Chapter 2 THE RETURN.

A YEAR LATER

The azure sky welcomed Diane as she stepped out, rolling her bag behind her. She sucked in a deep breath and welcomed the clean air that rushed into her lungs.

Oh, it's good to be back, Arizona!" She whisper-yelled.

"Diane!" A crispy voice called out to her from the other side of the Airport, where she saw her friend waving excitedly at her.

Hailey.

She waved back, matching her best friend's energy. She hurried over to her best friend's side, where they hugged deeply.

She burrowed her head into her friend's neck, taking in the Lavender scent that hovered around her. It smelt like home.

"God, I missed your hugs." Diane moaned as she pulled away, very much reluctant.

"Aww, me too!" Hailey pouted.

"Come on", Hailey helped Diane with her luggage as they shuttled through the airport into a friendly black Bentley.

"You drive now; paint me surprised!" Diane gasped as she entered the front seat beside her best friend, who took the wheel.

"Ehh", Hailey replied weakly, desperately trying to hide the proud smirk that was making its way to her face.

"Just spill it" Diane rolled her eyes, allowing her best friend to bask in her accomplishments. Hailey had always been afraid of the wheels and instead went in between chauffeurs to drive her around, but not only was the car deficient key this time around, but instead of some flashy sports car, Hailey Connor was behind the wheel!

"You have a lot of catching on to do!" Hailey drove smoothly while glancing at her friend, who looked way better than she left the country.

"Oh yeah?" Diane's eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Well, let's start with the fact that your mother gave me an earful on how I need to speak to you about your new job, "Hailey began, earning a wince from Diane.

"Care to share? Because I was even more perplexed than she was."

Diane heaved a sigh and looked out of the window. A moment to reminisce– or not. There were no good memories anyway.

Diane had been in a very disastrous state when she found out about the cheating scandal of her ex a few days before their wedding, and with every last shred of embarrassment and anger, she had to call off the wedding; good thing she only kept the news of the wedding to the smallest circle of her immediate family and her best friend. She couldn't even bear to think of the disgrace that came with explaining to everyone the reason behind their abrupt breakup. Had it been, she had invited a ton.

She might or might not have locked herself in her apartment for days, not until her friend broke in- literally and demanded an explanation.

Her family consoled her. If angrily trying to barge in on Austin and beat him to a pulp while planning to ensure his business meets a dead end is part of a consolation method, that is.

She prevented them, of course. He didn't know her true identity, anyway. She had never been more glad of her decision to keep it away from him.

She was a shadow of herself after the call-off. To get away from the country and put her life together, she told her parents that she wanted to complete her studies; a ph.d in business administration and management was what she wanted to do. It was due anyway. She travelled out for an entire year, and now she was done and had returned.

Contrary to what her brother and parents thought, she was not coming back to try her hand at the family business finally; instead, she had come back because she had a job offer to work for the largest conglomerate and some competitor to the family's business!

In her defence, Diane wanted to improve her skills before working for the family business. She felt that they would pamper her as an heiress, but she liked the freedom and strictness that came with unfamiliarity, and that was what K Group had to offer. When she got it right on a platter, she snatched it and returned immediately to resume work.

But maybe she had to sit it out with her family's impending rage for making such a rash decision.

Maybe not.

"Hello?" Hailey's voice brought her back from her reverie.

"What?" Diane had a confused look on her face. She had even forgotten what they had been talking about.

"You got a job, and you didn't care to share?" Hailey piped. But Diane knew better; her friend was a little sad that she had not let her know the information, and she had to hear it from another source. "...not just any job, a Job at the other side!"

Hailey was saying.

Her family called the K group 'the other side like it was beef or bad blood, but insiders knew better. The two colossal businesses weren't really in a competition behind closed doors. She knew that her grandfather and the grandfather of the present CEO were brothers in hand. But that didn't mean that she could spring such a surprise on her family.

"I'm sorry, Hail" Diane eased.

"I know I should have told you earlier. I planned to when I was sure I was going for the job. Dad and Mum must have found out about it somehow. You know how sneaky and nosy they can be."Diane nudged her friend, who had already arrived at the Rodriguez family estate.

"No, don't play that card on me!" Hailey shook her head. She poked her head out the window to indicate to the security men who, upon seeing her face, had let her in immediately. She turned back to her friend, who was batting her lashes miserably at her. If she were a man, maybe she wouldn't have succumbed to such trickery, but she wasn't a man, which was why she snickered;

"Stop blinking your eyes at me. You know it doesn't work anymore. I am immune."

Diane slumped her shoulders in mock defeat.

"Come on, tell me, how do you plan to cope? I hear that the new CEO is quite temperamental..." Hailey trailed as she finally drove into the Rodriguez courtyard.

"Err, I don't know- it couldn't be that bad, I mean." Diane shrugged.

"You, my friend, are something; get ready to be roasted by them. I may have eavesdropped when my mum and yours were discussing while I was back at my house, and dare I say that you toast. "Hailey shook her head pitifully at Diane.

"I'll get my way around it. I always do." Diane retorted with a little unsure quirk on her brow.

"First is escaping to open a business with you-know-who, and now jumping ships to the rival", Hailey chuckled, amused with the situation. "I thought I was the rebellious one among us!"

"You still are" Diane rolled her eyes.

Hailey's wristwatch went off in a tutting sound, which she frowned at, "I have to go, break's over, I have to follow my boss to see this client for lunch." She looked very much apologetic.

"Wait, you will let me walk into that lion's den alone?" Diane threw a tantrum. "I wanted to use you as a shield this time."

"Too bad" Hailey did not look sorry about that one. Diane was sure it was partly because she saw it as the heavens punishing her for not telling her about the news of her new job.

"I'll get out of your hair. Do search for me if you don't hear from me in three hours. Hopefully, Dad won't hit me to death with his support stick." Diane quipped, dragging her friend in for a hug.

"Aye, Aye, Captain! I'm dragging you out for a proper celebration and catching up, just two of us, I've missed your sorry ass." Hailey groaned before letting go.

Diane exited the Car with Hailey, who helped her with her luggage. The Butler and other helpers had already arrived at the scene to welcome her.

Looking at the tall and gigantic house before her as her friend drove away from behind her, throwing a honk her way before speeding off, Diane was sure that she was back for good. She took a deep breath, and two and three and four -

"Young Mistress, what are you gawking at?" James, the Butler, had stopped and looked quizzically at her.

Oh, fu*k it! She flashed an enormous smile at him; "I am just glad to be back!"