Chapter 49: In Which The Signs Point To Them

Aurora took a deep breath and tried to give a warm smile to Kate.

Since the Gala, business at Madame Zoya's exploded further. For three days, they had new customers from around the world - leaders in their industries as well as celebrities.

This was the exact opposite of what Aurora predicted.

“Thank you for letting me use your private jet,” Aurora ushered the princess to the stool in front of the crystal ball.

Kate took careful steps forward and sat, “It’s the least I could do. I should’ve been more careful, Aurora. I apologize.”

“It’s not your fault, really. What reading do you want to do today?”

Kate leaned forward and furrowed her brows, “I really feel bad about what happened, so I'm actually here to set things right."

"It doesn't matter anymore," the redhead beauty whispered sadly.

"But someone planted the mic there, Aurora. You should talk to Theo."

Aurora looked away, "It's… not possible."

She had quit her job at Theo's office. It felt weird to continue working there.

Since her daily bonus had increased again, she was able to return the money before she left. While looking for a new job, she did morning shifts at the shop as well, to help cope with the influx of customers.

Kate looked firmly at those listless emerald eyes, "Gill told me to stay out of this, but I can't. You two looked so happy together. Theo hasn't given up, Aurora, please reconsider.”

"What right do I still have, Kate? I got scared and left him there," Aurora's voice quavered.

Kate grabbed Aurora's hand and squeezed it with a comforting gaze.


******


Two days later…

"How are you doing, Aurora?"

Aurora stared at Sophia, who looked back with a concerned smile. She cleared her throat, "I'm good."

Sophia said with a cheerful tone, "I appreciate today’s reading. I may not be as good an advisor as you, but I can definitely do chats over coffee whenever you need one."

Aurora widened her gaze, "C-coffee? Us?"

Sophia was confused, "Yeah. Unless… you don't see me as a friend."

"We're friends?" Aurora whispered in disbelief.

Sophia looked aghast, "Aurora Sherman! You don't see me as a friend?"

Aurora held up both hands and waved in protest, "I do! I just thought that… after what you've heard about me you wouldn't--."

"My god, Aurora! Are you calling me a hypocrite now?”

“No, no, no! I didn’t mean that. Honestly,” Aurora hastily clarified.

Sophia grabbed her hand and grinned, “I admit I was shocked. Everyone was. But then, it was just like gossip, you know. The next day, we talked about your gown instead.”

Aurora chuckled and wiped the corner of her eyes, “It’s Liv Accardi.”

Sophia’s eyes grew rounder, “I’m going to tell the others. We’re going shopping!”

Before the small woman in the tight, bright blue dress stepped out of the black curtain, she chirped at the fortune-teller, “Keep in touch, okay?”

With a lighter feeling in her chest, Aurora nodded with a warm smile.


******


Another three days later…

“It east not your fault, piccolo,” the famous designer reached across the table and took Aurora’s hand before she squeezed it lightly.

Aurora lifted her gaze from her cup of coffee and stared at the pair of motherly eyes. “Theo told you everything?”

Liv nodded, “I asked him. Becau-seh he came over to li-veh with me. He didn’t want to li-veh in his apartment for the time being.”

Bile rose in Aurora’s throat. She looked down again and clasped her hands tightly.

The older woman observed the flaming-haired enchantress briefly, then continued quietly, “I asked him why and he said the apartment was getting boring - but I know it east becau-seh of yoo.”

“I’m sorry, Liv. I didn’t mean to hurt him,” Aurora whispered sadly.

“Look at me,” the billionaire’s aunt snapped.

Slowly, Aurora raised her chin and stared at her favorite designer.

Fixing a stern gaze at the younger woman before her, Liv said in a grave tone, “Who doesn’t ha-veh a past they want to erase? Our wrong choices will follow us, piccolo. Dat east dee consequences we ha-veh to pay. But yoo say sorry and yoo mo-veh on!”

“I will bring him down,” Aurora whispered at her coffee. “I’ve already damaged his reputation, Liv. I don’t want to make things worse for him.”

