A Bouquet of Fresh Roses
Stella continued crying, pushing for Adam to change his mind about Aurora moving out.
"People are going to say that I don't treat her well and that I asked her to leave! You have to get justice for me now and right every wrong!"
If Aurora moves out, how can she continue to keep her eyes on her? So of course, she has to fight tooth and nail to prevent it.
Aurora rolled her eyes and turned to fix her gaze on her father. She had only come to inform him of the plans she'd already made because she respected him. She wasn't asking for his opinion.
And of course, knowing this, Adam sought to uphold his honour and pride before her.
Finding Stella's actions questionable, he frowned at her. "If you are going to keep disturbing my peace, use the door!" He ordered, pointing a finger at the entrance door while glaring at her.
Immediately, Stella stopped crying and wiped the invisible tears away from her eyes. "Adam, you really have to listen to me this time!"
"Do you listen to me when I ask of you?" Adam retorted. Stella bit her bottom lip and turned her gaze away. Since he asked that question, how could she defend herself?
Adam shifted his attention to Aurora, his gaze softening. "I don't have any problems with you moving out, but you will have to attend every family function and come home every weekend to eat dinner with us. Do you accept?"
Aurora nodded. His conditions were a piece of cake. Besides, she might not have to keep to them with time.
Stella was so mad at Adam for consenting to Aurora moving out. When Olivia found her in her bedroom, she was pacing about.
"Mum, what is the matter? Why do you look so worried?"
"Aurora is moving out and your father agreed to it."
Olivia's brows furrowed. "Should that be something to worry about? Isn't it good that her presence will no longer be a nuisance to us?"
"You fool! We need Aurora close to keep an eye on the people she meets. I can't have her crossing paths with real family!" Stella insinuated and finally, Olivia understood.
"Then the problem is easy to resolve. Just put a tail on her; get someone to follow her and report every movement to you!"
Instantly, Stella's eyes shone brightly. "Brilliant!"
---
By 6:30 the following morning, the moving company Aurora contracted came to move her things from her family residence to her new apartment.
Stella clenched her fists, watching her pick up almost every property in her bedroom.
"Don't think you can ever get away from my claws!" She whispered when Aurora walked past her.
Aurora scoffed at her remarks and went outside to see her father waiting.
"Always call me when you need anything," Adam reminded, patting her shoulder as the corner of his eyes crinkled.
---
Aurora reported to work as soon as the moving company finished transferring her things to her new space.
Fortunately, Abigail was no longer mad at her and volunteered to help get the furniture she had ordered from an online store.
"You owe me an expensive dinner tonight. And I need to meet this Xander Scott and access him with my own eyes," Abigail had said with the corner of her lips lifting into a smirk.
Aurora exhaled deeply as she sat behind her desk, reading the reports her team members submitted based on their new product ideas. Nothing made sense to her. She pushed the file away and focused on her work for the day.
Towards noon, she went to the breakroom to get some ice cream. But as she emerged, she heard giggles and whisperings from the junior staff.
"Did you see that bouquet of fresh pink roses?"
"Yes, I did. And I counted them with my eyes. There are twenty-four of them!"'
"Ms. Olivia must be the luckiest woman on earth receiving flowers from her fiancé."
"She really is the luckiest despite how mean she is at work."
"Ms. Aurora is kind, but luck is not on her side with relationships. Her sister took over the man she used to date."
"Are sisters allowed to date the same man?"
"Shhh! Don't mention the relationship triangle at work or risk getting fired."
Aurora stood at the door for another minute before pushing it open. As she walked in, the women gossiping all hushed. They greeted her, not daring to meet her gaze.
Aurora replied to their greetings and walked up to the refrigerator to pick up two pints of chocolate ice cream before returning to her office.
As soon as she sat behind her desk and opened the first pint, a knock sounded on her door but before she could grant permission, Owen pushed the door open and let himself in with a proud smile.
"Who said you can come into my office?" Aurora eyed him sceptically.
He shoved his hands into his pockets as his gaze darted across her office before resting on her face. "You look so lonely so I dropped by to see how you are doing."
"No thanks for your concern. Please make use of the door." Aurora pointed at the door, her gaze narrowing.
Owen smiled to himself as he walked towards her desk. Clearly, he wasn't interested in following her instructions.
"Did you think about my offer to you on Friday night?"
Aurora's brows wrinkled in confusion. "What stupid offer?" She couldn't remember meeting him privately or holding any conversation.
"I will give us a chance if you sleep with me," he whispered, leaning away with a smirk lingering at the corner of his lips. He seemed to be having so much fun, especially watching Aurora's gaze darken.
But when he thought he had successfully crawled under her skin, she dealt him a huge blow.
"I saw you at BST mall two days ago," Aurora revealed, leaning back into her seat.
Instantly, the light in Owen's eyes dimmed, the smirk on his lips vanishing. "You were there?"
"Does your fiancé know you're already cheating on her?" The second Aurora delivered the last punch, Owen fled and shut the door with a loud thud without looking back.
But one thing he wouldn't know is that interfering in his relationship with Olivia was the last thing Aurora would ever do.
With Owen gone, Aurora could finally breathe some fresh air. She scooped the chocolate ice cream and shoved it inside her mouth.
A few minutes after clocking off work, Aurora received a call from Abigail.
"Did you invite this Xander guy over to your place?" Abigail inquired with a tinge of annoyance in her tone.
"No?" Aurora frowned. "Is something wrong?"
There was a pause at the other end before Abigail's thick voice came through. "He's here."
"W-What?" Aurora stuttered, her brows, shooting to the top of her head. She couldn't remember mentioning her new address to Xander, and he didn't inform her about coming to her place. She was utterly confused.
"And he brought a huge bouquet of red roses with him," Abigail finished.