After Effects

Chapter 2 • After Effects

"Took you long enough." I muttered as Jake finally joined me and we made our way into the huge parlor which was pretty much full of people. There were only supposed to be 4 presidents and 4 vice presidents since Mr. Remora's son now controlled the first building, but I guess they brought along their families so that increased the numbers.

"Katherine! Over here!" Dad called from somewhere in the room. I hadn't seen him but Jake must've since he immediately walked off from our place in the doorway. Grabbing my hand in the process, he made sure to tug me along and I didn't hesitate in allowing this since we probably would've been separated by the assembly if he hadn't.

We managed to create a temporary path for us to go through with the help of Jake's buff body and when we finally reached my dad, we found that he was already speaking to someone.

"Mr. Krater, this is my beautiful daughter Katherine Harrington and her best friend Jacob Taylor. Katherine and Jake, this is the president of the 3rd Remora company, Mr. Krater." Dad introduced us. My eyes widened slightly in recognition to the name.

"Nice to finally meet you Mr. Krater. I've heard a lot about you." I said politely with a smile.

"The pleasure is all mine Ms. Harrington but I think I've heard lots more about you than you have about me...and I hope that what you've heard are positive feedbacks?" he asked teasingly.

"Of course. All positive." I replied, eyeing my dad who was giving me a sheepish smile which was secretly telling me how grateful he was that I wasn't telling his boss that he had called him a babbling fool on most occasions.

"Ms. Harrington, Mr. Taylor, this is my wife Cindy, my daughters Hadley and Emily, and my sons, Graham, Jeffrey and Marlon." Mr. Karter presented his family who appeared to be right before us with their backs turned as they spoke with another family. They turned as soon as their names were called and all of a sudden, I was pulled into a hug by Mr. Kater's wife. Well...this family was...welcoming.

"Hi." I smiled before pulling back to actually look at the person I had been hugging. She was a blonde like me with a few streaks of gray hair. Her hair was cut into a bob and she was also wearing a summer dress, blue in colour.

"Hi!" the girl beside her squealed as she pulled me into a hug as well. She was blonde like her mom but her hair reached her shoulders in curls.

"Hadley...right?" I asked with a small smile.

"That's me." she grinned back before I was pulled away by her sister Emily. Emily's hair contrasted with Hadley's since it was dark brown like her dad's and up in a straight ponytail. Their personalities didn't seem to differ by much however since she too tried to squeeze the life out of me. I guess the enthusiasm ran in their family.

I looked over her shoulder to see Jake stepping back from a bro hug which he had received from either Jeffrey or Marlon. He glared at me before going into a conversation about who knows what with the guys, and I was soon left with the two girls as dad also managed to engage Mr. Karter and Cindy into conversation as they moved towards the buffet table.

"So Katherine, is Jacob your boyfriend?" Hadley asked making me look at her in total horror. Jake? My boyfriend? That's hilarious, I wanted to tell them, but before I could say anything, Emily spoke up.

"He's very easy on the eye don't you think?" she grinned, and I truly found it hard to keep the disgusted look off my face. I mean no offense to Jake, but I only thought of him as my best friend, and if anymore, my brother only. Plus, I was a hundred percent sure that the feeling was mutual.

"You must be his girlfriend." Hadley continued.

"I know right, that must be why he adores her so much."