16 A Suspicious Object.

A wonderful weekend morning can only be ruined by an alarm that you forgot to turn off.

Or a call at eight in the morning.

Emily's morning began with the bass-harsh notes of Vivaldi's Winter. There was only one person in her phone book whose call was assigned to this music. And only this person could have called so early.

"Hello," the girl croaked into the phone. The remnants of a sweet dream slipped away through the veil of closed eyelids, no matter how hard Emily tried to keep it.

"Baby, are you still sleeping?" the voice of the grandma sounded very surprised.

Most of the normal people do just that on their day off!

Emily sighed, "I was, Granny. I WAS sleeping," she replied, emphasizing each syllable. Glancing at the time, the girl groaned. "What happened?"

If the call was so early, then Madame Hayes was up to something. And this is something clearly related to her granddaughter.

"Oh dear, everything is fine! My irises are finally blooming. So cute! You'll like them! A new gardener came in the morning. Such a sweetheart! A real treasure, I got to say, not a man. The only problem is that he is already married," the grandmother clicked her tongue in annoyance, "You really had to see how he took care of my roses! They are great now!"

"Granny, get to the point. You will send me pictures of your flowers later anyway," Emily pressed. Her sleep was completely gone.

"Mrs. Claren will drop in for tea in the evening, to admire the garden. Will you keep us company? She is so interested to know about your new job! She was so happy about your success, dear."

Aha, she was happy! She was happy for her grandson that his potential fiancee was very much on the ball.

"Mrs. Claren, I suppose, will not be alone as always?" Emily asked sarcastically.

"Oh, exactly! How could I forget!" the grandmother exclaimed with joy. Yeah, right. She 'forgot', of course. "Kevin will be there too! Imagine, his team made it to the national games! Such a talented young man! I am sure he will be a star!"

And here is the answer. Kevin, damn it, Claren!

"Grandma, I've told you many times. Kevin and I are two parallel universes! We do not intersect even at the level of quantum physics! We are like matter and antimatter! Like Tom and Jerry! Or like Republicans and Democrats!"

"Your grandfather was a Republican. We got along very well."

"Grandma! What do political views have to do with it! I'm trying to explain to you that Kevin and I are too different to build a common future," Emily rolled her eyes. Obstinacy is a good quality, but it would be better if Grandma Hayes did not have it.

"What are you suggesting to me then?! To watch you suffering because of your professor for another year or two? Time to wipe his eyes for losing a girl like you! Emily, you're thirty. It's time to think about family."

"I'm twenty-seven." Correcting the old woman was a useless thing to do.

"Kevin is a great match. Tall, handsome, athlete! An attentive and well-mannered guy! It's hard to find a man like that now," Mrs. Hayes insisted.

Why is that? I've met one and he is also one of a kind! In fact, he is really quite something.

"Grandma, so be it. I'll tell you my secret to calm you down," Emily went for broke. "I have a boyfriend."

Bingo!

The grandmother immediately fell silent, which was already an excellent indicator.

"Okay." Oh, but this tone is no longer a very good indicator. "I'm expecting you both for dinner tonight," the woman said emphatically.

"Will not work. He's working today. Until late at night," Emily said.

"Then tomorrow morning for breakfast. You're having a day off, aren't you?"

"Tomorrow morning he is leaving on a business trip."

Pause.

"Emily Hayes! Stop lying to your grandmother! You don't have any boyfriend!" the woman exploded.

"You bet I do!"

"What's his name?!"

"Justin!"

Oh, you fool…. Emily cracked her forehead. Sorry boss. I didn't mean it.

"Hmm, Justin. Oh well. I'll remember that," Mrs. Hayes chuckled, feeling the taste of her victory. "Then tonight I'm expecting you and your Justin to visit me," and hung up.

Damn it!

Emily pulled back the covers and sat down on the bed. The tousled hair perfectly reflected her tousled mood.

Dragging the boss to a meeting with grandma would be a crazy decision. And he is unlikely to agree to pretend to be her boyfriend.

The girl scratched the back of her head. Hello, we're talking about Justin Evans, right? This one will definitely not give up on such an adventure.

"Oh no, Hayes, don't even think about that," she patted herself on the cheeks.

She has already had more than enough Justin Evans in her life. It would be absurd to even add more of Justin Evans to her day off.

"Exactly! How could I not have thought of something like that before!" the girl beamed with happiness. She jumped up on the bed and danced happily.

Such an obvious decision came to her head so late! Why do we need some Justins, Peters or anyone else when there is the omnipotent Emily Hayes - the granddaughter of the famous actress!

"Well hold on, granny. It's your own fault," the girl grinned. "It's time to use the acting skills that you have taught!"

Kevin and company want the perfect and promising bride? Ha, then they are definitely in the wrong place. She will help them open their eyes and see the severe reality.

Singing a cheerful tune under her breath, Emily jumped out of bed, and dancing in the same way, went to the bathroom.

After a long relaxing bath with a bunch of scrubs, mousses and creams, the girl came out refreshed. The mood jumped a couple hundred points.

The day promised to be great!

What will help make it even better? Right! The best coffee in town!

Emily glanced at her watch. A little over ten.

"Excellent!" She made time for breakfast at her favorite "Nefertiti".

The girl pulled on the first shorts that came under her arm, put on a light top, tied her hair in a ponytail and went to the cafe.

Already crossing the road, Emily belatedly remembered that this cafe was chosen not only by her.

"You already have a persecution mania. What is he to do here at this time?" she muttered to herself as she grabbed the door handle.

Ruinning into her boss in the morning was not part of her plans. Moreover, when she was not ready for this.

Well, at least she combed, thought Emily and carefully looked inside.

The bell above the door tinkled treacherously, announcing a new visitor to all the cafe.

"Oh Emily! Good morning! You're late today!" the barista behind the counter broke into a happy smile. His loud voice was clearly audible in every corner of the hall.

There was no point in hiding.

"Good morning, Mat. How are you?" Emily walked over to the counter, glancing around nervously. Not noticing among the few visitors one whom she would not like to notice here, the girl breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, everything is fine. As usual for you? Are you going to sit where you always like it? Your table is free," he turned and winked at the waitress next to him. She smiled back and disappeared from sight with a mysterious expression on her face.

Are they flirting? Emily was surprised. This couple has been making eyes at each other for a long time. Have they decided to take action?

"Your Americano. Enjoy," the barista handed Emily a coffee and switched to the new customer who came next.

Emily with undisguised joy took a glass and proceeded to her favorite place.

Finally! Her personal nirvana!

She could sit and look out the huge window. Observe how people and cars were passing by. As the sun slowly rose higher and higher, playing with its rays on the roofs of the nearest buildings.

And she could drink the most delicious coffee in town.

The unexpected thought made her smile. Cafe Nefertiti and Pharaoh magazine - like the queen and king of Egypt - the perfect combination. The place where her favorite drink is prepared, and the place where she once dreamed of working.

And now both of these places reminded of another person.

Emily put the glass down on the table.

What the? She just noticed that something was lying on the table.

"Did someone of the visitors forget to take it?" the girl reached for a blue envelope of unknown origin.

Stop! What if there is a bomb or some kind of poison?

Emily pulled her hand back and looked around apprehensively. The cafe staff and other customers behaved as usual - everyone was busy with what they were doing.

She looked at the envelope again.

A bomb would obviously not fit in the envelope like this. She wasn't sure about the poison.

Maybe call the policemen who will bring the dogs along?

The girl stretched her neck to get a better look at the suspicious object.

"Ha?!" her eyes widened in surprise.

In the lower right corner, two words were written in beautiful calligraphic handwriting in gold ink.

"For Emily."