A SCHEME IN THE MAKING

As the first rays of Monday's morning sun spilled across her face, Emily stepped through the front door, her luggage in hand, after two months away.

"Home sweet home," she said glancing around her dusty house.

She searched for a cloth and dusted off the couch, before sinking into it and letting out a sigh of relief, finding the comfort of her home once again. Picking up her phone, Emily dialed Camilla's number.

"Hello," Camilla greeted.

"I'm back," Emily announced, her voice radiating with joy.

"Wait, you're really back in Solace city?" Camilla exclaimed in surprise.

"Yup, I'm at home," Emily confirmed, her happiness bursting through the phone line as Camilla's delighted shriek of celebration echoed in her ears.

"Oh my gosh, I'm not at home right now, but I'll be there in 30 to 40 minutes. Can't wait to see you!" She exclaimed, her excitement almost palpable through the phone.

"Me too!" Emily replied, the anticipation of the reunion building within her.

"See you soon," Camilla said, her joy bursting through the phone line.

"Bye," Emily responded, the call ending and leaving her with the warmth of the coming reunion.

Feeling exhausted from her flight, Emily knew she didn't have the strength to cook. Instead, she decided to seek nourishment and comfort at a nearby restaurant. Determined to quell her hunger, Emily left her home and navigated the bustling streets to a well - renowned eatery.

After savoring the restaurant's gastronomic delights, she returned home, her weary body revitalized by the nourishment she had received.

With a rejuvenated spirit and an eagerness to restore order, Emily surveyed the dusty remnants of her home, determined to put things right. As she set about cleaning, the rhythmic ringing of the doorbell pierced the air, beckoning her to answer its call.

She paused her cleaning and made her way towards the door. With a quick turn of the door knob, Emily found herself face to face with Camilla's beaming grin, her arms already outstretched for a warm embrace.

Without hesitation, Camilla launched herself into her friend's arms, their bodies locking in a tight hug as she effused, "I've missed you so much!"

Emily returned the sentiment, their smiles as bright as the reunion itself, her heartfelt reply reverberating through the air, "I've missed you too."

Releasing their embrace, Camilla beamed at Emily, the disbelief written across her face. "Two months without seeing each other? That's crazy!" Camilla exclaimed.

"I missed you and everything here," Emily responded, the joy of seeing each other evident in her voice.

"Well, there's definitely a lot to catch up on," Camilla began, her eyebrows arched playfully as she continued, "So let's put those cleaning skills to use while we chat, shall we?"

"Of course, I was already hard at work when you came in, remember?" Emily pointed out.

With a chuckle, Camilla bounced back, "Well then, tell me where I can dive in to help."

"You can start by sweeping away the dust with the mop," she replied with a mischievous grin.

"Okay, here we go," Camilla answered, as they plunged into their cleaning.

Emily departed Solace city after Melissa's case at the court, in which she had successfully pleaded for a reduced sentence of two years.

She then proceeded to prepare for her wedding, particularly the creation of her wedding dress. In search of a rare and expansive fabric for her wedding dress, Emily ventured to other countries outside of Aurexia.

After much effort and persistence, Emily finally managed to secure the elusive Mirror Turn Fabric, a significant achievement in her quest to create the perfect gown.

Due to her standing and influence, she managed to secure the rare Mirror Turn Fabric in a mere two months, an accomplishment that would have taken others a year or more.

Moreover, she relished the opportunity to escape the familiarity of Solace city and Aurexia. Despite ongoing preparations for her December wedding, Emily was concerned by her fiancé continued silence.

The fast - approaching nuptials and the nearing end of November added to her unease, leaving her uncertain as to whether she would hear from Robert before the wedding day.

After hours of dusting, scrubbing and wiping, the dynamic duo of Emily and Camilla finally put their feet up on the couch, exhaustion evident in their every gesture.

"We conquered this mess, didn't we?" Camilla remarked.

"No kidding. That was a whirlwind of cleaning," Emily agreed.

