There is only pain Leena felt which no one understands except her. His absence was slaying her heart. She tried to soothe the anguish, but it is hurting from deep inside.
"Why did he leave for New York without telling?" Leena asked in a whisper. If he has an important meeting, he could have notified me. It looks like I am not significant to him anymore.
"His grandfather got a sudden stroke in the morning and he left in a hurry. He did not intend to disturb you when you were sleeping steadfastly." Drew explained to make her understand that Devin didn't leave on purpose. "Don't worry! He said he would soon contact you."
"Stroke? Is he ok now?" Leena asked in urgency perceiving that Devin must be miserable now.
"I am not sure. It's the second time his grandfather experienced. But I hope he would be fine." Drew explained while stepping down the stairs along with Leena. Everybody was waiting for Leena and Drew except the newly wedded couple. Austin and Leah already left for their honeymoon.
"You should come here often, child" Mark patted her head with a smile.
"The house would turn into a dormouse without you, Leena!" Daisy stepped forward and hugged her. "I hope we will soon meet at your wedding."
Leena's face turned crimson red and with a timid smile, she bid goodbye to everybody before stepping into the car.
"Are we going to New York by car? It would take fifty hours, Andrew." Leena exclaimed facing him.
"Wait and watch." Drew simply put up a one-word answer since he didn't want to reveal the surprise yet.
Since it was the peak time, the ride in the car was longer than they expected to reach the airport. Getting down from the car, Drew took her to a private terminal. From the time they footed into the car, Drew was bragging about some kind of surprise, and Leena also did not probe further, patiently awaiting all though she was curious to know, why he would take her in a private terminal unless they are boarding a private aircraft.
The moment they reached the airfield, a private jet was waiting for them on a runway.
"We are going in a private jet?" Leena asked studying the aircraft.
"This is Vincy's private aircraft and none of our friends have stepped into it until now. We are the first one to enter." Drew was sounding all excited when Devin sent his private aircraft especially for them. Even though it was for Leena, he was on cloud nine for getting a chance to travel in it. He quickly pulled out his mobile and posed for a selfie to post on his Instagram to annoy his mortal enemy.
If Drew was in his world of shooting photos on the mobile, Leena was staring intently at the name written on the aircraft.
"Raven. What a coincidence!" The name carried her back to six years where she suggested a name to someone for a person when he told her he wanted a name for a plane. It's the sacred bird of God Apollo which was cursed to flew in the sky.
"Why did he name it Raven?" Leena asked wanting to know if he has also listened to the story of Raven and named after it.
"I was also curious about the name but when our friends asked, Vincy said, he doesn't have any clue on why he named it Raven."
'Who forgets such important things? It's worth billions unless he is rolling in money.'
"Is he made of money?" She asked. Leena understood he must be a silk stocking rich kid but she was still unsure what he does exactly.
"He is. Soon, you will get to know. Right now my lips are sealed since you both are playing hide and seek." Drew rambled. He got to know from Devin that Leena has no idea of his identity and until today, he assumed she was calling Devin with a nickname to tease him. The urge to vomit everything about Devin was at the tip of his mouth but when he recalled the Devil's face, he locked it.
After getting on the plane, they felt as if they entered a luxurious hotel. For a while, they explored the area, and finally Drew got settled on the couch turning on the television and Leena opened her tab to watch her favorite TV show Just Add Magic.
"You know sister, Vincy was the one to sponsor for Leah and Austin's honeymoon," Drew complained out of blue. When it comes to money, every woman would become a miser and he was sure Leena would not leave the matter aside. He has lit the fire to get back on his revenge which is still pending.
"What? For a whole month, he funded?" Leena exclaimed.
With a devilish smile, Drew nodded his head.
"Thanks for informing, brother," Leena acknowledged. Does he have a money-printing machine or what? Leena made a note to lecture him for wasting the money on unnecessary things and those two idiots are enjoying one month of his free service?
As Devin instructed, Drew dropped Leena at her house after they landed in New York and Leena has to decline Francis with another cook up story when Andrew was not listening to her. Only when she entered her apartment safe and secure, Drew left the house.
...
"Is it a house or a laundry bag? Both have turned my house into a dustbin." Leena glanced at the clock and it was still eleven in the morning. While she couldn't resist the urge, she began cleaning the house.
After a whole lot of cleaning, she dragged her tired body and slumped onto the bed.
...
She opened her eyes when she felt ticklish on her face, more likely someone was damping it.
"It's the nth time I told you not to lick my face, Carrot," Leena yelled and immediately Carrot rushed out of the room when her purpose was attained.
"Leena, I missed you a lot." Reese entered hugging her friend.
"Now, admit the truth." Leena pushed her away from Reese's fleshy hug to breathe a little.
"I enjoyed my ten days without your presence," Reese confessed when Leena saw through her lies. "So, how was the wedding?"
"Amazzzzzinggg and I bought something for you. You will love it."
"Is it?" Reese jumped from the bed and opened all the bags turning the room into a mess in the process. Finally, she found a gift which was neatly wrapped and her name was also etched on it.
"Poop ice cubes tray? Are you serious, Leena?" Reese yelled. The shape itself was disgusting to see and to her annoyance, it was something related to food.
"Well, the company claimed that the ice cubes would turn out to be delicious when you put them into your mouth." Leena giggled imagining it already.
"Dirty girl." Reese was about to charge on her to make sense into her brain, but Leena interrupted.
"I want to tell you something important."
"I am all ears." Reese collapsed on the bed to hear the story.
"I_I like someone." She hesitantly confessed gazing at the floor.
"Is it a woman?" Reese lazily asked knowing the answer already.
"I am serious, Reese."
"Don't tell me you took a liking to a man now." Reese jumped from her position when she witnessed Leena's shy smile.
"Woah! Who is he? You fell for him in ten days?"
Reese was shocked to hear the sudden news. Who is that person who has tamed this man-hater in ten days when she took literally four years to accept Ethan?
"Don't compare with him, Reese. Please." Leena whispered. It was still a surprise that Ethan is his cousin. Both are polar opposite.
"Oh my, Leena! you have turned into a cowed wife already." Reese felt happy that Leena finally found someone.
"Cowed wife? Sounds good and since he stole my heart, I am planning to take revenge on him." Leena declared.
"Revenge? What kind of revenge?" Reese asked in confusion.
"I am going to take his last name." Leena proclaimed with a sheepish smile.
Reese parted her lips in shock hearing her shameless answer.