Chapter 5 Run into an old friend

Lauren settles on some eye shadow and lip gloss before grabbing her briefcase and heading down the stairs. She smells the breakfast her cook, Paula is making.

"Good morning, Paula. I'm not going to the office today, so you don't have to make lunch or dinner. I'll be running errands all day, so I'll grab something outside," she kisses her cook on the cheek.

"WOW! You changing careers to be a model now, girlie, because that outfit screams H-O-T!" some one says.

"Good morning, Aunt Chan. I figured I'm single now, might as well put myself back in the husband hunting market," she grins at her housekeeper before kissing her cheek, too.

Paula and Aunt Chan were staff that worked for her grandparents. Then they went to work for her parents, so she grew up under their care. They're more like family than some of her so called relatives. She really only cares about her declining grandfathers, her dad's sister, Amy, and her daughter, Wendy. Her grandmothers have already passed away.

"That boy! If I had been the one to catch him cheating on you with that skankzilla, well, let's just say I know the best ways to clean blood," Aunt Chan twists the towel in her hand.

"And I know the best way to hide the body," Paula smiles evilly, showing off a large butcher knife.

Lauren smiles at their attitudes. She knows they would have hurt James and Kaitlyn if they'd known. They were very protective of their girl.

After breakfast, Lauren reminds Aunt Chan about the deep cleaning.

"Don't worry, girlie, I called a temp agency and asked for 5 people for the week. I'll make sure every inch of the manor is cleaner than a hospital," Aunt Chan says.

Lauren smiles and grabs her briefcase, heading out the door. Her first stop is a jewelry store under the banner of Davoria Enterprises. She merged her mother's and father's names to create the name of her company. She explained who she was and that she needed a new appraisal on all of her jewelry. She gave the jeweler a copy of the previous appraisal and they made itemized invoices for each piece.

"It will probably take a couple of days. There's a lot here. I even recognize some of these pieces. I remember when your dad bought them for your mother as anniversary gifts," the old jeweler smiles at the memory.

She goes to a nearby coffee shop next. The barista saw her enter and called out, "the usual, cuz?" Lauren waved and nodded before sticking a 50 in the tip jar.

"One mochaspresso cappuccino with light foam," the girl said as she handed her the cup.

"Got a minute?" Lauren asked her.

The girl looked around the mostly dead coffee shop.

"Yeah, the morning rush is over," the girl said.

The girl is her cousin, Wendy. She's only working her for pocket money for college. Her and her mom, Amy, refused Lauren's offer to share the business.

Aunt Amy always said, "honey, that's the hard work of your mom and dad. I had no part of it then, I'll have no part of it now."

Lauren loved them to death, but she wished they'd let her help them more so they could relax. But, her aunt and uncle both enjoy the work they do. Amy wouldn't even let her pay for school, even though she's taking the same courses Lauren took. She is willing to take a job in the company, only after she graduates. She wants to earn her own way. Tips and gifts are the only money Wendy will take from her, that's why she slipped a 50 into the tip jar. Lauren tells her younger cousin about James and Kaitlyn. Wendy is almost yelling in outrage of what Lauren went through.

"I thought I hated that bitch before, now I absolutely loathe her. When will she stop trying to take everything from you?" Wendy says.

"Watch your language. What would your mother say if she heard you talking like sailor instead of a young lady," Lauren smiles at her.

"Who do you think I learned it from she's been referring to them as big bitch and little bitch for years" Wendy smiles brightly.

"What do you plan to do now? You already started the wedding preparations, right?" Wendy asks her.

"Yes. James's dad called me this morning and I told him the engagement was cancelled. I took the day off to take care of this stuff," Lauren sighs.

"Maybe you shouldn't cancel everything, sweetie. Just find another, better man to take James's place and marry him," Wendy waggles her eyebrows at her.

"My luck, I'd end up with someone even worse. Especially since Kaitlyn will just try to get him in her bed, too," Lauren says.

"My offer to throw the crazy into the ocean still stands. You know I'll have plenty of help to do it," Wendy smirks.

This is why she came to see her today. Wendy always could brighten up her day. They chatted a few more minutes until a couple of customers came in and Wendy had to get back to work. As Lauren was leaving, she was too wrapped up in her thoughts, so she didn't see the man coming through the door. She bumped into him and almost fell on her ass. Lucky for her, he was quick to grab her arms and steady her.

"Sorry about that, sir. I wasn't paying attention," Lauren says before looking at the man's face.

Her eyes shrank in astonishment. He was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. Over 6 feet tall, wide shoulders, large arms that strained the seams of his expensive custom made suit. His shocked expression makes his green eyes bright. Lauren was never concerned about how handsome James was. But, compared to this man, James was a mud puddle in the looks department.

"It's you," he shouted.

Lauren is startled by his shout. 'Oh no. I've never met him before. Did Kaitlyn do something to him behind my back?' Lauren thinks. He grabs her shoulder and stares into her face.

"I've been looking for you for years. You probably don't remember me. I'm a few years older than you. But I never forgot your face. You're the little girl who survived her parents car crash and helped me to escape from mine," he excitedly starts to rant.