[Allaine’s Office]
Amid the chaos of sorting through a mountain of documents, Allaine’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen—Elise. Without hesitation, she answered, not even letting it hit the third ring.
“Hey, Sis Elise! What’s up?” Allaine asked, her tone light but curious.
“Hello, Allaine. Just checking in,” Elise replied smoothly. “So… how’d your little date with Alty go?”
Allaine paused, a small smile tugging at her lips as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
“Hmmm… it was wild. I learned a lot, drank a little too much… but Alty? He was really sweet. A proper gentleman.”
She hesitated for a beat before adding with a devilish grin,
“I thought he might try to take advantage of me, but nothing happened. Nada.”
Elise laughed softly on the other end. “Alty’s not that kind of guy, Allaine. He’s an old soul. The type to date you properly, get into a relationship, and ask for your consent before he even thinks about taking things further.”
Allaine leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful.
“Honestly? I wouldn’t have minded if something had happened.”
Elise let out a sharp laugh. “Goddamn it, Allaine. Did I just hear you right? You wouldn’t mind hopping into bed with Alty?”
Allaine smirked, tilting her head. “Nope. Not at all. He’s a good guy—almost too good. Perfect, even. Sure, he’s got that whole cute-and-cool thing going on, but honestly? I couldn’t care less about his looks. He’s the kind of man every woman dreams of having.”
There was a pause, followed by Elise’s laughter spilling through the line. “Jesus Christ, you’ve got it bad! But let me tell you something—that’s the ‘Alty effect’. He’s got this way of getting under your skin, making you think he’s perfect.” Her tone turned serious. “But don’t forget—he’s fragile when it comes to romance. Stella messed him up, Allaine. He doesn’t want to be someone’s safe choice. He wants to be their only choice. He’s the kind of guy who needs to feel like he’s everything—not some fallback plan.”
Allaine chuckled, shaking her head. “Relax. Alty and I already have a deal. If we’re still single at 35, we’ll tie the knot.”
Elise snorted. “Let me guess—you backed him into a corner to agree?”
“Maybe,” Allaine replied, her grin widening.
“Well, let me warn you,” Elise said, her tone sharp and teasing. “You’ve got competition, Allaine. Fierce competition. Don’t get too comfortable with that ‘agreement’ of yours—it’s not worth shit if someone else sweeps him off his feet first.”
Allaine raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Who am I up against?”
“One of your competitors already kissed him on a whim,” Elise revealed, her voice dripping with amusement. “And my own sister is swooning over him. You need to step it up, girl. Get romantically involved, or you’re going to lose him.”
Allaine’s smile turned sly, a glint of determination in her eyes. “Challenge accepted. But I’m playing it lowkey. Alty won’t even see what’s coming.”
Elise laughed, her voice full of approval. “Now that’s the spirit. Just don’t get caught slipping, Allaine. You’ve got a real fight ahead of you.”
Allaine leaned forward, her fingers tapping lightly on her desk. “Let’s see how well the competition does when I decide to make my move.”
[An Hour Later]
Altair, clad in a crisp white polo and tailored khaki trousers, exuded effortless charm. His hair, neatly styled upward, added a refined touch to his otherwise simple look. As he descended the stairs, his eyes fell on Mikayla, dressed in a soft powder pink dress that accentuated her waist before cascading into an elegant A-line skirt. The sheer sleeves added a delicate, ethereal quality, and her subtle makeup enhanced her already striking beauty. For a brief moment, Altair found himself speechless.
Mikayla, catching his gaze, smirked.
“I know, I know—I’m stunning. No need to be mesmerized. Shall we? I’m starving.”
Altair chuckled, shaking off his daze. “Of course. The car’s waiting outside.”
As they stepped out into the sunlight, they ran into Cassy, who approached with a curious expression.
“Heading out?” she asked, her tone light but her eyes lingering on Altair.
“Just lunch, Cassy,” Mikayla said with a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to steal him away.”
The comment earned a slight blush from Cassy. “Enjoy yourselves,” she said quickly, retreating toward the house.
As they walked toward the curb, Mikayla commented, “Well, that was brief. Didn’t expect her to let you off so easily.”
Altair shrugged. “She’s probably just tired.”
“True,” Mikayla mused. “She’s such a diligent student—always pushing herself. She deserves a break.”
Their conversation trailed off as they approached a sleek black Lexus parked at the curb, with Chloe behind the wheel. Ever the gentleman, Altair opened the passenger door for Mikayla. She slid in gracefully, greeting Chloe with an enthusiastic smile.
“Hi there! I’m Mikayla, Alty’s housemate.”
Chloe turned in her seat, her eyes widening in recognition.
“Wait—Mikayla? The Mikayla? The influencer? Oh my God, I’m a huge fan! Your makeup tutorials are amazing.”
Mikayla laughed warmly. “Thank you so much! I really appreciate the support.”
As Altair climbed into the backseat, Chloe threw him a playful glare.
“You didn’t tell me Mikayla was your housemate!”
Altair blinked, caught off guard. “I didn’t know you were a fan.”
Mikayla chimed in, “To be fair, we’ve barely had the chance to interact.”
Chloe started the car, still beaming. “So… is this a date?”
Before Altair could respond, Mikayla clarified with a grin, “Nope. Just lunch. Piccadilly, right?”
“Exactly,” Altair confirmed, leaning back in his seat. “And no, it’s not a date.”
Chloe smirked knowingly, but her attention shifted back to the road as Mikayla leaned forward, curious.
“So, Chloe, you work for Alty?”
Chloe smiled proudly. “I do. I’m his executive secretary, assistant, errand runner, driver, therapist, occasional coffee supplier, and emotional support human.”
She paused for effect, then added, “Except girlfriend, of course.”
Altair groaned, rolling his eyes. “Why do you always throw that last part in?”
Chloe laughed. “At this point, it’s just part of my script. Gotta keep people guessing.”
Mikayla joined in the laughter. “So diligent and hard-working. You even drive for him?”
Chloe nodded. “I do. But this is his car—I just use it since I don’t have my own yet.”
She glanced at Altair in the rearview mirror. “To be fair, I don’t drive him much. Alty here prefers public transportation or walking.”
Mikayla tilted her head, intrigued. “So kind, Alty. But why?”
Altair met her gaze in the mirror, his expression thoughtful. “Because she needs it more than I do. And besides…” He smirked slightly. “Chloe’s a very good employee.”
Mikayla leaned back, a sly smile forming on her lips. “Alright, then. Let me ask the important question…”