Chapter 6

Kyra.

The week of Nicholas’s birthday could be rated at the top of the most hectic days of my life. Coming up with a plan and visualizing the whole event wasn’t hard per se, the real work was the implementation. Lily was busy with two weddings and Bipasha was out of town and I have no assistant.

This I put at the very top of my to-get list. I need an assistant and I need one fast. Anastasia was ecstatic about what I was able to come up with and Nicholas? Well that boy fell in love with me when he saw the ranch themed party with kids cars available. Apparently Ana has a sibling who sent down his love for horses on Nicholas and so we got the ponies we used from his ranch.

Thank God for rich people.

After the birthday party I took a two-day break from the whole world.

Today being the fourth day after the party I had lunch with a woman who wanted to surprise her husband on their fifteenth anniversary. Ya hear that? They’ve been together since high school. I kept my thoughts to myself because they were inquisitive and well, garbage. I made sure to fill up my schedule as much as I could so I won’t be left idle. Sitting idle reminds me of my weekend fling, which makes me think deep about Sin and heat creeps up my neck.

It’s uncomfortable when you get that in a public place but thank God for the spanish blood in me, I have this natural tan and glow that makes my blush not as obvious as Lily’s. Bipasha’s skin though is totally goals, that brash girl doesn’t ever blush and she gloats about it all the time.

The shrill of my ringtone had me reaching into my oversized purse, Anastasia’s contact appeared on my screen. I picked the call up and resumed my walking.

“Hey Kyra, how have you been?” She asked in that majestic tone of hers.

I felt compelled to perfect my posture just from the sound of her voice, “I’m good.” I responded with the smile.

“Nick can’t stop talking about you, you’re his superhero you know that right?” She chuckled, “Well that’s not my reason for calling you, I was wondering if we could meet for a drink, if you don’t mind.”

Well, I couldn’t refuse.

And that was how I found myself heading into a different direction.

When I walked into our usual cafe I found her occupying the table farthest from the door with a man clad in all black sitting a few tables from her. I’ve never seen her without a bodyguard except the one time we met and Mr. Camaro was with her.

We hugged and her eyes lit the moment we sat.

“You know it’s refreshing talking with you, I’m in need of a companion these days and you’re the closest friend I have in New York.”

Ya hear that? And we’re not even that close. To outsiders, Ana might seem like those snobby rich girls with everything they want handed to them on a diamond platter but she’s just a normal person, if you look past the jewelry hanging around her neck that is.

“I know it feels odd to you but trust me Kyra you’re the person I’m closest to over here, and I just feel comfortable talking with you. I’ll be moving to Spain with my husband for the rest of the year, but by next year we’ll be back with a new addition to the family.” She had a genuine smile as she said this.

My eyes widened. Oh fudge.

“You’re pregnant, Oh my God.” We hugged again and I was truly happy. This woman got it all and from the way her husband looks at her she might as well be breeding all the time. “That’s good news, I’m happy for you.”

“Well, Esteban gets too overprotective when I’m in the condition hence my decision to move. Well that’s not why I asked to meet.”

“It’s not?” My smile fell a bit, just a tiny little bit.

“No, actually I have an invitation for you. It totally skipped my mind to mention it on Nick’s birthday because we both were so busy but there’s this annual event my brother hosts and I would like you to come. You won’t feel bored, I promise you that and you can invite your friends too. I have enough for all three of you, I skipped last year because I had no one to go with and this year he insisted and I just have to. Siblings can be so annoying, you know?”

“Well, I grew up an only child but yeah I know, I have Lily and Bi to prove that and they both can be quite persuasive if they wish to be.” We laughed it off.

She raised a brow, “So, about my invitation, are you coming or am I going to spend the night nurturing a glass of water in the darkest corner of the room with no one to talk with?” She stared me down with puppy eyes.

Manipulation huh? It seems that not only Lily, Bipasha and Ana’s brother have that trick down their sleeves.

She pushed forward the invites slowly and my eyes brushed over the cards in gold print. It was exquisite and the calendar in my head says I’m free every weekend.

“Well it’ll be a shame to waste an evening like that. I’ll talk to my friends about it and let you know. I’ll be there for you, I promise.”

She groaned in relief, even her groan was ladylike, “Thank heavens for you Kyra. It’s a black tie event, women get to wear any colour of cocktail dresses. I’ll be in a forest green velvet dress, red will suit you.”

I nearly balked at that, “I’ll pass on that, red’s not really my colour and it makes one stand out in a crowd.”

“A shame, it would’ve fit you and it wouldn’t hurt to have everyone’s attention on you once it a while. It boosts one’s confidence. Plus, you can bring a date.”

I smirked at her haughty tone then politely turned down the last offer. It’ll make me feel like I was imposing.

A few hours later I was slapping the cards into each of my friend’s palms.

“You got invited to the Ivanov Inc. annual party? Girl that is like the most rated party in the whole of New York! It’s the party that got my panties in a twist last week, I’m among the four planners who are in charge of the project.” Bipasha rambled.

“Well you didn’t tell us.” I shrugged.

“I did, but you were too busy lusting over your weekend fling to remember, I told you all about it three days ago. Kyra remember Logan, the man I once set you up but canceled on your date because he got into an accident? He works at the company and you could take him with you as your date to calm your generosity evading heart so you feel you’re not imposing on her charity because he’s going to be there with or without you.”

“How do you know he doesn’t have a date already?” I asked.

Bi rolled her eyes at my skepticism, “I’ll ask him tomorrow and hint the idea to him.”

I groaned, dropped into my bed and shouted profanities into my soft fiber filled pillow. “I thought you were gonna let me rest now that I’ve got some, I got enough to last me the whole year I don’t need more man complications. Believe me darlin’.”

“Darlin’ or not, you’re going with a date, Ana suggested it, I bet she could smell your singleness within a five-mile radius.”

“Bi, get outta my face you’re harassing me. Lily why aren’t you saying anything?” I turned my head to my friend who was staring deep into her phone. Returning my gaze to the imp before me I asked with a smirk, “What about you and Lils? Who will be your date?”

“Easy peasy, Lily’s my date, Logan’s yours. He’s a sweet, fun and nice person Kyra, don’t go all tasmanian devil on him please.”

“You sound as though I’m aggressive. How little your fate in me is.” I jut my lips out, forming a pout.

There was something unusual about Lily tonight, she seemed to be lost in her mind, distracted.

“Lily? Is everything alright?” I asked, concerned.

“Perfectly alright. What were we talking about?” She asked with a beam which gave her away, something was definitely occupying her mind, something which made her miss out on everything that transpired between myself and Bipasha just a few moments ago.

We’ll get to the end of that. But now, first things first.