The Subtle Art of Love and War

Chapter 33: That Incident

I could never complain with Cindy's efficiency. She really knows her shit and she delivers every single time. Less than forty eight hours after I called her up, she's already emailed me Kelsey's files. The bitch isn't that hard to trace though; just like her vapid personality, there's really nothing much kept secret about her. She's slept her way to bag campaigns and partnerships with brands and she's not connected with any of the big modelling agencies.

She's really making this all too easy for me.

Her biggest partner brand right now is Gucci. They've been begging me for years to at least attend their runway shows and I've always declined their invitations. It's nothing personal against the brand though-I'm just not that type to attend runway shows. I'd rather come in for private fittings post shows to snag whatever tickles my fancy with their latest collections.

I immediately make the call telling them I'd be attending their spring/summer collection show and viola, Kelsey is banned from the brand for life. I do the same thing to each and every one of her partner brands, promising appearances and accepting invitations to collaborate on new product lines or collections, and by the end of the day before Hero walks into the penthouse, Kelsey is jobless. Word travels fast around the fashion industry, much like how it is in the movie or entertainment industry, and I'm pretty sure that by the end of the week, the bitch won't be able to get a single job in what has now been her short-lived modelling career.

The timing couldn't be more perfect as well. Yesterday while I was cooking dinner, Hero told me that Atty. Carson had already settled everything with Kelsey and that she won't be pestering us anymore. I just smiled and nodded like I don't have anything planned for the bitch. Hero doesn't need to know.

As for our wedding, Katherine and I have been hard at work and in constant communication with Cindy and Vincent for the planning and execution, banning my mum from the whole process after I found out it was her idea to make the previous plans into a freaking circus. I'm glad that Hero hasn't been asking details about it because I want to surprise him. Katherine will be my maid of honor, of course, while Felix will be Hero's best man. The idea seems to excite my best friend and I'm starting to think this thing between her and Felix is more than just a fling at this point.

I'm okay with it, I guess. Well, just as long as she's kept out from the fight club, that is.

*****

"Baby," Hero whispers to my ears, gently waking me up from my nap.

"Hmm?" I hum, my eyes fluttering open, adjusting to the darkness around us.

"We're here," he informs me as I rub the sleep off my eyes. I blink a couple of times until the looming shadow of Fiennes manor comes to view. Hero helps me out and just like the first time he brought me here, Gus greets us at the front door with a courteous smile before him and Hero proceed with their small talks about Gus' family and how everything's been here.

Martha and George are away on vacation so Hero decided that it be best if we come home and have the manor all to ourselves for the first time. I mildly protest at the idea at first, mostly for his and the company's sake, even though deep down I really do want to spend time here in this place.

I don't know why that is.

Maybe because I wasn't able to explore the entirety of the property during the first time we were here. Maybe because Hero and I weren't seeing each other eye to eye during the first time. Maybe because of what Martha mentioned about my time here while I was younger.

Even if it was only briefly mentioned in passing, the thought has been gnawing at the back of my head. There's something amiss here. No matter how much I wrack my brain trying to remember those summers Martha said I spent here, I absolutely have zero recollection of those days.