A cup of steaming medium roast Kona coffee solely sat atop the wooden circular table like an ornament. As for the person who is supposed to be drinking, he was currently leaning on his seat showing no signs of moving it.

“Sir, Miss Erde has already returned to the city.” a young blond woman in a crisp blue suit and gold-framed glasses said. 

“Did she send an RSVP for the open house invitation?”

The pretty assistant wanted to scratch her head. “Not yet.” 

Dresden Troy’s eyebrows pinched tightly; it could kill a fly. It has been a week. How can a simple thing as a response be neglected? Meanwhile, his assistant Elena doesn’t think it was inappropriate. For the sake of his little girlfriend, he came to this city to fight with his grandfather’s favoured young lady. Though they weren’t betrothed, the mere thought that his elder is considering Miss Erde as a granddaughter-in-law still irked her boss. 

He wanted to meet her for the reason that she is his girlfriend’s half-sister who is allegedly known as a black sheep. Elena could only sigh. She’s supposed to be biased to her employer, no? But with all his brains he still listens to a girl’s fake crying and judges the person without even seeing her eye to eye.

If one were to ask her: Do you want to witness this kind of melodramatic family drama? 

Elena would answer with a giant middle finger. This girlfriend of her boss gives her allergies, headache, and stomach cramps combined altogether. 

“Hey,” from afar, carrying two shopping bags from well-known brands, a girl in light purple dress waved. 

Speak of the devil… who else could it be? It's the boss's fragile little girlfriend. She better scoot over now before trouble comes.

“Did you wait long?” The soft cloying tone of her gentle person came.

Dresden raised his face to allow her to give him a modest peck on the cheek. 

“Hi, Elena.” The pretty miss greeted with a sweet smile that could rot your teeth.

“Hello, Miss Maya. I’ll be going ahead now.” As soon as she turned her back, her eyes rolled upwards.

“Babe, why do you have to bring her with you here in the mall?”

“Elena has something to report,” he answered succinctly.

Maya looked towards the secretary’s direction and shrugged. “I just thought she would be bored, don’t think I’m complaining okay?”

“Hm.” 

Maya secretly sighed in relief. Although she had no idea how deep Dresden’s feelings towards her goes, she still feels gratified when thinking of their meeting a few months back that led to this relationship. She considered it a blessing being able to bump into the person whom she had no hope of meeting. It was fate itself who gave her the opportunity and she would be a fool not to take advantage of it. For now, she did not want to push too much and cross the line that may inadvertently turn the person off.

They have been going out for a month now but Dresden still kept his gentlemanly exterior. As for the question if he had any feelings for her? Maya doesn’t want to dwell on it, as long as there is only her in his eyes, it was enough. 

The fact that she has this person on her side and would even face Sena Erde for her made her giddy with delight. It will only be a matter of time before he completely falls for her.  

“You only shopped for this?” Dresden asked, looking at her modest takeaway. 

Maya sat primply and replied with a smile, “These are fine. I have been eyeing them for quite a while. Father only gives me enough monthly allowance and if I want to splurge I must have good results from school or use my money sparingly.”

He did speak a reply but he nodded his head in agreement. That’s a sensible reason. There were a few girls like that. 

“About your sister,” Dresden started making her whole body rigid all of a sudden.

“Ah, y-you mean Sena?” There was an obvious tremor in her voice.

It has come to this. Who in the Capital City doesn’t know about Sena’s estrangement to their family? Dresden thought perhaps his question made her uncomfortable. 

“What can I say about her? She’s doing fine, I guess. After all, she sold off their house and got a good price for it. Father invited her to dinner a few times but…”

Her face turned overcast. Sensing her mood, Dresden dismissed the topic. 

“If she doesn’t appreciate it then don’t bother.”   

Maya nodded obediently. It doesn’t look like he asked for information and was just making a brief conversation. Dresden, however, is still thinking about Elena’s report. She came back from the wedding yet no one knows where she lives now, although his grandfather may have the information he doesn’t want to bother asking for it. 

However, for the sake of having known her since she was small, Dresden is still concerned. How did she fare these past two months? 

 

Sena was in deep contemplation when her phone rang again. She thought it would be Linda and she already shrunk her neck ready to defend then she saw the caller ID making her jaw drop to the floor instead.

