BRAN'S POV*
It was about twenty to thirty minutes to 7 pm when I checked my wristwatch.
I terrified Pierre immediately.
"Get the car ready," I said over the phone.
Pierre got the car ready, and we both left work and headed to Sophia's company.
*SOPHIA'S POV*
I was going through some of the files for our new designs when I heard a quick knock in succession. I looked up and saw that it was Tessa, but she didn't come straight into the office, but just stood at the door, gesturing with her hands for me to look behind her.
I was still a bit confused as to why she was gesturing when she could come inside the office and talk to me.
"What?" I mouthed from where I sat.
The next thing I saw was Bran as he walked behind Tessa, towards my office. Tessa quickly excused herself, it was then I realized that she was trying to tell me to look behind to see Bran coming.
"What brings you here?" I asked nonchalantly.
"Forgotten already?" he said as he walked into my office, both hands pocketed.
I then remembered the supposed birthday party we were to attend together.
"I've still got work," I said while rummaging through the files on my table.
"I am sure your staff can take care of it, or better still, it won't hurt to let them be for a few hours."
I just knew that he would not leave if I did not go with him.
I stood from my seat and arranged the files on my desk in order. Grabbed my trench coat and handbag.
"Can we go now?" I asked and walked past Bran and Pierre, who was outside, by the door.
We found our way down to the parking lot, and we both got into the car with Pierre as he drove us out of the building.
Pierre suddenly stopped and parked in front of a clothing store, and that had me puzzled.
"What are we doing here?" I asked.
"You will see"
Bran said and stepped out of the car, which left me no choice but to step out and follow him while Pierre sat in the car.
Bran was welcomed by the receptionist, and it seemed that Bran was a regular customer.
"Nice evening to you, Mr Bran, it's nice to have you here again, what clothing would you prefer today?" the receptionist asked.
Bran turned and looked at me, gesturing with his eyes to come closer, which I did.
"Find something exquisite and elegant for her, please," he said with soothing authority in his voice that couldn't help but interest me.
"This way, ma'am," the receptionist said and showed me the way as I followed her.
She led me into the inner room where beautiful and indeed exquisite clothings were showcased. She pushed out a moving wardrobe of clothes, indeed exquisite.
"Please, you can choose from here or anywhere else you would like to choose from, ma'am."
The only fashion I was conversant with was baby wear, so getting to pick an outfit that described the word "exquisite" was quite difficult.
"To be honest, I have no idea what outfit to go for," I said
"Then let me help you select."
The receptionist said and started picking out some dresses she thought would be befitting for exquisite and elegant, according to Bran.
After a while of picking out dresses, she finally chose about six different dresses for me to try on.
"Can you please go into the changing room?"
I responded and got into the changing room as she handed me the first dress, it was a short pink tube dress that had feathers as ruffles at the hem of the dress.
I wore the dress and stepped out of the changing room, only to find Bran seated already. This caught me off guard as I assumed he would be waiting outside.
"What do you think of this one, sir?" the receptionist asked.
"Hmm, nahh, let her try something else."
The receptionist passed me the second dress, and we went back inside the changing room to change.
"What about this one, sir?"
"Doesn't look like it is comfortable enough."
He was right, I was not comfortable in the second dress, maybe it just wasn't my style, at least we agreed on one thing.
I went back in to change again, and this continued until the fifth dress.
It was an A-line lilac satin long dress, with a cowl neck and a zip line all the way from the back of my waist to the back of my neck. Luckily, I was wearing a white beaded necklace, and that just gave the dress the final look it needed.
"Beautiful"
Bran said the moment I stepped out of the changing room, as he stood there.
"This is it," he said again and removed his card from his breast pocket and gave it to the receptionist to pay for the dress.
The receptionist collected the card and went ahead to pay for the dress while I stood there in the room with Bran.
"You didn't have to buy me a new dress."
"But I wanted to, plus, you would get to wear it for the party."
That statement kind of went off the chart for me.
"So you bought this dress because you wanted me to wear it to the party, not because you actually wanted to get it for me."
*BRAN'S POV*
Those words just had to not come out right. I didn't know how to respond to what Sophia said without sounding like a jerk.
"You know that is—"My words got cut short by the receptionist who walked in.
"All done, sir," she said and handed over the card to me.
"Thank you," I said in a low voice, and before I could turn, Sophia had already left the room in the dress I picked and headed for the car.
I got to the car, and she was already seated in the back seat while I joined her and Pierre drove us to the party.
*HENNA'S POV*
"Where is the freaking invitation Jenny!" I yelled over the phone.
"I am bringing it with me, I am almost at the house," Jenny replied over the phone as she was driving down to the Garners' residence to deliver the invitation card to the party for Henna.
"Then hurry up!" I hung up the phone and continued with the makeup I was doing on my face while I waited for Jenny to arrive.
A couple of minutes passed, and Jenny was finally at the house. Mrs Reeves made her presence known, and I gave her permission to let Jenny inside.
"What took you so long!!?" I said as I snatched the bag from her and started going through it for the invitation card.
"I am sorry, getting the IV was quite difficult, I had to bribe one of the vendors for tonight to get—" Jenny got cut short by Henna.
"No one asked," I said, and continued rummaging until I found it.
A moment and sigh of relief weighed over my face and chest.
"Are you really going to go to this party?"
"What does it look like I am doing, Jenny!?"
"I'm sorry."
"What if Sophia isn't there? Wouldn't all of this be a waste?" Jenny asked curiously.
"First of all, Sophia will be there. And second of all, it wouldn't be a waste, I would get to have Bran all to myself if Sophia isn't there."
"It seems like you are still bent on having Bran. It's been six years, Henna."
"And? It's been six years, and? Forget he exists?"
"Not really, but I mean, like, move on?"
"Did you just say move on? That will be the last thing I do."
"He is married to your sister, and you and I both know that his heart has always been for Sophia."
I stood from the cushion I sat on and walked to where Jenny sat.
"Get out!"
Jenny was equally surprised to hear those words.
"I am sorry, I meant no harm."
"Get out if you're going to sit down there and utter rubbish."
"I'm sorry, I was only looking out for you."
"Why don't you look out for yourself first?"
I went back to making up, and then shortly after, I was done.
"Come fix the zip for me," I said to Jenny was busy on her phone.
She stood and helped me zip up my green short dress.
"How do I look?" I asked despite knowing that I looked good.
"You look good, I think you are good to go."
I put on my pair of heels and picked up a handbag that matched the heels. After touching up my hair with my fingers, I turned to leave as I put the invitation card in my handbag.
"What if things don't go as you planned?" Jenny suddenly asked.
"Can you stop it with the negative energy and get your ass off the couch!?"
"I am just saying," she said as she shrugged her shoulders and stood from the couch.