13 The Truth

The following night, Lyra really learned what a full-on business meeting with Mr. Wellington meant. Kurtis assumed boss mode and went over everything he had planned.

The flower shop will be catering and adding a corporate program where they would be delivering and maintaining the decorations for three hotels in the city, starting with the one across the shop. They would expand the delivery and implement new systems to provide for demand of online transactions.

Lyra didn't know how to respond for she never had such thoughts or the financial ability to support all theses endeavors all in one go. She was surprised that a hotel already agreed, but was scared since she couldn't fulfill the entire orders along with managing the shop with just two people. Then Kurtis revealed his preparation to recruit more staff and hosting a round of interviews soon.

When Lyra tried to refuse because she couldn't afford the efforts he put in, Kurtis used the Angela card saying that she was helping the other shop owner make decisions.

Basically, future brother-in-law was looking out for baby sister-in-law to extended lengths yet again. So Lyra accepted, simply taking his goodwill since he wasn't going to let go until she did.

Only after walking out of the private dining room of the high-end restaurant did any new topic get brought up. They were all by the lobby waiting for the chauffeur to pull up.

"Where we going next?" Rose wrapped one arm around Kurtis's neck and the other one around Lyra.

"Planning to take you two home," Kurtis answered.

Rose grew stiff. "You jokin' right cuz?" she asked with all seriousness on her beautiful face.

"Why would he be joking?" Lyra asked with puppy eyes and Rose produced a mischievous smile.

"This guy," the Aussie pointed a finger at her brother from another mother, "…is a party machine."

The look on her face didn't seem like she was exaggerating. Lyra turned towards Kurtis who only rolled his eyes.

"Yeah I'm done for the day. I still have jet lag," Kurtis said pulling Rose's arm away from him.

"Jet lag? Sorry of an excuse Kurt." After giving him a disappointed look, her attention fell on the reserved girl to her left. "How 'bout you?"

"Home," a satisfied grin sat on Lyra's determined face, slightly glad that she wasn't the only party pooper this time.

"What? We dressed up only to eat dinner and go home?" Rose threw her hands in the air like the world is ending as the car finally pulled up.

Kurtis opened the door for his younger cousin who jumped in to the back seat, arms crossed like a child throwing a silent tantrum.

"Take her to XYZ Nightclub and pick her up before she gets in bed with anyone," he instructed the driver and Rose's face lit up. "Don't get too drunk and bother Lyra when you get home."

She gave a thumbs up to her favorite cousin and slipped a wink to Lyra as the driver drove away.

If the party girl rolled up the window a second later, Lyra would've made a last minute decision to tag along, not because XYZ was the hottest trending nightclub where celebrities gathered, but because now she was faced with the same predicament she feared from the beginning.

Dear Rose was supposed to be the perfect third wheel and now with her gone, it's back to Kurtis and her alone—again.

"Hope you don't mind walking back to the shop? I didn't want Rose to go alone. That girl can go WILD if you know what I mean…" Kurtis said, head to hand like a father worrying over a rebellious daughter.

[I really mind…]

"It should be no more than a ten minute walk from here," Kurtis tipped his head in the direction back to her home. Not knowing how to escape this one, Lyra followed behind.

With Rose gone, it was suddenly a lot quieter. Walking under the moonlight with just the two of them reminded Lyra of the night strolls on the beach back on the island. After dinner, Kurtis would want to walk and expected "Angela" to accompany him. It was only later on did Lyra understand that he was training his leg and not planning anything else.

They didn't hold hands then or now, but still, something about walking together and passing by shops was romantic. And romance shouldn't be part of the formula of a purely business meeting.

So as the silence eased in, Lyra couldn't help but notice the smaller details of this setup—how he made sure to walk on the outer side of the pavement, how he slowed down a little after realizing she was trying to match his long strides, and how he kept a mindful distance between the both of them. Unlike on the island when he believed she was her sister, he was respectful of the personal space Lyra was entitled to.

Kurtis Wellington is indeed a gentlemen, which only made it worse for Lyra who was trying her best to think only with her head. She was always a sucker for men with etiquette.

Took some time before Lyra mustered the courage to ask, "Is your leg better?"

She was so afraid of sounding overly caring that she held off on the question, but considering it was colder here than on the island, she couldn't help but want to make sure it was okay for him to walk her back.

At the question, the guy next to her halted all of a sudden, scaring Lyra.

"Omg, is it hurting?"

Kurtis turned towards her, worry in his eyes as he pulled her back further from the sidewalk. "I'm okay. I forgot about your ankle. Let me call a cab," he said, whipping out his phone.

"No no I'm okay," Lyra waved her hand around frantically. "I don't need a cab. We're like only a few minutes away."

He didn't respond, only continuing to scroll down his phone for a number to call.

[Did he just ignore me?] Lyra reached for his phone and turned it off for him.

"I want to walk," she asserted and finally earned his attention. He finally looked at her.

"Good. Speak up when you want something," Kurtis said with his charismatic smile. "Same with earlier. If you don't agree with what I'm pushing for, say something. Don't expect Rose to say everything for you."

[Is he lecturing me now?]

"Then…" Lyra paused before looking up. "Please don't treat me so well."

Kurtis's face was blank. He didn't seem to comprehend what she was saying.

"Just because I'm your girlfriend's younger sister doesn't mean I can free load," Lyra continued, making this an exception to look him directly in the eyes.

Despite being the one encouraging her to speak her mind, the gentleman didn't seem all too pleased to hear her words when she did choose to voice them.

"Lyra," his calm velvety voice called and she could immediately feel her face flushing red. "Can't you just say a simple thanks and call it a day?"

"No," she replied with no hesitation to his dismay. "Because if I do, I'm admitting the party with obvious benefits is me."

Kurtis bent down a little to lean closer to the girl. "Wrong."

With that one word, he stood back up, slipped his hands in his pockets before walking ahead.

They didn't exchange any other words until they reached Lyra's doorsteps.

"Do you really want to know why I'm doing all this?" Kurtis dropped the question right after the girl turned her key into the door.

She didn't turn around, just stood still.

"On the island, you took Angela's place so that you could figure out a way to save our relationship." Kurtis paused and his face turned darker. "I know I shouldn't feel this way, but deep down inside, I still hate you for that."

Lyra was quiet.

"But that doesn't change the fact that I still owe you for bringing your sister and I back together. And I hate owing favors. You understand?"

There was the same hostility in his voice as that night after finding out the truth. He was eerily calm, but not with his natural coolness.

The younger twin nodded and opened the door to her house.

"Thank you," she added before bidding goodnight and locking the door.

Lyra started out walking up the stairs, but ended up running the rest until she reached the safety of her room where she could be alone.

Only after closing the door did she allow her tears to fall.

It was too good to be true. How naïve of her to think that Kurtis was doing it out of sheer kindness. It was only normal he hated her. How did she end up warping his sense of duty into her little hopeful fantasies of him genuinely caring for her? Kurtis has always, and will always love Angela.

It hurt to know the truth.

[But why did it have to hurt so much?]