An Important Announcement

After her tiring shift, she went straight to their home in order to avoid suspicion from her father. 

As she stepped inside the mansion, Carter was waiting in the living room. 

"What's going on?" She asked whilst walking towards him.

"I don't know what's going on but our father's secretary asked me to wait here." 

"Does he notice me? Since I'm late…" 

"Don't worry, he knows that you still have class."

"Well, that's good to hear." 

Their father's secretary arrived in front of them as he bowed and said, "sorry for making you wait Miss Camrynne and Sir Carter. The head of the family was waiting for you two inside the office."

They took a glance at each other but they followed behind silently. 

"Does that damn father know that I didn't have class yesterday? Or did he discover my part time job?"

He sighed and shook her head. "If he knew about that already, you are now in big trouble so don't sweat about it."

"I know…" 

They stopped when the secretary opened the door for them. They strode inside as their father gazed at them sternly. 

Alexus instructed his children to sit in front of him as they didn't utter any words without his permission.

Anxiety struck all over their body when their father kept silent and just gazed at them. 

"I called both of you to announce an important matter." Alexus finally broke the silence from four corners of the room.

The oldest daughter hid the tension inside her and calmly asked, "what is the important matter, father?" 

"Our important business partner invited us for dinner and I want you, Camrynne, to show them your best. You know what I mean…"

She felt uneasy knowing what would happen at the dinner but she just smiled and nodded. 

The business partner of Payne Empire was their family friend, the Imperial family. Their parents knew from their teenagers and promised to be business partners one day.

Their family parted away to build the business stronger and 5 years later, they reunited to merge their company. 

"I'll do my best, father," she mumbled.

"Carter…" 

His eyes widened when his father called his name for the first time yet he didn't want him to notice his shock.

"Yes, father?"

"You are coming with us since they wanted to meet you." He uttered. 

Expectedly, it was a requirement to attend every event to show their 'perfect' family to others.

But since his best friend was there to attend, it was fine by him. 

"Yes… Father." He mumbled and just smiled at him. 

"You two can leave now." 

They bowed at their father before leaving the office. Camrynne walked beside her brother whilst smirking at him. 

"W-what?" His voice cracked as he looked away, covering his face to hide his blush. 

"You'll see Zach very soon…" 

He cleared his throat whilst scratching his nape, feeling the cold sweat in the corner of his head. 

"I-I believe I am… It's been so long since we saw each other so I'm excited."

Camrynne could see the tension from his words and it was best not to interrogate him. 

"Well that's good to hear. Anyway, we better sleep since we have class tomorrow. Good night Carry…" 

"Yeah… Good night." 

Carter glanced at her sister as she wandered inside her room. 

He heaved a deep sigh as he walked inside his room and threw himself on the bed. Then, he turned his body on the side, facing his massive glass door. 

He wasn't excited to see Zach after what happened before he left high school to study in a boarding school. 

FLASHBACK

"I like you, Zach…" 

His eyes widened as the blush ran all over his face from his own love confession. 

As he felt the tears forming in the corner of his eyes wanting to run away when Zach was stunned and didn't say anything.

It made him anxious…

"I-I'm sorry…" Carter said and ran away. 

END OF FLASHBACK

After that, Zach was absent from every class. It took 1 week before he asked his brothers. 

And it hurted him when all of a sudden Zach left the school to study in a boarding school.

Carter curled his body when tears ran down her cheeks when remembering his confession and how he left him. 

But he couldn't be mad at him since it wasn't his fault. It was his own stupidity. 

"Zach… I don't know if you want to see me because of that stupid confession." He mumbled and drifted to sleep with dry tears on his cheeks.