Liv sighed, “Your nose east almost touching dee coffee. Look at me.” With a wave of her hand, she added fiercely, “How will yoo bring him down? Tell me, I want to know, becau-seh my piccolo east smart and strong, he can overcome anything. You foolish girl! It was a mista-keh, no? Theo made tons of it. So did I. We are all dee same, no?”

A weak chuckle escaped Aurora’s lips. Somehow, Liv sounded right - what damage could she do to Theo? Your man is not dumb, she chided herself. You’re the dumb one - you left him.

The designer bit on the buttery scone and chewed then swallowed and sipped her tea. “Dat woman did it,” she said under her breath.

Noting Aurora’s puzzling stare, Liv clarified, “Theo’s mother.” Then, she added with a matter of fact tone as she sipped her tea, “It was her set up. My piccolo has already taken care of it.”

Aurora was surprised beyond words. Why didn’t she think of it? That b*tch! No wonder she appeared with such perfect timing.

As she glared angrily at the blueberry cake in front of her, the fashionable woman sitting across her advised gently, “Go talk to him.”

Aurora fell into another moment of silence.


******


After her lunch with Liv, Aurora returned to work.

When another satisfied customer left through the black curtain, Madame Zoya came through with her usual floor-swishing flower-print dress.

Aurora was surprised, “Madame, what brings you here?”

“Sit, Meez Aurora,” the clairvoyant waved her long sleeves at the customer’s stool in front of the crystal ball. She sauntered over to the fortune teller’s seat.

The serious atmosphere made Aurora’s spirits fall sharply. Did James and Lucas finally complain about her?

“Meez Aurora,” Madame Zoya sighed wearily, “You have a very complicated mind. I already said I von’t fire you. Now, sit.”

Aurora took careful steps to the stool and sat.

Satisfied, Madame Zoya closed her eyes, placed her hand on the crystal ball and inhaled slowly. “Something vill happen to the person close to you.”

Aurora jolted from her seat. Theo? “What will happen to him?”

Madame Zoya took in a few more breaths, then slowly opened her eyes. “Your phone.”

At the instant, her phone buzzed. Aurora hastily lifted it out of the shadows, tapped the screen and opened the text.

Keane: Have you seen Theo?

With trembling fingers, she quickly responded.

Aurora: No. Is something wrong?

Aurora lifted her gaze from the phone and stared at the gift display case. Has he gone drinking again and his liver finally gave way?

Don’t be silly, Aurora. He’s probably moved on.

Her phone buzzed again. Aurora swiftly opened the new text.

Keane: We were supposed to meet for lunch but he didn’t show up. His phone’s off. I can’t contact him.

It has been three hours since lunchtime - where did Theo go?

“Meez Aurora, I didn’t zay the person vas a ‘he’ but you thought of Mr. Barone,” Madame Zoya pointed out quietly. “He must be important to you.”

Aurora was astounded. Yes, she admitted silently, he is.

Wait a minute, Aurora halted silently and looked at her boss with a stunned look. “You knew about us?”

“You shouldn’t be surprised.”

Aurora looked away with a wince. How stupid can you get, Aurora! She’s a d*mn psychic. Of course, she knows.

Staring at her dress, she muttered, “I’m not supposed to go out with a customer, right? It won’t happen again.” It’s over anyway, she silently added.

Madame Zoya exhaled, “Meez Aurora, it's not that. I want to talk about the bonuses… ”

“Yes?” Aurora whispered with worry in her brows.

“You don’t find anything strange about them?”

Aurora frowned, “What's wrong with them? We’ve been having more customers than before, so we earn more.”

Madame Zoya smiled, “But it was thousands of dollars daily.”

“It does sound too good to be true. But I don’t think you’d lie to me.”

“So you can trust someone you hardly knew. Then, you vill do it.”

Aurora was confused, “Do what?”

Her phone’s buzzing answered her. Remembering Theo, Aurora quickly checked her phone.

Keane: That a*shole replied with this. (photo)

Aurora opened the photo and a sea of big rolling waves stared back at her.

What the hell is he doing at the seaside now? It looks like a huge storm is coming. Panic rose in her chest.