Chapter 12 MYSTERIOUS DESIGNER
DASHIELL
Staring at the wedding picture I kept in my drawer, reminded me of Nova. I was searching for a file I kept on there when I saw it, something I had forgotten I brought to the office after I took it down because of Lilith - she hates seeing the picture on my desk.
Sighing, I stared at a smiling Nova. It has been five freaking years since she left me. Five years since she disappeared from the country with no trace. At first, I was pissed with her, blaming her for every misfortune, but gradually, it turned to more. Her disappearance not only made me feel betrayed, but it left a hole in my heart. I couldn't tell what it was. Was it anger, or something else entirely? "Darling!" Lilith called out in that shrill voice of hers that always annoyed me.
Startled, I placed the picture back in the drawer, before I looked up, forcing a smile so she wouldn't notice what I just did.
"What's it?" I stood up from my chair and walked over to her, still smiling. My cheeks hurt from the exertion, but I pretended it didn't. There was enough going through my mind at the moment.
"You know what next week is, right?" She asked, leading me over to the couch.
"Next week?" I cocked my head to the side, racking my brain. "What is happening next week?"
"What?" she gasped, looking at me like I had slapped her. "Tell me you are joking. Please tell me that," she pleaded.
"I... I'm not. Sorry." Sighing, I rubbed the back of my neck as I peered down at her. "I have so many things going through my mind at the moment. You know the collaboration with Marshall's company and the exhibition taking place this weekend. I just have so much on my plate." I leaned back on the couch and closed my eyes.
Furthermore, I was fatigued. My insomnia returned two months ago, and I had been chugging as many pills as I could to aid my sleep even though it didn't work.
"I know." She leaned towards me and placed her head on my shoulder, sighing. "You look stressed these days."
"That I am." I peeked an eye open to stare at her. "What is happening next week? Anything I should know?"
"Of course! It's my birthday. What else do you think is taking place?" She demanded, still pouting.
"Come on." Smiling, I pinched her cheeks. "I apologize for not recalling that. To show my apology, what do you want me to get for you?"
"This!"
She brought a paper out of her purse and passed it over to me. "This is the latest jewellery from the famous jeweller coming for the exhibition. I want you to buy it for me."
"Only?" I peered at the picture, just to make her happy. However, when my eyes landed on the design, I froze. It looked familiar. Just like... No, it can't be.
I got up to my feet, still staring at the design. It was too familiar for it to seem like a counterfeit. I had seen this design of jewellery when I got married to Nova newly. Back then, she was working on it before I ordered her to stop her design jobs.
"Dash? Are you okay?" Lilith demanded as she got up with me, peering at me with a concerned expression on her face.
I blinked, turning to look at her with a forced smile. "Yeah, I'm good. I just... I thought this jewellery looked familiar. Are you certain it's not an old work of the designer?"
"Not at all." She snatched it from me and placed it back on the table. "She just made the reveal last night, and many are scrambling for it. She only has 12 pieces of it, and I want one." She folded her arms, looking up at me like a spoiled brat.
Could the designer be Nova? What are the chances that she would be the one? But... No, it can't be.
"Dash? Why are you getting lost in your thoughts today? Are you okay?" Her voice was laced with concern as she put her hand on my left arm.
"Do you know who the designer is? Like, have you seen her?" I tried to keep my tone as neutral as I could, knowing she would pick up on anything odd.
"Now that you asked about it, no. There are no pictures of her on the internet." She placed her right hand under her jaw, in deep thought. "I think she's creating a theme of mystery with her background, planning to reveal herself during the exhibition. That was why the tickets sold out faster. Everyone wants to meet their favourite jeweller. I'm also eager to know who the mysterious Snow White is."
"The exhibition?" I echoed her words.
"Yeah." She nodded. "It's just a pity the tickets sold out before I could get my hands on them," she sighed.
I didn't say a word to that because I was already planning in my head. Should the jeweller turn out to be Nova, what will I do? How do I face her after five years? Is she still with the man she fled with? What of our baby?
"Dash," Lilith called out to me, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"What's it?" I peered down at her, concealing my irritation at being interrupted.
"It's been five years since she left," she started, trailing her manicured fingers on my chest.
"And?"
"Didn't you promise to get married to me?" She asked, looking up with a frown. "I waited patiently all these years for you to come to terms with her disappearance, but I've gotten tired." She bit her lower lip as she whispered, "When are we getting joined."
I was stunned by the question. Even though it wasn't the first time she had asked a similar one, it still shocked me.
Puffing out a breath to gather my thoughts, I placed both hands on her cheeks and peered down at her, locking our eyes. "I have my reasons, darling," I said, hoping she would understand. "Reasons?" She frowned. "What are they exactly??" She looked confused.
"I just..." I drew in a breath and puffed it out. "We are good the way we are now. Don't you think so?" Smiling, I took her into my embrace. "You know I love you, right? I'm only waiting for the right moment, to make you mine."