###6
The bride price wasn’t much to me, but for them, it would last a while.
In the newfound calm, I had more time for myself. Apart from work, I’d visit the convenience store down the block, buy a few lollipops, and chat with the store owner, Chloe Dawson. We quickly became friends; she was my age, easy to talk to.
One day, while we were chatting, Chloe asked, “Blake, why do you–a big–shot CEO–always buy lollipops? Most guys like you smoke cigars or something.”
I chuckled, twirling the candy between my fingers.
“I do sometimes. You can’t close deals without it. But lollipops? They’re special.”
“I was an orphan once, fighting dogs for scraps. One day, a little girl gave me a lollipop, and that taste stuck with me. It was the first sweet thing in my life.”
“So now, it’s a reminder. Keeps me grounded.”
Chloe’s eyes widened, and for a second, I thought she was shocked by my past. But then she said, “Was she wearing a princess dress?”
I stared at her, stunned. “How do you know that?”
For a second, paranoia struck–was she sent by a rival?
Her cheeks flushed as she explained, “I was that girl. I remember because my new dress got a handprint I could never wash out. My mom was so mad she spanked me. I still remember it.”
I barely heard her joke, reaching out to grab her hand.
“How can you prove that?”
“I still have that dress at home,” she said, leading me to her place.
“Your husband or kids won’t mind me coming over?” I asked, suddenly feeling awkward.
“No husband. Always single,” she laughed, rummaging through boxes until she pulled out a dust–covered dress.
One look confirmed it. It was hers.
Chloe Dawson was my angel.
I pulled her into a hug, and she froze for a moment before relaxing into it.
From that moment, I opened my heart to Chloe. We talked endlessly, about everything from childhood to dreams for the future. I never imagined talking to someone could bring me so much happiness.
A year later, it felt natural to be together.
To celebrate, I planned a trip to Australia, a place she’d always dreamed of visiting.
At JFK, we ran into Eliza and Julian. Eliza’s face was worn and tired, while Julian looked manically excited.
Eliza’s eyes locked on mine, and she walked over, scoffing.
“So, you’ve moved on to this plain girl?”
I couldn’t let her insult Chloe. “Watch your mouth. This is my girlfriend. Unlike you, she’s loyal.”
The sting of my words hit her hard. She raised her hand as if to slap me, but Julian grabbed her wrist.
“Are you crazy? His company’s huge. If we cross him, it could ruin any opportunity we get!” he hissed.
“Calm down, babe. We’ll show him when we’re back on top.”
Eliza sat back down, glaring daggers at me as we took our seats.
Chloe, knowing my past, squeezed my hand in silent understanding.
In Australia, a company we worked with invited us to visit, and Chloe agreed.
But as we stepped into the lobby, there they were–Eliza and Julian, waiting for their Interview.
