THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 438: Two Percent Shares

"Why can’t I believe that you are not jealous? I know you sensed the spark between Ariel and I back in that restaurant, you aren’t going to deny that, are you?" Geoergr teased.

"And I’m pretty sure those sparks didn’t start at that table, so will you stop beating about the bush and tell me what’s going on?" Lauren flung back in exasperation.

"Alright," George sighed, "the truth is... , I also don’t understand what is going on."

"Seriously? You honestly think I’ll buy that?" Lauren retorted. "You were clearly getting my poor friend all worked up and on tenterhooks all evening until you left. What games are you playing or have played with her in the past?"

Instead of the hurried denial she expected to hear from George, it was a dull sound that came from the other end. Lauren stared at the screen, stunned.

"What?! He hung up on me?!" Lauren exclaimed in disbelief when she saw the ’call ended’ flashing on her phone screen. She tried calling him back several times, but each attempt went straight to rejection.

"Oh, you’re sure going to pay for this, George. I swear, you will!" She muttered through clenched teeth as she threw the phone on the bed.

Muttering complaints under her breath, she went to peel off the face mask she’d applied earlier. But before she could start, she remembered she needed to call Horatio, her assistant at Empress Brews to let them know she wouldn’t be coming back tonight and to lock up. The call took a little longer than expected as she discussed a few other things before finally hanging up.

She returned to her mirror, just about to remove the mask when she heard her front doorbell ring.

Curious about who would show up at this hour, she checked the peephole. There, standing outside her door, was none other than George, currently topping her list of most annoying people in the world. She couldn’t help but smirk.

"Time for some payback," she thought with a gleam in her eye as she turned back and walked leisurely to her kitchen to make herself a hot cup of coffee.

She took her time to savor it on the couch for a good twenty minutes while George rang the bell at regular intervals.

When she finally decided to open the door, George nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Woah!" he yelped, startled.

That reaction was the best compensation Lauren would have hoped for and the look on his face when she smiled was a sight to behold. She regretted not capturing the moment on camera.

When the hideous figure just stood staring at him with a face he couldn’t really describe, George asked,

"And who are you? I’m here to see Lauren. How did you even get into her apartment?"

"And what kind of responsible man goes around bothering innocent young women this late at night?" Lauren shot back in a voice dripping with sarcasm.

George squinted, recognizing the familiar voice. "Ren?"

"Who else would it be?" Lauren replied dryly. "I should just shut the door in your face right now."

"So it’s really you, Ren?" George asked, sounding relieved.

"Get inside before I change my mind," she warned.

"You’re so heartless! You scared me half to death standing out here like that, and what was that? If it can be called a smile, it’s the most hideous I’ve even seen in my entire life," George grumbled as he stepped into the warmth of her apartment.

"You couldn’t have seen any since you’re indeed so young," Lauren retorted.

"I’m a huge one year, four months older than you, child. Next time, don’t pull that prank on my failing heart, otherwise I’ll hunt you forever," George threatened.

"And why are you suddenly here after cruelly hanging up on me?"

"Ren, please, you have to go wash that thing off your face before I can talk to you?"

"Deal with it."

"But..."

"Are you going to talk or not?"

"Just have pity on a poor soul. Don’t you want to know what happened between Ariel and I?" George coaxed.

"I’ve lost interest," Lauren said as she tried her utmost best to keep her tone indifferent.

"Oh, we both know that’s not true. I saw how your ears perked up like a gossip’s when I mentioned it," George teased with a smirk.

"Come on, Ren. You know you want to hear this as much as I don’t want to talk about it," George pleaded when Lauren herself more comfortable in the cozy chair she had settled herself in.

"I wasn’t the one that hung up on a well meaning and harmless cousin a while ago," Lauren sneered.

"Alright, I’m sorry. I thought it would be better if I came over to talk."

"And the best way to pass that message across was to rudely hang up without a word. Tsk! Such a perfect excuse for bad behavior," she spat.

George knew the only solution to the current Lauren was continuous apology which he had carried in ample measure into the apartment. Having seen the light from her room window, he knew she was in and realized the consequences of his actions after the first two rings on Lauren’s door went unanswered.

"I’m sorry, darling. You know you’re the only sister I have that understands me even more than myself. Please forgive me."

He shifted to the edge of the chair.

"To make it up to you, I’ll give you two percent of Barista Royalé shares. Please accept it. Of course it’s not a bribe," he quickly added when Lauren’s eyebrow rose sarcastically.

"Let’s say... it’s an ... early wedding present. Surely you won’t reject such a selfless offer from poor old brother George."

Lauren rolled her eyes but still stood up. "Alright, I’m only washing it off since you insisted so pitifully... not because I’m interested in whatever shares you willingly offered but I’m also not that heartless to stand in the way of your goodness by outrightly rejecting it either."

"I know, Ren. I insist," George said with a playful smile as she walked to her room.

Though her movements appeared sluggish and forced, Lauren was literally skipping off to her bedroom at the prospect of owning two percent shares of Barista Royalé, which if she’s not mistaken was already running into hundreds of millions.

As soon as she got to her room, she couldn’t stop herself from jumping in excitement like a schoolgirl who had just won the best prize in the entire school.

It took everything within her not to extend the jumping surface to her bed which would have been the most fulfilling, but that was for babies, a rationally matured part of her told her.

"Oh, the blessedness of having such a generous billionaire cousin who dotes on this sweet girl to a fault... much to his own detriment," she whispered, afraid George would hear her... not that he would mind anyways.

Since he had said it, she knew he’d do it. George was like that, he never promised what he would’nt do... at least where she was concerned as she didn’t know about others.

That ended up reminding her why she had come to the room and hurried up to peel of the mask and quickly washed her face.