Grandpa Pascal.

It’s her maternal grandfather's former comrade. 

The gears in her head turned double time as she paced around the wardrobe like a person receiving a death sentence. What to do?

Sena rushed out of the closet towards the sitting area near her bed and stared at the ringing mobile phone. 

She knew it! She knew this was coming exactly the same in the past. Grandpa P called but she only rudely told him to mind his own business when he asked how she was. The poor old man. To top it off she even yelled on the phone because he and the other two oldies wouldn’t allow her to manage her assets. Hence it became a routine, every time he called she would demand the position. 

She felt Grandpa P was only tricking her by saying she needed to observe and learn more but in truth, he didn’t want to hand over her inheritance. She got fed up asking and broke her cards not touching the money from her dividends. It was also her way of cutting any connection she had with them. 

This time… 

She bit her lip and stuttered, “H-Hello, grandpa?”

For chrissake she is mentally forty, she should be tougher than this but she is still afraid of this guy. 

“What grandpa? Little girl, so you remember I am still your grandfather! Why have you only answered the call now? My secretary had been trying to reach you several days ago. Where were you? Don't youngsters mostly have your noses glued to your phones?”

“Gramps, gramps you’re scaring me.”

Several snorts sounded, “I scare you? Very good. That only means you are guilty.”

Sena scratched her cheek, old age can really affect one’s temper.

“Why don’t you talk?!”

“Because you’re mad…”

Cheeky brat. The old man thought. 

Why is it that even though he’s on the other side of the planet she was still huddling in the corner as though she was going to get hit by his walking stick?

Old Pascal’s shouting pierced her ear canals straight to her brain, but she never thought it was as unbearable as before. On the contrary, she found the grumpy old man’s voice cute.  

“Who taught me not to answer a stranger’s call?”

That seems to be him. Old Pascal was choked. 

“Gramps, I naturally would not answer it because the number is not in my phonebook. I don’t entertain stranger’s calls. What if they are bad people?” She reasoned smoothly.

There was a long sigh on the other side. “Fine, fine you have a point.”

“So, why did grandpa call?”

He bristled, “Do I need a reason to? I wanted to check on you to see how you are doing, what else? Can’t this old man even ask? Are you too ashamed to talk to grandpa P now that you’re big?”

Sena laughed in panic. “O-Of course not, hahaha. Ashamed? No!” 

Old Pascal narrowed his eyes on the other side. 

“Why would I ever be ashamed to have the most dashing grandfathers by my side?” then she added cleverly, “Saw the news lately? They have this new heartthrob on TV,  I don’t think so. Compared to grandpa P in his youth, he won’t even measure up to your pinky.”

“You flatter me.”

“I’m telling the truth.” Sena insisted in a coaxing tone.  

Old Pascal guffawed. That boy on TV is the grandson of his golf buddy, he had been bragging about him winning an acting award he could only silently listen and watch his smug face. Ha, hear that? Their little princess said he’s much more handsome than that boy. He laughed merrily, his voice echoed in their whole house. 

Sena never knew this grumpy grandpa of hers can be so adorable, he is so easy to please. He’s like a little boy given candy.  

“Cheeky brat, you’re diverting the topic,” he reminded but his smile stretched from ear to ear.

“Oh, I’m doing very well. I just came home from the wedding.”

There was a long pause on the other line.

“I almost forgot about those two. Silly me, my gift to Leo and Linda will arrive soon. They are your closest friends and have been with you for a long time.” Old Pascal knows that Sena needs a lot of emotional support after the death of her mother. He knew that the three of them were not able to provide it conveniently. That is why they have no scruples letting her be spoiled by Leo and Linda.

Then he seems to remember his original goal for calling, “About your little brokerage business?” 

Sena straightened up her spine, “Diamond Realtors will enter a new season soon. I'm going to adjust the deals and wait for big brother Leo and Linda to finalize them.”

“NaNa girlie, the economy doesn’t have much movement lately. Are you sure real estate is a good choice?”

She hummed, “Honestly gramps, we bought several properties from the east district in an auction a year ago that may seem hard to sell but trust me, there will be a change as soon.” 

“Property!?” the old man exploded. 

“It’s agricultural land, doesn’t cost much.” 

“How much?”

