Chapter 63
“Are you sure you are fine?” Paula asked Chrise for the umpteenth time since she and Katherine arrived at Cherise’s ward.
Cherise had to stop herself from rolling her eyes at her best friend. “I am! It was just a fever. Julian is being his usual overbearing big–brother self by keeping me here longer than necessary.”
“You scared Julian and me when we found you unconscious in your waiting room,” Paula huffed.
“Thankfully the hot Xay was there for Cherise.” Katherine winked at both of her best friends.
Cherise groaned. “I feel so embarrassed. That was my first time dancing with him and I fainted afterward.”
Katherine laughed and winked again. “That should be kinda romantic, though. You fainting, and him catching you in his arms.”
“But I wanted to see his face,” Cherise grumbled. It might be the first and last time they danced together or crossed paths, and she ruined it by fainting.
“You were exhausted and unwell. You shouldn’t even dance in the first place,” Paula glared at her, partly because she was concerned, and annoyed because she knew Xav was Hudson.
“He’s handsome, right?” Cherise looked at Paula,
Paula swallowed. She really didn’t want to talk about Xav or Hudson, but if she didn’t answer, Cherise would suspect she was keeping a secret
“Yeah, yeah, he’s handsome, she answered and busied herself by peeling an apple so Cherise wouldn’t see the guilt in her eyes.
“Look at Paula flustering.” Katherine laughed. “He must be very handsome.”
“If Julian, a man, said he’s handsome, then us ladies might have gawked when we saw him,” Cherise giggled. “And Paula is so lucky
to see him.”
If only her best friends knew why she was flustering, Paula thought. It wasn’t because Hudsor
needed to keep this a secret!
“I think Paula might have gawked. Or even swooned, Katherine snickered.
andsome, but because she
Cherise laughed at the thought of Paula swooning. She had never seen Paula being affected by a man before. Paula was the only one in their group who had never had a boyfriend before.
“Oh please, I’m content with looking at and being around Logan and Julian,” Paula smirked.
“Then get with one of them and you’ll be my sister–in–law!” Cherise squealed. She would be happy if either or both of her best friends
ended up with her brothers.
Paula rolled her eyes. “Not that content to the point I want to be with them.”
“What’s your type? Cherise asked as she popped a piece of the cut apple into her mouth.
Paula mulled over Cherise’s question. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to fall in love and have a boyfriend, but in her line of work, she met plenty of handsome men. Businessmen, scholars, mode, and many other types that she became somewhat immune to handsomeness‘.
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Chapter 63
“No type,” Paula shrugged.
“I think she needs a man who o can match her witty banters, Katherine said.
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“Hmm…. You might be right.” Cherise nodded in agreement. “No one could win an argument with Paula. It would be nice to meet someone who could match her bite”
“Hello, I’m here guys,” Paula waved her hands. Her best friends were talking about her like she wasn’t in the room with them. “And I do not bite.”
Cherise and Katherine looked at each other and laughed out loud.
“You bite, Paula. And you know it,” Katherine smiled.
“Cause men are mostly annoying creatures,” Paul scrunched her nose in disgust.
“Creatures?” Cherise and Katherine couldn’t help but laugh out loud again. This friend of theirs.
“Enough about me,” Paula said and tried to change the subject. “I’ve finished both of your dresses for Hudson and that bitch of his mistress‘ engagement banquet.”
Katherine and Cherise perked up as they listened in excitement while Paula showed them the pictures of their dresses and told them about those dresses.
Soon, the room was filled with the girl’s talking about shoes, dresses, bags and everything related to women.
At that point, they didn’t know a figure was hovering outside Cherise’s ward, looking inside from the small window on the door.
Hudson’s lips curled into a smile as he saw Cherise looking better and how animated she looked when she was talking to her friends.
But then that smile disappeared when he thought how she would never smile at him warmly again.
He sighed and took one last glance before going to Keith’s office. He wasn’t content just lookin better than nothing. At least he knew she was getting healthier and was happy now.
from far away, but it was
Not bothering to knock, he pushed the door of Keith’s office open, and as usual, saw his best friend looking at some X–rays.
Keith glanced at him and raised an eyebrow.
“I found out some information about the doctor, Hudson said as he took a seat on the other side of Keith’s large glass table.
Keith switched off the light of his X–ray viewer and sat down on his swiveling leather chair.
“That was fast,” Keith said as he took the USB Hudson had placed on his desk and plugged it into his computer.
He opened each file, and his brows furrowed as he read the information Hudson had collected.
“It looked like he was determined to flee the country and didn’t want
it to be found,” Keith said d as he kept clicking on each picture.
“Five million dollars,” Hudson muttered. Think he was dealing in something illegal?”
“Might be,” Keith replied though he had suspicions about what kind of illegal activity the doctor was involved in. But he couldn’t tell Hudson because he wouldn’t believe it
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Keith looked at the country’s name where the doctor now resided and thought about it.
“You want me to get him back here?” he asked Hudson.
“Yeah.” Hudson nodded. “I don’t have anyone to send.”
“When?” Keith asked.
“As soon as possible, Hudson answered him. He was determined to find out the truth.
