NAILEA LAURENT: Nailea, the owner of Laurent Enterprise, is thirty-six years old. Without any assistance from anyone other than herself, she started this business from the ground up. She is distant and cold. She doesn't accept bullshit from anyone...
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I was right. Mom is throwing a party for Paityn and I. We told her that we weren't staying long but she waved us off and is continuing to throw the party anyway.
We told the guests to arrive around 4:30 so right now we're setting up the house. My mom got a party planning company to come and decorate the backyard. They're coming a little later so right now, Paityn, Azzi, Kaelyn, and I, are in the kitchen cutting up fruit for the fruit salad.
"Mom told you to cut the fruit not eat it Azzi." Once I hear the words leave Paityns mouth, I know that this argument will continue for quite some time.
"Why are you talking to me? Aspen, how are you friends with her?" Azzi says as she turns her head to face me.
"Best friends actually, use the correct term." Paityn says while rolling her eyes.
"Just cut the watermelon and shut up, you should've stayed in New York."
"I should've, then I wouldn't have to look at you." I try to suppress my giggles but I fail miserably and immediately receive a glare from Azzi. I advert my attention to Kaelyn who's shaking her head at the argument.
"They're going to be arguing all day." Kaelyn says as she pours the grapes into a bowl.
"I know, they argue like a married couple. It never fails." I say chuckling to myself.
"Here," she slides the bowl in my direction making me reach out and grab it, "pour the strawberries into the bowl. We can ditch them and go get your nephew from school. He gets out in thirty minutes." I look down at my watch realizing the time is now 12:30pm.
"Did they have a half day today? This is a pretty early time to be getting out of school."
"Yes, they had a half day. Let's hurry and sneak out before they notice." Kaelyn grabs the keys off the table and quietly sneaks out of the kitchen. I follow behind her smoothly trying not to draw any attention.
When we safely made it outside, we hopped into her BMW i4 and made our way to pick up Zaiden.
When we arrived to his school, kids were loitered on the outside waiting for their parents. Kaelyn got out and immediately spotted Zaiden. He was talking to his friends about something that seemed like an interesting topic. She called his name making him say his goodbyes and sprint over to her. He tackled Kaelyn in a hug making her stumble back.
I stepped out of the car leaning my back against it. I placed my shades on top of my head before saying, "are you going to ignore your favorite aunt?" Zay immediately turned his head at the sound of my voice making me smile brightly.
"ACEY! YOU'RE BACK!" I watch as he sprints over to me with his arms out and a toothy grin on his face. His small body collided with mine as I lifted him up in the air. I spent him around in circles as he laughed in my ear.
