Five

KELILAH'S POV 

As I stepped into Elena’s office, the gleaming new equipment we ordered had already arrived, and the workers were diligently installing everything. The hum of machines and the clatter of tools filled the air, a promising symphony of progress.

“I’m so happy I finally got the company,” Loveth said beside me, her voice trailing off as her expression shifted. “It’s just sad that I won’t be able to enjoy it…”

Her sudden change in tone pulled at my heartstrings. I turned to her and met her eyes, filled with a quiet sorrow she tried to suppress.

“No, don’t say that,” I quickly reassured her, placing a hand on her arm. “You *will* enjoy it, Loveth. I promised you that, remember? And I keep my promises.” My voice was firm, and her tense expression softened slightly.

“Now, give me that wide smile,” I teased, nudging her gently. She managed a bright grin, one that instantly lifted the mood, making me chuckle.

We spent the rest of the day setting up the equipment, carefully overseeing the workers as they installed the machines and moved some of the older items to the warehouse. It felt good to see everything falling into place, like a small victory in a sea of uncertainty. Loveth had gone to the bathroom when a sharp knock echoed through the office.

“Come in,” I called out, my voice carrying across the busy room. The door opened, and suddenly, familiar voices filled the space.

“Kelilah!” they shouted in unison.

I turned around and was instantly enveloped in hugs.

“Juliet? Helen?” I squealed with delight, pulling them in tighter. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here!”

“Who’s there?” Loveth’s voice called from the bathroom.

“It’s Juliet and Helen!” I shouted back as Loveth made her way out.

Juliet and Helen were more than just friends—they were practically sisters. Though they were two years older and hailed from a neighboring kingdom, the bond we shared was timeless.

“Sorry for the delay, we had to stop at the market,” Helen explained, adjusting her bags with a smile.

Juliet’s eyes clouded over as she added, “We heard about the Selection…”

“Not today,” I cut her off before she could go any further. “Today is for celebration, and we’re not going to ruin it with sad news.”

I’d spent hours trying to lift Loveth’s spirits, and the last thing I needed was someone bringing up the impending disaster that was the Selection. 

“But, Kelilah…” Juliet’s voice wavered, clearly wanting to press the matter.

“No buts,” I insisted, steering the conversation elsewhere. “Come on, let’s check out the office together.”

Reluctantly, Juliet nodded, and the two sisters walked further into the space. The rest of the morning passed with us showing them around, introducing the workers, and admiring the progress. Even though my phone buzzed repeatedly with calls from Jackson, I silenced it. There was no way I was leaving Loveth and the girls just yet.

After a couple of hours, the workload eased up, and I finally glanced at my phone. A message from Jackson stared back at me:

“Meet me at our usual spot.”

With the office mostly settled, I figured I could spare a bit of time.

“Loveth, I’ve got to run. Jackson’s been calling non-stop,” I excused myself.

“Don’t worry, most of the hard work is done anyway. You can go,” she said with an understanding smile.

“Great! I’ll be back before we close up!” I called over my shoulder, heading toward the door.

Just as I stepped outside, I ran into Tyra, who was finishing a call. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed me.

“Where are you off to?” she asked, her tone already skeptical.

“I’m going to meet Jackson,” I replied casually, though I knew what was coming.

Her expression instantly darkened. Tyra had never liked Jackson, and she made no effort to hide it. While Loveth had softened to him over time, Tyra remained staunchly opposed to our relationship.

“I thought you were going to spend the day with us,” she said, folding her arms.

“I did, but I promised Jackson I’d see him today. I’ll only be gone for an hour or two,” I explained, trying to sound reassuring.

Tyra raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. “Alright. Just don’t keep us waiting too long.”

She leaned in, kissing my cheek lightly. “Tell Jackson I said… hello,” she added sarcastically, causing me to laugh.

“Sure thing,” I teased, knowing full well she wouldn’t want to extend any pleasantries to him.

As I made my way to the car, I couldn’t help but think about Tyra’s dislike for Jackson. Despite their differences, she had always respected my decisions, even if she didn’t approve of them.

Kat’s shop was bustling as usual. The upscale restaurant she owned was always packed, its popularity unwavering. Though she was Jackson’s sister, I couldn’t stand her. There was something about her that just rubbed me the wrong way—probably her condescending attitude.

I scanned the room and spotted Jackson waving me over. His smile was magnetic, and despite my frustrations with his sister, my heart lifted at the sight of him. As I reached the table, he pulled me in for a kiss, trying to deepen it, but I pulled back with a chuckle.

We settled into light conversation, exchanging updates about our days, until Jackson, unable to help himself, brought up the one topic I had hoped to avoid.

“So, what’s your family saying about the Selection?” he asked, his voice low but urgent.

I glanced around. The restaurant was still crowded, and this wasn’t the place for such a discussion.

“I don’t want to talk about it here,” I replied, keeping my voice steady.

“Come on, Kelilah. We can speak quietly. No one’s paying attention to us,” he insisted, leaning in.

I shook my head. “When we’re somewhere more private, we’ll discuss it.”

He sighed, clearly disappointed, but didn’t push any further. We shifted back into lighter topics, sipping our drinks and scrolling through our phones.

A cheery waitress approached our table with an extra drink. “Drinks for you,” she said with a wide smile.

“We didn’t order this,” I said, puzzled.

“Compliments of Kat,” she explained, pointing to Jackson’s sister across the room, who waved at us with that fake smile of hers.

I pulled some money from my bag to pay, but the waitress waved it away. “It’s on the house.”

I sighed, not wanting to cause a scene, and took a sip of the fruit punch. As much as I didn’t like Kat or her hospitality, I knew better than to make a fuss in public.

“Okay, tell her I said thanks”, I instructed as she began to walk away.

And so, I waited patiently for Jackson to finish, knowing the real conversation would come soon enough.