Keith leaned back against his chair and tapped his chin. “That country is small but it might not be easy to get him. It mostly consists of mountains and forests, and is not really developed.”
Hudson’s eyebrows shot up. He didn’t know much about the country, but then he didn’t have a special task force like Keith.
“You can’t get to him?” Hudson asked.
“I can, but not in a day,” Keith started typing on his keyboard. “The return flight itself will take more than a day, and with the terrain and the road there… It won’t be possible to get him here in less than three days.”
“Even with your task force?” Hudson asked in surprise.
Keith spent some time in the military and made many connections that he even had a special task force that could help the government.
It was part of the reason why his family allowed him to become a doctor instead of handling the family business.
“Even with my task force,” Keith said matter–of–factly.
Hudson drummed his fingers on Keith’s table and sighed. As long as they could get the doctor, then the time it would take wouldn’t be a problem.
“Don’t they think it’s suspicious that someone suddenly moved there and deposited a huge sum of money into their bank?” Hudson asked.
“They most probably think he’s just a random retired rich guy who wants to live in seclusion.” Keith shrugged.
That made sense, Hudson thought.
“Alright then,” Hudson said. “I’ll leave you to it.” He trusted his best friend to help him.
Days passed and it finally was the day of Hudson and Emely’s engagement.
Cherise, Paula, and Katherine were in Cherise’s bedroom, with makeup artists and hair stylists tending to Cherise and Katherine.
Paula was giving instructions on the look she wanted to achieve for her two best friends and would make the final adjustments on their gowns later on.
“Paula, you should come with us,” Cherise said while being dolled up by the makeup artist and hairstylist.
“I didn’t get
an invitation,” she said as she checked the two gowns, making sure every s
sequin and crysta
crystal was sewn perfectly.
“You could come as my plus one, or Katherine, or Julian,” Cherise told her. “We all don’t bring a plus one.”
Chapter 63
“Cause you guys are each other’s plus one,” Paula laughed.
“True” Cherise smiled. “But you can still come with us.”
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“Nah, I’ll pass,” Paula declined “God knows that stupid Finley will be there and I’m too lazy to argue with a simpleton like him.”
One encounter with him and Paula knew they would never become friends. She hated men like Finley. A spoiled playboy who only knew how to waste money and sleep around. For her, Finley was a waste of society.
“Furthermore, they don’t know I’m Paula Laurent. I want them to insult me like they did to you and Katherine, then face slap them with my identity.” Paula smirked
Cherise and Katherine laughed at her words. Paula’s way of thinking was just different from anyone they knew.
When they had finished being dolled up, the makeup artists and hairstylists helped Cherise and Katherine into their gowns and did final touch–ups as instructed by Paula before leaving the Alster Mansion.
Paula quickly made some final adjustments to both dresses so it looked even more perfect while being worn. When she was satisfied with her work, she ushered Cherise and Katherine to Cherise’s massive walk–in wardrobe and let them ch*ck their appearances on the full–length mirrors adorning nearly one side of the wall.
Cherise and Katherine smiled as they saw their reflection. They were always happy with Paula’s creations and the makeup and hairstyle she chose.
For this special occasion, Paula created a strapless satin black mermaid gown for Cherise with black crystals around her waist, making it look like she was wearing a belt.
The gown made it a little bit difficult for Cherise to move as it hugged her b*dy tightly and only flared out at a point just above her knees, but it didn’t matter to her.
Her makeup was nude smokey eyes with her hair styled in a simple and messy low ponytail with a bump at the crown of her head..
Katherine, on the other hand, always went for her signature style. She had on a one–shoulder V–neck sleeveless deep red gown with a very high slit and a little bit of tail.
The gown was made mostly from satin, except for the strapless part which was covered in red sequins.
Her hair was curled loosely and let down her back. Her makeup was also smokey, but instead of nude lipstick, Paula asked the makeup artist to give Katherine red lipstick a shade darker than her red dress because this was Katherine.
“Paula never fails, Cherise chuckled.
*She alway
always makes us look gorgeous,” Katherine winked.
Paula laughed in glee at her best friends‘ praises. No matter how many times she heard it, she was always happy to receive their praises
“I wish both of you were my model,” Paula sighed wistfully.
“We are, but not on your runway or campaign,” Cherise pointed out.
“Maybe you can be my model after you disclose your identity as an Alster to the world?” Paula asked with hope.
“Maybe,” Cherise grinned. It would be fun to walk the runway with Katherine for Paula.
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Paula squealed and hugged Cherise and Katherine, knowing Cherise ‘maybe‘ meant yes,
“Okay, let’s go down. I’m sure Julian and Logan are already waiting for their gorgeous ladies,” Paula said.
“I can’t wait to finally meet Julian,” Katherine smiled, and that playful seductive twinkle appeared in her eyes.
“Just don’t scare him,” Cherise laughed.
“You know I can’t promise you that.” Katherine winked and the three of them laughed as they made their way to the grand staircase.
Logan and Julian looked up and smiled as they saw Cherise, but Julian’s b*dy stilled as his eyes shifted and landed on Katherine.
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