57

“Mommy!” Erica heard someone calling to her from the other side, age held her chest and heaved a sigh of relief when she heard the voice.
The sweet, childish voice belongs to Jenna and she couldn't be mistaken about it.
With a look of exasperation in her eyes, Erica turned around.
She looked surprised like she wasn't expecting to see the little girl back so soon but in reality, she was so happy that she came back on time since she didn't want to spend so much time chit-chatting with Danica. Most importantly, going on a body ride with them.
“What? You are back already? Baby, why did you come back so soon?” Erica asked as she squat in front of the little girl and claimed her into a warm hug.
“Aren't you happy to see me back, Miss Burnett? Do you want me to go back to the sea right now?” Jenna pouted bitterly.
Seeing her expression, Danica was pissed off as she didn't have enough patience to deal with pouty children–Her expression crushed into a frown when she saw the looks on the little girl's face–She looked disgusted by this.
“Why would I want to have my little princess sent back to the sea when her mommy is here to watch over her?” Erica asked as she nudged against the little girl.
Jenna was so preoccupied with the thing around that she hadn't noticed the presence of Jordan, but when she raised her head. Her eyes fell on him and she was overjoyed to see him standing beside his mother fearfully. However, she winked at her from the corners of his eyes.
When Jordan heard Jenna calling for him, his eyes immediately lit up. He left Danica all by herself and darted in her directions while smiling fervently.
Jenna was talkative as she started to describe what had transpired in the past two days, including what had happened on the plane, at the beach, and the thunderstorm they encountered when they were at the sea. It felt like there would be no end to her incessant blabbers.
Danica seeing that the kids were engrossed in their fairy tale, pulled out the chair next to Erica nonchalantly while asking purposely, “Do you mind me sitting here?”
Erica forced herself to curl up her lips and tell her that she didn’t mind, but deep down all she could wish for was for her to disappear out of her sight.
Danica didn’t read between the lines as she nodded in her direction to signify friendliness but her demeanor only prompted Erica to boil over deep in her heart.
As she watched the two of them giving off hints with their eyes as if showing their hatreds, Jane could only feel her heart freeze.
she secretly thought about how Danica had always seen her as her little puppet during all those years and despite her covering up her ill intentions up with a smile.
“What's so great about this place? I don't see why everyone is busted about coming over here for a vacation” Danica asked while glancing around as if she was looking for a clue.
“There are many people, and the whole place is bustling with activity.”
“You…”
“Let’s eat.” Erica suddenly interjected with an unnatural expression, “The dishes are getting cold.”
Erica's brows slightly raised as she took a sip from her tea.
Only Danica had a hideous expression on her face as she persisted with her argument, “Aren’t you married already? Why are you not here with your husband?”
Her attack this time successfully captured Erica’s attention, and with the muscles on her face tensing up, she focused her hearing on what she was about to say next.
Erica put down her cup of coffee, and with a casual expression, she began.“I don't recall why my marriage is suddenly the topic of conversation. Is there anything you want to say to me? Why are you so keen on it?” Erica sounded serious and her voice was gentle but it held a great difference in between the lines.“Also, I recall that you are also not here with your husband as well”.
Seeing that the expression on Erica's face has slightly changed, Danica quickly readjusted her tone and said in a sweet, gentle voice.“ No, that's not what I meant to say. I was just curious as to why you are here alone with your daughter. I understand how the guys are, they are always so busy with their works that they forget to attend to other things. I thought maybe he had come along with you but didn't have enough time to be with the two of you ”. She looked up with a pitiful expression.”I didn't mean to hurt you just now”.
Erica decided to play along with her drama as she looked at her with an understanding gaze, she stretched her hands and pulled Danica's hand's closers to her, and held them gentle before saying.“I understand where you were standing, Miss Medina, it's just felt so wrong with how you went about. I wasn't angry about any of that”.
She said looking into her eyes.
“ Let's eat. It's almost time for my next meeting”.
“Oh! That right, I almost forgot about that. I'm sorry ” Danica apologize.
When Erica had her attention fixed on the ribs stick in front of her, Danica looked toward the direction where the kids were sitting.
She saw that Jordan was being a talking best and she fumed within her seeing how he was being opened with others–This sight made the anger in her chest to well up to the highest point.
I can't believe how free he has become in just a few hours. I'll have to have his wings clipped before he goes overboard with his acts.
Noticing the looks on her face, Erica raised her brows and look in the direction she was facing. Then, her eyes fell on the little boy.
“You aren't eating. Is anything the matter with you?” Erica asked. Danica quickly took her gaze away.
She smiled back at Erica and replied.“It's nothing, I'm just full”.
“Oh ! is that so? I thought you had a lot of things running through your mind as you looks so pensive earlier. You can tell me anything, I don't mind” Erica tried to urge her into saying the word.
Danica hesitated for a couple of seconds before succumbing to her instincts.“Are you sure about this?” She asked with a tone filled with doubts.
“Sure, you can share anything with me. After all, we are friends now Aren't we?”.
“Of course, we are.”
“If that's the case, then don't hesitate to tell me what you need I might be able to help you if I have the means”.
“The thing is,” Danica pretended to hesitate as she counts her words invisibly.
“The thing is,”
“You've been repeating the same thing for the tenth time now. Say what the matter is, I won't judge you. is that fine?”
Hearing this Danica nodded her head.
"The thing is, I was wrongly accused of doing certain vile things that have left a huge scar on my reputation and now I'm only left with a few solutions on how to regain everything I have lost because of this”.
“So what are the solutions? Why do you look so tense talking about this?”.
”I know, I have no right coming to you with this but I'm left with no other choice right now. You might think that I'm trying to take advantage of the closeness between us now to get my heart desires, I promise you that's not the truth"
“I'm not understanding what you are trying to say to me right now. Can you be more clear and open about it already?” Erica was getting pissed off by the inexplicable acting skills that she kept displaying in front of her.
“The thing is, I have a fashion queen show coming around in two months at the New York City fashion mall–This show is the only way for me to regain back my reputation, and the only way, it can be possible is for me to find a great designer that can take care of the fashion wear for the show since the show us based on the best designs.”.
Danica explained in a gentle voice while trying not to sound too overly sophisticated.
“Designers? I thought, wait...... what do you want me to help you with?” Erica wore a puzzled expression.
“Well, I just noticed from the files in your hands that, I mean I have met you back in orange city and you gave me your business card back then” She hurriedly dipped her hand into her purse and brought out the card.“You gave me this card and asked me to come to you for help if I needed one. I'm sorry that I couldn't make it as it was planned before, I was stuck with some family issues, so the meeting skipped my mind and when I tried to arrange another meeting with you so many times, you were also busy as well” She said.
“Oh is that so? I have indeed been so busy with work lately. Moreover, I have so many clients who need their designs ready for the next fashion ball in Toronto in three days. So, you see why I have been so busy. But I think I work out something for you since the workload on my hands has been reduced to the lowest level right now, so I think I won't have much problems working out a great theme for you” Erica replied before raising the glass of wine to her lips after saying these words.
“What? You are not angry? Danica asked with a look of disbelief flickering in her eyes.
“Should I be angry then? I don't have any reasons to be angry with you. So, when should we start planning for the event?”
“You are really going to help me out with this? Are you being serious, Miss Burnett? ”
“Of course, I'm serious about this matter. I want to help you clear your name–I mean that's what you said, right?”.
“Yes, yes!. Thank you so much, Miss Burnett ” Danica quickly stood up from her seat and pulled Erica into an embrace.