CHAPTER 6

Katty paced nervously back and forth in the small, cluttered office of the Magic Fashion Boutique. The warm afternoon sun filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. The soft ticking of the wall clock seemed louder than usual in the stillness. A neat desk was placed against the far wall, with papers, fabric swatches, and a few scattered sketches spread across its surface. Katty's eyes kept darting toward the phone on the desk, hoping it would finally ring with some sign of life from her boss, Aki.

It was unusual, this silence. Aki was always on top of things. If anything, she was the type of person who would call several times just to check in, especially with such an important appointment lined up today. Katty’s stomach churned with anxiety. Kaye, one of their most prominent clients, was supposed to visit today to review the final design for her wedding gown. And Kaye had specifically requested to meet with Aki.

But Aki wasn’t here.

More alarmingly, Aki wasn’t picking up her phone.

Katty had called her six times in the past half hour. Each time, it went straight to voicemail. Her heart raced faster with every unanswered call, imagining the worst scenarios. Had something happened to Aki? She checked her messages again, her fingers trembling slightly, but there was nothing. No updates. No texts. Just radio silence.

She couldn’t sit still. The thought of Kaye arriving before Aki sent a jolt of panic through her. She tried to remind herself that Kaye was usually patient and easygoing, but this was her wedding gown—a custom design that she had been dreaming about for months. Aki was the only one who truly understood Kaye’s vision. Katty didn’t know how she could possibly face Kaye without Aki by her side.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the office door, and Katty jumped, startled out of her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see Nate, one of the boutique’s employees, standing in the doorway. He was tall and lean, with a casual, easygoing manner that usually put everyone at ease. But even Nate seemed a bit out of sorts as he took in Katty’s anxious expression.

“Hey,” Nate said, his brow furrowing in concern. “Everything okay? You look… really worried.”

Katty let out a shaky breath, trying to compose herself, but the stress was too much to hide. She shook her head, running a hand through her short, dark hair. “It’s Aki. She’s not here. And she’s not picking up her phone.”

Nate’s eyes widened slightly at that, and he stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him. “Wait, Aki’s not here? What do you mean? She was supposed to be here hours ago, right?”

Katty nodded, biting her lip. “Yes, exactly. She was supposed to be here to meet Kaye—she’s coming in today to see the final design for her wedding gown. Kaye wanted to meet with Aki personally, and Aki knew how important this was.” She gestured toward the phone on the desk. “But I’ve called her over and over, and she’s not answering. It’s not like her at all.”

Nate ran a hand through his messy blond hair, clearly trying to process the situation. “That doesn’t sound like Aki,” he said, echoing Katty’s thoughts. “She wouldn’t just go off the grid like that, especially not today. Did she say anything before she left yesterday? Did she seem… I don’t know, off?”

Katty shook her head again. “No, everything was normal. We went over the final touches on the gown yesterday, and she was excited to show Kaye. She didn’t mention any other plans or anything.” Her voice grew more strained as she continued. “But now I’m starting to worry that something’s happened. What if she’s… I don’t know, in trouble or something?”

Nate shifted uncomfortably, clearly unsure of what to say. He was used to handling last-minute changes and fashion emergencies, but this felt different. There was an undercurrent of fear in Katty’s voice that unsettled him. He had known Aki for a long time, and she was one of the most reliable, focused people he’d ever met. If she wasn’t answering her phone, something was definitely off.

He glanced at the clock, noting that it was already past noon. Kaye would be arriving in less than an hour.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Nate said slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. “But you’re right. This isn’t like Aki. Maybe something did happen.” His gaze flickered to the phone on the desk, but he didn’t really know what else to suggest. “Should we… try calling her again? Or maybe reach out to her family?”

“I’ve tried calling her every five minutes,” Katty said with a grimace. “It just goes straight to voicemail. I don’t want to panic yet, but—” She paused, taking a deep breath. “But I’m scared. And if Kaye shows up before Aki gets here, what am I supposed to say?”

Nate’s mind raced, trying to think of some solution, but nothing came to him. Aki was the heart of the Magic Fashion Boutique. She was the designer, the visionary, the one who made everything run smoothly. Without her here, they were floundering. He could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him, and he didn’t know how to lift it.

“I guess we just… stall for time,” Nate said, though his voice lacked confidence. “We’ll have to explain that Aki got held up. Maybe… maybe we can show Kaye the dress ourselves? You’ve been involved in the process too, right?”

Katty looked at him, her eyes wide with anxiety. “I’ve helped with the details, yes, but I’m not Aki. Kaye came here for Aki. What if she’s disappointed? What if she hates it without Aki’s explanation?”

Nate hesitated, not sure what to say. Katty’s worry was contagious, and now he was starting to feel the pressure too. “We’ll figure it out,” he said, trying to sound reassuring, though the words felt hollow. “But first, let’s just hope Aki calls back soon. Maybe there’s a simple explanation. Maybe she got stuck somewhere or her phone died.”

Katty nodded, though she didn’t look convinced. She paced the office again, her hands wringing together. “I hope you’re right, Nate. I really do. But if Kaye gets here before Aki does…” She trailed off, not wanting to finish the thought.

Nate sighed, leaning against the edge of the desk. His mind was spinning with possibilities, none of them good. He didn’t like to jump to conclusions, but something felt off about this whole situation. Aki wouldn’t just disappear. And if she was in trouble…

He shook the thought away, focusing on the immediate problem. “Let’s just prepare for Kaye’s arrival,” he said finally. “We’ll do our best to keep her happy until Aki gets here. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait long.”

Katty nodded again, though her nerves were still evident in the way she kept glancing at the phone. The minutes seemed to stretch on endlessly as they waited, both of them silently hoping for Aki’s familiar voice to break the tension. But the phone remained silent, and the weight of uncertainty hung heavy in the air.