they finally get the chance to closely study her face.

Lydia Hale has a pair of electric blue eyes, pinkish lips though they were certain that she is not wearing any lipstick. Her nose is prominent, her skin is pale, her auburn hair is tied in a messy updo.

She is wearing a black legging and grey hooded poncho. A measuring tape is wrapped around her neck.

Upon closer inspection, Brylee and Briony realized that it is not right to say that she is pretty. Pretty is an understatement to describe her. She is a goddess.

Her upturned eyes widened for a while. Brylee and Briony guessed that she recognized them but for some reason, the girl pretends that she didn't.

"It's nice to meet you," Lydia smiled again then raised her hand.

Brylee shakes it then Briony.

"For us, it's an honor." Brylee seemed star-struck at the girl that for just a short time, she started to idolize.

Lydia smiled again. And this time, it is different. It was genuine.

"Please have a seat." Lydia motioned them to sit on the chairs in front of her desk.

The first part of their conversation focuses on Lydia's designs and how Brylee loved each of them. Then Lydia asked about her preferences for the dresses that she wanted to commission for her.

They also talked about Brylee's profession. Lydia was surprised to hear that at her young age, Brylee is already an executive chef.

"Have you tried there?" Brylee asked Lydia if she has been to any of the restaurants that their family owns.

Lydia shook her head. "I preferred home-cooked food. But I would love to try your dishes. Maybe I'll visit one day." Lydia replied politely.

"Oh! You should inform me when you are coming, I'll prepare my special dishes just for you." Brylee beamed at her reply.

Lydia blushed and shook her head. She is not used to receiving special treatment from other people. Only one person gives her that treatment and now he is gone. Or maybe, she just misunderstood such treatment. She is not special to someone or anyone.

"No, you don't have to. I'll come as a regular customer, so you shouldn't treat me with such specialties."

"Oh come on! You are special." Briony said with a hidden meaning that made Lydia look at her with confusion. "I mean, you are Brylee's favorite designer, so you are special."

And they found out why. She is soft, sweet, and kind-spirited. The total opposite of their Uncle's cold and fierce personality. She is perfect for him. And she is not just a goddess, she is an angel.

"Damn Brats!" Lorcan hissed when he saw two of his nieces walking out of Miliani. He knows how nosy Brylee could be, but he thought that he would be spared. Briony even tagged along.

Lorcan couldn't understand it but these past two weeks, he would find himself parked not far away from Miliani. But not too far for him to see who comes and goes to that boutique.

He has seen a lot of faces come and goes out of Miliani, yet so far, he hadn't seen that particular face that he wanted to see. Why does he want to see her? He pushed her away from him but now, he is sitting in his car that is parked not far away from her, waiting for a chance to see her.

Why? Not because he missed her. No. He doesn't miss her. He convinced himself. He just wanted to see if she had moved on. But what if she did? And why the hell does she need to move on? They were not even in a relationship. He felt strings tugging that beating muscle inside his chest.

He had spent days and even weeks not seeing her or hearing her voice before and throughout that period of time, he never missed her. So, how could he miss her now? It was just two weeks. And she is just there, a stone throw away from him.

After a while, Brylee and Briony's car leaves, the boutique is already closed.

Lorcan looked at the second floor where the workroom is. The lights are still open. And he was sure that the light would remain open until daylight just like the past days that he stationed himself there.

What the hell is she doing in her workroom until daylight?! Lorcan hissed at himself.

Seeing that she is not going out of her place he wonders, does she eat? Does she even fucking sleep?

"Fuck!" Lorcan groaned and brushed his hair with his finger. Then he rubbed his face with his palm.

He fished his phone from his pocket and called Bell.

"Yes." Comes the cold and strict voice of his niece.

"Inform your sisters to meet me at my pad tomorrow." He said then he hung up without waiting for a reply.

Lorcan stayed there until midnight before he left. Just like the other days, he failed to see her. He didn't even see the lights from the workroom turned off and the lights in her bedroom turned on.