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,