(Author’s POV)

"How about, after your graduation, you come and work at the Everests headquarters?" Brave asked, his eyes full of expectation.

Myra remained quiet for a while, her head lowered. Brave thought she was hesitating. So, he quickly added to clarify, "Don’t take my words the wrong way, Myra. This question wasn’t directed to you as my savior, my probable mate or my sister’s best friend. Neither is it because I pity you, or doing any sort of charity. Rather~ .... it’s the opposite. As the Chief Financial Officer of the Everests Corporation, I want to hire you for your talent and abilities. Your achievements in academics speak volumes. Plus, all your professors have nothing but praise for you. So~ .... I don’t want to let go of you~ .... *Ahem ahem* a capable person like you. That would be a huge loss for our company."

Myra looked at his sincere demeanour. There wasn’t even a slight hint of pretense, her eyes flickering. She opened her mouth, then closed it, thinking deeply about how to answer. She wanted to tell him about the contract she had signed with Garry Yates before coming to Esteria, but for some reason, she held her tongue and only replied with, "Thank you for the offer. I will think about it positively." Actually, she didn’t want to reject him outright. He was too sweet a person, and she was still embarrassed by what had happened a few minutes ago.

Without another word, they walked inside, reaching at the main door of her house. She extended her hand to grab the door handle, but when she had just gotten a hold of the knob, the door suddenly unlatched from the inside, catching her off guard. She lost her footing, stumbling forward, but before Brave could catch her, she banged right into something firm and hard. Or you could say she rammed straight into someone with firm muscles and a toned torso.

The person quickly wrapped his arms around her, holding her securely. Then Myra heard his gentle yet worried voice, coming right above her head, "Myra~ .... be careful."

It was none other than Elio.

Myra’s eyes widened as she quickly came back to her senses and pulled away. She batted her eyelids rapidly. Then, avoiding his gaze, she thanked him with a stiff smile, "Thanks, Elio."

Elio stepped forward, trying to catch hold of her. Just now, he had clearly sniffed Brave’s scent on her. But before he could ask or do anything, Wendy propped her head up from behind. "Sis, you alright? You didn’t hurt your ankle, hmm?"

"No, I am fine," she said, moving towards Wendy.

Brave, who was still gutted he wasn’t able to catch Myra, looked at Elio and said, "Eli, we shall get going."

Elio’s eyes darted towards Myra. He wanted to finish their incomplete conversation. He wanted to talk. He didn’t want to leave her side, but right now, in front of the prying eyes of his brother and her sister, he pursed his lips and only nodded, "Let’s go."

Just when he had taken two steps, Wendy’s voice came through, "Elio, wait~ .... you forgot this."

She quickly bent down, picked up the framed portrait, and a dull frown appeared, "Uh~no, the frame~ ....it broke." Her eyes were clearly filled with disappointment. They even turned a bit moist.

Myra flinched when she saw the image, her fists clenched.

Elio saw the crestfallen look on Wendy’s face and felt extremely guilty. He took the cracked frame from her and spoke, "It’s okay, don’t be dejected. The picture isn’t damaged at all. I will just have to change the frame."

Hearing him say this, Wendy’s tear-filled eyes twinkled. A smile as bright as the sun graced her lips as a clear blush reached her cheeks.

On the contrary, Myra’s face turned ashen. Her mind raced with unlimited questions. ’Wendy gave him the portrait, and he accepted it, just like that? Why? Has she confessed her feelings to him? Has he accepted that, too? Then what about~ .... What about what he said earlier, outside my room? About the time we spent in Kimberg together? What’s the meaning of all this?’

"Well then, goodnight. Wendy~ .... Myra~ ...." Elio said, his voice came out low. He was still staring at Myra, trying to meet her gaze, but her head was lowered. Wendy nodded and replied, but Myra remained as still as a tied balloon, her thoughts brimming with turmoil.

Wendy noticed and nudged her shoulder with hers, mumbling, "Sis~ ..."

Myra quickly snapped out of it and nodded, "Goodnight, you too~"

Brave and Elio were about to go when the former added, "Myra~ .... give me an answer, whenever you are ready." Elio’s eyes instantly shot up, but before he could ask anything, his big brother had already started to walk away.

The girls walked inside. Wendy, sensing some gossip, leaned towards her sister and asked, "What was he talking about, sis? What answer? Umm~ ... umm~ ... tell me, what’s going on between you and brother Brave? Did he propose to you or something?"

Myra’s eyes flickered. Biting her lips, she answered, "What~ ... what are you saying, Wendy? It~ ... it’s~ ... it’s nothing like that. He had just extended a recruitment offer. That’s all."

The anticipation in Wendy’s eyes died down, "Uhh~ .... a recruitment offer. Then you should definitely say yes."

Yelena, who had just descended the stairs, heard them. Unknowingly, her facial expression changed, tightening a bit. Wendy hadn’t noticed Myra’s fumbling with her sentences, her fidgeting with her fingers, the slight redness on her face. But Yelena had. ’There is something more to it than what Myra had told Wendy.’

Myra excused herself, "Wendy, I am a little tired. I will be going to my room to rest."

"Ohkiez, goodnight, sis," Wendy said.

Myra passed by Yelena, as she couldn’t help but mumble, "Are you sure he didn’t propose to you?"

"Huhh?" Myra’s steps halted. "Did you say anything to me, Yel?"

Yelena snapped out of it instantly and said, "Uhh~ ... nothing. Just blabbering. You have an early morning class tomorrow. You should probably go and rest now. Goodnight."

"Okay, goodnight," saying this, ascending the stairs to her room, absentmindedly. Not knowing what storm was awaiting her.

To Be Continued . . . . . . . . .