Distracting Dimples!

Aubrianne Ivanov's POV.

I woke up, and a wave of loneliness smacked me. I was in a completely different and an entirely new place. The bed I lay on was foreign and strange. A good strange.

Sadly I am also feeling a bit melancholy. To top it off, my nose feels stuffy, and my throat is scratchy.

The room is dark, I am thankful for these blackout curtains right now, but I know it's late. I can just tell.

I was well rested, on the other hand, but not sure I was ready to face today. I stretch out like a kitten, a few bones cracking.

Snapping out of it, I ready myself to face the day anyway.

This brings me to the first thing I need to do: have a word with Mr. Grey, but I need to talk to Jada. Stretching over, I reached for my phone, made a mental note to put my new phone to charge, and dialed Jada's number.

She picks up on the second ring, "heyyy, Aubriiiiiii, morning babe." Gosh, I miss her cheeriness.

"Heyyy Jada, morning hun," I croak. I clear my throat. I suppose it was from all that bawling I did last night.

She picks up on it and then asks me if I've been crying and how I am settling in, "what's going on, babes? Tell me," she urges me.

It didn't take long for me to sing like a canary. I laid it all on Jada, from my airport pick-up to my new home and who is behind everything.

"And it's Mr. Theodore Claude Thornton who is behind all this, Jada. Can you believe this?" I ask incredulously.

Jada fell silent on the other side, so I continued, "for the life of me, I cannot understand why. Why is he going to these lengths for my comfort, don't get me wrong, I am very grateful and appreciative but also wary, Jada."

"You know, in our line of work, the thoughts running through my mind, but the weird thing is I didn't get that vibe from him when we first met on career day, which is why I am even more confused."

"Plus, I found out this is not the norm for interns, so what makes me so special? Huh? I need to know, and it is just killing me, Jada."

"Anyways, I will get some answers soon. Hopefully, as Daniel promised to arrange a meeting with his dad, you know Mr. Grey. I will get the opportunity to ask all my questions and get to the bottom of this."

"Jada? Are you still there?" She is way too quiet. Where was her usual onslaught of questions or inputs? Why was she not saying anything? Did SHE know something?

What could she know? I shook away the last thought.

"JADA!." I was fidgeting on my bed now.

Then she asks out of nowhere, "do you think he is your father?"

"What???" I shouted into the phone and sat straight up. "What the hell are you talking about? Why, why would you say that to me, Jada? That is not funny."

"No, no, no, I didn't mean it as a joke Aubri," she blurts out.

"Though you never talked much about your dad, I know you wish him to be in your life. I know your mom kept y'all apart, annnd I know you know nothing about him, so I would never joke about a thing like that."

I exhaled loudly, letting out the air I didn't even know I was holding in, "ok, you're right. You would never joke about something like that, but based on what?"

She adds, "do you remember he tried giving you money back then? After meeting you and...."

She trails off.

I pressed, "And? "…

Crickets.

Almost frantic on the other end, I held the phone by my mouth, "And what, Jada!" Placing it quickly back to my ear, thinking maybe she was not hearing me and losing patience, eager to find out where she was going with this...

Crickets.

"Jada?"

"Nothing, nothing. I have to go, Aubri. I will call you back later. Something came up," and she hung up.

Phone in my hand, eyes bulging as I rapidly blink at it, wondering what just happened.

I sighed after a moment of my staring/ blinking contest, then put my new phone to get some charge. It was time I upgraded to a new phone, and I didn't mind paying for it. I could afford this.

Then I proceed to contact Mr. Grey.

I sighed, letting out a little grunt of frustration when I didn't get a hold of Mr. Grey. I tried the number he always used to call me from, it was his office, so I just left a message for him to contact me.

Leaning on the kitchen countertop, tapping my fingers now, I think of my next move. What shall I do today? Because right now, I am not getting Mr. Grey.

Wait, let me try the other Grey just to hear if he was able to speak with his father.

Eagerly picking up my phone and running through the contacts, I got Daniel's number, and just as I was about to hit the number, my doorbell rang.

I jumped out of my skin, and the phone fell out of my hands, but my reflex was good. I maneuvered, trying to catch it, and I did.

Simmering down, I cautiously strolled to the door to see who it was. It is possible that it may be Daniel and his sister as well. He had mentioned that I would see him today.

I peeked through the hole in the door, and yes, it was Daniel, but he was alone. Nevertheless, I opened the door and reached up, giving him a hug in greeting, "Good morning."

A cute, cheery smile soon blossomed on his face. He answers, "Good morning to you too."

I was relieved he was here because I had questions, two in particular.

As distracting as those dimples were, or how cute they made him look, I bombarded him with them, asking, "Did you get on to your dad? And when can I see him?"

He hits me with his famous dashing smile again, and it broadens. He tilted his head, which was slightly slanting down to me, and said, "Hey baby girl, how are you today?" Smirking and grinning, if that's even possible.

I shove him on his shoulders. He is joking with me at a time like this when I am desperate for answers. "Daniel, seriously, please, I need to speak with your father. Come on, tell me, what did he say?"

I eagerly ask, almost bouncing up and down for an answer, shifting from foot to foot.

"Father said he has a crazy day of meetings after meetings today, but bring you by tomorrow," Daniel answers.

I inhale deeply and let it out, "tomorrow?? I have to wait another day to get to the bottom of this?" I complained. My shoulders were sagging, almost defeated. I had to wait another day? This was torture to my soul and peace of mind.

"Chin up, Aubrianne. You worry too much. Go get ready. I am here to take you on that tour. We will meet up with Daniela first for brunch. She will be at Gloria's."

"Okayyy, I suppose," only as he mentions his sister honestly. I almost wanted to tell him I would prefer to stay in today and get started on unpacking. But Daniela was expecting me, so, of course, I can't cancel now.

I must admit I was disappointed he didn't have better news.

I sighed before heading into my room, and I then went straight into the shower while he made himself comfy on the couch.

I showered and quickly dressed, adorning a light pink sweater dress, singe at the waist with a thin brown belt, my favorite pair of beige high heel boots, a beautiful material.

I pulled my hair in one, not too high or low, with some elegant, natural-looking makeup and sunglasses.

I then grabbed my bag, one with long straps that were small to medium in size, and we were soon on our way to meet Daniela.