"Well, it seems like your trip was quite the ride," Camilla said.

"Yeah, it was definitely a breath of fresh air to escape the familiarity of our homeland for a bit. I felt rejuvenated by the experience," Emily responded.

Camilla's curiosity grew as she asked, "May I see the fabric you've traveled for two months to get?"

Without hesitation, Emily retrieved a box from her luggage, carefully opening it to reveal a shimmering, glittering fabric inside. With a smile, Emily presented the Mirror Turn Fabric to Camilla, allowing her friend to witness the magnificent fabric she had journeyed so far to acquire.

Camilla's amazement knew no bounds as she drank in the sight of the enchanting fabric. The Mirror Turn Fabric glinted and shone, its white surface reflecting the light in a dazzling dance of shimmer and sparkle.

"It's simply breathtaking," she breathed, her eyes wide with wonder.

"That's why its rare," Emily replied.

Camilla, still marveling at the Fabric in her hands, inquired, "What was the name of the fabric again?"

"The Mirror Turn Fabric," she responded.

Her friend's attention then turned to the reason behind the great lengths Emily had gone to for this rare material.

"I'm curious," she began, her tone curious yet thoughtful. "Given the circumstances surrounding your wedding, I'm surprised to see you've put so much effort into acquiring this particular fabric for your gown. What drove you to make such a choice?"

Emily's enthusiasm was palpable as she spoke, her voice laced with pride and passion. "I saw my wedding dress as a chance to put my design talents on display. I wanted to create something unlike anything else."

Camilla's curiosity remained piqued as she sought further clarification. "But why this specific fabric, Emily?"

"The Mirror Turn Fabric is essential for bringing my unique vision for the dress to life. It possesses the perfect qualities for the design I have in mind," she answered.

"You seem too excited for my liking, I mean you're actually happy you'll be designing your wedding dress, a wedding you don't even want," Camilla pointed out with a curious tone.

Emily, clearifying her position with a hint of wry humor, noted, "Although the wedding itself isn't something I'm ecstatic about, my love for fashion design is what fuels my excitement for this project."

Camilla, her doubt evident in her voice, expressed her suspicions, "I don't know if I can fully trust you. It seems like you're plotting something."

Emily with a hint of wounded pride, responded, "Why would I be scheming? Fashion design is my true passion, nothing more."

Camilla's voice became more insistent, "I can't shake this feeling that you're hiding something. I know you're plotting."

Emily, her frustration mounting, replied sternly, "I'm not doing anything of the sort! Believe me or not, but I won't keep trying to convince you."

Camilla, though still dubious, relented with a playful finger point and a shared laugh. "Well, just know I'll be watching you." Shifting gears, she added, "So we're hitting the shops tomorrow right?"

"Time is of the essence, my friend. A mere few weeks remain to craft your gown, mine, and those of the bridesmaids - a tall task," Emily said.

"So, have you already procured the fabrics for the bridesmaid dresses, as well as my own as chief bridesmaid?" Camilla queried.

"Indeed, I've taken care of it all. But to ensure a perfect fit, I'll need your measurements, along with those of Lucy and Alexis," Emily explained. "You know, it's more like a private wedding, with just a handful of friends and mainly family members in attendance," she concluded.

"This is a contract marriage, after all," Camilla stated the obvious.

"Yh, I've got more to show you," Emily said as she revealed each item one by one.

Later on, Camilla took her leave, bidding Emily a warm farewell, she promised to return later in the day.

Emily, clutching her newly acquired items, made her way to her design room with purposeful strides. Upon entering, she carefully placed each item in the table, setting the stage for her next creative endeavor.

A devious grin spread across Emily's face as her eyes settled on the Mirror Turn Fabric. "This wedding will not be a dull affair, Robert Rawlings, I assure you of that." The hint of mischief in her voice was mirrored in the expression dancing across her features, conveying the seeds of a plan yet to be revealed.