I Knew You Were Trouble
nd at around nine o'clock at the st
find a buyer, that was
s watch sooner? That must've cost you two years'
, wondering how Helen knew s
our order. We'll go see her later-she may not be able to he
ed-it was a message
illa to your name? Mr. White said he feels deeply sorry for you, for failing to live up to your
the storm brewi
nd placed it on the table. "Why are you checking your phone while eating?" Then she deliberately changed the topic t
moment. "I haven't decid
answer. "Same here." She h
inda, much like her, only cherished her own parents. Uncle Jackson and his ex-wife once had a deeply affectionate marriage, from school unifo
r? Something expensive, and I'll use it to send my b
d. Let's go pick somethin
, Linda declined the driver Bert had arranged
me safely, he wouldn't be able to answer to Bert. So, he tri
ve called for a designated driver. And one more th
riously. What couple hasn't said they'r
s she called out to him. "My sister wasn't celebrating that man's birthday tonight. She was t
is was visib
e here, I can still enjoy the same warm and
esponse well-measured. "Of c
e designated
man, dressed in gray sweatpants
-something completely absent in Bert, who had
driver she had called, Lin
bag from her own car. "
uble her sister any further, she said, "You should head home. I'll go to the flagsh
ot in. "I'm already involved. Another
estaurant's parking lot and heade
t convenient to discuss private matters, givin
ither-each eating their own meal in sil
ted driver stopped near the flagship store. Linda turned to h
ch. He simply nodded and
ch hadn't arrived yet, so the store manager
she had heard bits and pieces about Linda from Helen and had a rough idea of her personality. Highly intelligent, ade
at Helen's house-an oval face with soft, elegant jawlines, clear eye
f seeming unreal. The store manager had once thought that
real life, she-a woman herself-found her
ly. "Sorry for troubling
ster's matters are my matters-no need to be so formal. You're in luck tonight-our regiona
d it had never even been worn. There was still a chance of sel
e price; she just wanted to sel
in the VIP lounge on the first floor. She then took the watch to fin
drink the coffee. You won't
dly and didn't hide her feelings. "I
e the VIP lounge, the two sisters sat on opposite ends
Linda. "I took some photos
olor of your watch strap-some people will absolutely l
d this. She smile
is about to arrive. I don't have time to keep you company. Help yourselves
. I don't have anything
talk. She adjusted her outfit and make
ager that tonight's VIP guest was a man na
entally damaged his watch. They were here specifically to have t
ntrance, two cars pulled
linan. Even someone like her, who wasn't familiar wit
ssed casually in a T-shirt a shade darker tha
e dress shirt. She caught a glimpse of his deep, chiseled side
he man in the white shirt, confirming his ident
in the T-s
the store. With the regional manager leading
er. Rex, with a calm and deep gaze, was sparing with his words. From the entrance to the
for the secretary to take it out and said to the regional ma
to headquarters for repairs, and the exact repair time would depen
zing twice that it had to be restored no matter the cost and
der brother for his twentieth birthday. Over the past nine years, i
had been fooling around, insisting that Rex
luable the watch was. After losing a round, he got playful and accidentally knocked t
ggested checking out the store's watches and instructed
work on his phone an
ee watch safes, with some pieces never even getting the chance to
hes that she thought might catch Rex'
ie motioned to Rex, "Take a look.
y over the selection and
one caught
th him, and price was never the deciding factor. He had seen Rex's
"Do you have anything similar to this one? It doesn't have to b
k at the strap and then instinctive
denly, he remembered Linda's watch. While it couldn't compare
Bernie, "We do have a watch in t
Bernie interrup
er, composed and steady while inside the VIP room, took
but exclaim, "Good thing you two haven't left! If luck i
urprised. "
I said you
etail. The store manager grabbed
ith just a glance. The one brought in by the store manager had n
tood-Rex wasn
n and glanced at Bernie. "
es, and since none appealed to him,
tomorrow, and wearing a formal suit without a watch would feel incom
tive to ask the store manager again, "Would
e cut Bernie off and then subtly gestured toward the
will do,