“$3,000 per acre because it was neglected farmland.”  

“What? I thought you were selling houses, now you are selling land?”

Why does grandpa sound like she switched from selling cookies to selling kids? She wanted to cry. He’s really doing his best picking on her. 

Previously, the land they acquired caused a huge commotion and ridicule in the business community. She guessed it must be one of the reasons why Grandpa P called. Getting a huge chunk of space in the underdeveloped area of an old district may seem foolish. But Sena is highly positive on this now. 

No one aside from her and certain people know about the upcoming changes. It was almost a hundred-hectare fruit farm but once the transportation project begins the land prices will soar. Once roads and lines are built, the area surrounding it will soar in value. The seemingly ordinary district will gradually transform into an entertainment hub filled with malls, hotels and casinos. 

Too bad, last life they gave up on it a month before the official announcement of the development was made. The construction will commence a year later and by then the empty lands around it have already risen to staggering millions. Knowing its advantage now, Sena will no longer put those properties for sale, those were her golden eggs! Right now she only has to wait for the right moment when the contract for the transit project is revealed.  

She withheld the aforementioned information because Grandpa P might think she must have hit her head or something to dream about it. She instead explained that aside from that, the land and housing will always be on demand especially in areas surrounding the central business district of Capital City and Pearl Marina. 

“It’s an investment. Who taught me that you have to spend money to make more money?”

The old guy slapped his forehead on the other side: Bah, we said that but we sure did not say you have to spend money on a dead property.

Sena drew circles on the coffee table. “Who knows who will become the next millionaires of the country. Investors from outside will flock in and that is when we will implement our plan. And don’t forget, our listings are just around the busiest areas of the two cities. Every piece of land here is a pot of gold, it’s always in high demand, not to mention our team can sell even the most unwanted listing.”

“Girlie, property prices are continuing to decline.”

The economy may seem stagnant for now but in a few days there will be a reversal market and the stocks will continue to climb up. She already marked it on her calendar. However, she did not mention that the uptrend will remain for long and the country’s economy will face rapid growth. (Rising stock market, high employment rate, strong consumer demand along with the rising of prices.) She only said there will be a shift in the market soon and they should keep an eye on it. 

Listening to her calm confident tone, the old man holding his mobile had a solemn look. If it were any other people he would laugh at their faces. But Sena inherited her family's sharp intuition. He patted his knee, just a few months ago the kid was like a powder keg that can explode at the slightest spark. He was very concerned with the way her life is developing that is why he assigned a person to monitor her and the result he got was dire. 

Her mother had passed barely a year and her emotions were raw and unstable yet here she is, collecting herself with her eyes now looking forward. Her original potential is finally coming back. Fortunately, a miracle happened and she passed the hurdle.   

Perhaps it will be soon…   

“You are really his granddaughter,” he said warmly.

The warmth passed to her heart and Sena felt her throat close up. She never experienced the joy of having an elder since her mother left. There were only a handful of people who genuinely cared for her but she screwed up and turned her back.

“Thank you grandpa P… f-for your patience and for trusting me.”

This child, still talking like a stranger. The old man cleared his aching throat and blinked his eyes. 

“Alright, but don’t get too complacent. There is still grandpa Ye and grandpa Oslo, they are observing you.”

Hearing the names of the other two old men makes her want to cry once again. She was foolish! She cut ties with them and even resented them for shallow reasons. She had tasted hardships, they came to rescue her out of the mire but what did she do? She pushed them away and laughed at their kind intentions.   

“I, I will do my best.” 

“Atta girl. Well then, good night for now.”

“Good night grandpa P, rest well.”

Sena slid into the couch and had a good cry. She did it. She managed to salvage their relationship!

Her tear ducts had been active since this afternoon. Her eyes now look puffy like a pair of walnuts. 

“It will be alright…” she told herself. 

The old business founded by her grandfather’s father is now manned by his three most trusted comrades. If she performs well, they will naturally hand over the top position to her, if not then the corporation will not fall under her rule. She can just sit and wait for the dividends to flow into her bank account but she doesn’t want to do that and break their already strained relationship.

Linda, Leo, those three old guys are the closest thing she has for a family. She had long discarded any hope of reconnecting with her father since he betrayed her mother that year. The disappointment and pain had already taken root into her soul.