Unexpected

Riele's POV

I woke up that morning with the sound of an alarm. Without much to do, I got prepared for my morning jog. I didn't feel like having breakfast like usual, so I put on a black crop top and white sweat pants with a pair of black sneakers.

I went for my early morning run with *Memories by Maroon5* playing on my phone. After about 30 minutes, I headed back home. I took a quick shower then wore a white blouse and slightly ripped jeans folded at the end with a white blazer and a beige bag.

I drove to work that morning knowing that I broke about a dozen road laws but who cares? Definitely not me. I was surprised to see Lizzy dressed in a white and black striped blouse with long sleeves and a high waist denim mini skirt, ready for work.

"Wow, you really must be interested in this because it is just 8:45 am on a Friday." I joked, glancing down at my wristwatch for the time.

"Of course. You won't want to be late on the first date of your job, would you?" she gave a sheepish smile while her cheeks heated. If lateness were human, Lizzy would be its embodiment.

"Alright, I'm sure you know all that you should do?" I switch to Boss mode, ready for the day's work.

"Yes ma'am. I read the guide when I got in here this morning" she nodded.

I gave her a sharp nod before heading for the elevator. 'Let's get down to business' I thought to myself as the elevator gave a ding. "I've got this!" I exhaled before opening the door to my office.

"No, I don't got this." I cried. Piled in a neat order are proposals and files of all kinds. "Riele, you are a survivor! You got this!" I reassured myself before setting to work.

I'm glad no one had noticed my sudden discontent with paperwork, or it would be hard to control the staff here.

After hours of excruciating paperwork, I got tired of staring at the laptop screen, so I got up to get coffee.

"Morning Riele." one of my staff, Daniel Van Pelt, greeted me immediately after I got out of the office.

"Morning." I gave him a small smile. Once I got to my office after getting myself a cup of coffee, I carried on with what I was doing earlier on until the office's telephone rang.

 "Hello" I said with my eyes still glued to the laptop.

"Your sister and her girlfriend are here to see you, I tried calling your secretary's office number, but she didn't seem to pick up." Lizzy said at the other end.

"Oh, I told her to take the day off but anyways, let them in." I instructed.

"Yes ma'am."

 A minute later, the door to my office opened. "Hey sis." Karla said as she got in while closing the door behind her after Avery got in.

"Hi Riele" Avery said, smiling brightly.

"Hey Karla, hey Avery" I said, putting the laptop aside.

I smiled. "How have you been?" I gestured for them to take their seats.

"We've been quite good, thanks for asking" Karla answered for the both of them as they took their seats.

"Alright, would you like anything?" I asked, getting ready to dial Lizzy's office number.

"No, not really" Avery answered this time.

"OK, so how's Dad?" I asked, intertwining my fingers with each other.

"He's quite alright" Karla said. "He also told me to give you this" She handed over the bag Avery was holding. I took it, glanced at them before peeking into the bag. I brought out the content of the bag, and it was an invitation.

"He's having a b-birthday party for G-Grace. He was w-wondering if you'd like to come if you're not b-busy that is" Karla said, stumbling on her words slightly.

"Of course I would," I said, smiling genuinely.

"That's fantastic. But there's another thing" she said while fiddling with her fingers.

"Yeah, what's that?" I asked.

"He said he would like it if you'd sing. We have a band ready to play, but he was wondering if you could sing a song or two with him, like you guys used to" She asked. Oh boy!

I smiled as tears were threatening to roll down my cheeks. They weren't tears of sadness but nostalgic tears. I remembered when we would sing so loud that my mom would chase us around the house, threatening to beat our asses if we didn't keep quiet.

"I would like that very much. When is the birthday party?" I asked, wiping off the tears that managed to escape.

"Next week Sunday" Karla said. I screeched and leapt out of my seat in surprise.

"It can't be. It's two days from now. I haven't got ready. I haven't practised any songs to sing. I sound like a frog, and most importantly, I don't even have a dress or shoes. Is it hot in here? Or is it just me?" I ranted while taking off my blazer, laying it around my chair.

"OK, first, take deep breaths... In, out, In, out" Avery got up from her seat to hold my shoulders while trying to make me relax. I did as she instructed.

"I can't do this. My dress! I have to call Ella" I told her before hurriedly grabbing my phone until she snatched it right off my hands.

"Check the bag" she pointed at the bag on my table. I furrowed my brows but did as she said. I walked over to the table and brought out a beautiful red dress.

"Oh my! How did I not notice this earlier" I questioned rhetorically. The dress was endowed with diamonds. The blouse and sleeves were made of a net-like material, including the arms of the dress.

It was really beautiful. "Wow!" Avery and Karla exclaimed as their eyes roamed over the dress in my arms.

"You guys didn't check the bag?" I asked, surprised as to why they were seeing it for the first time.

"Nope, he just said we should give you. We already knew about the invitation including the ticket" Karla explained. I nodded, going back to admiring the dress.

'Wait what?' I glanced back at her. "Ticket? What for?" I asked.

"Just check the bag. I wasn't meant to tell you that. You had to find out for yourself" she said, playing with her fingers in embarrassment.

I looked at her in confusion before dipping my hand in the bag again. I brought out the ticket. It was a ticket to Miami. "What's it for?" I asked

She laughed nervously "Umm, you see... thepartyisgoingtotakeplaceinMiami" She said hurriedly.

"Excuse me, come again" I said, scrunching up my face. I didn't quite hear her.

"Riele" Avery called out, making me look at her. "The party will take place in Miami" Avery said calmly, and my eyes bulged.

"MIAMI?" I screamed and just felt like that. I felt like fainting.