Chapter 4 Surprise
After Sephora got enrolled, Christine received a phone call. Her best friend had taken a fall and ended up in the hospital, so she had to dash off.
Before she left, she told Bridgette to show Sephora around.
She figured Sephora didn’t know anyone here and would need Bridgette’s help, so she wouldn’t dare to mess with Bridgette.
But as soon as she left, Sephora turned around and headed straight for Austin Plaza.
Bridgette was stunned for a moment, then hurried after her. “Mom told me to show you around. You’re such a hick. You’ve never been to a place like this, have you?
“If I were you, I’d go back to the countryside. What’s the point of studying art? You’re already sixteen. It’s too late for you to learn anything.”
Bridgette turned all mean. She looked at Sephora like she were nothing. “You can’t do anything right. I don’t get how you’ve made it this far in life!”
Sephora was walking fast in front, and Bridgette was trotting after her. Suddenly, she stopped, and Bridgette almost crashed into her.
‘Shorty, aren’t you scared I’m recording you?” Sephora shook her phone and looked down at Bridgette, who was way shorter than her.
Chapter 4 Surprise
Bridgette’s face turned bright red as she stared at the phone. “Don’t be so mean! Do you really think Mom and Dad like you?”
Gerald brought Bridgette home from the orphanage when Christine was dealing with postpartum depression after Sephora got sent away. She was only three months younger than Sephora.
“I don’t know if they like me, but if you keep following me, I’ll make sure they don’t like you,” Sephora said, shaking her phone again and pointing to the art center in the distance. “Back off.”
Bridgette stamped her foot in anger. “What’s your problem?”
Q
“Back when I had a dog, when it followed me around, I’d say ‘go away,” and it would run off with its tail between its legs. Are you saying you don’t get it?” Sephora looked down at her with a sneer.
Bridgette clenched her teeth. “Sephora! Who are you calling a dog?”
“My dog was way cuter than you. It sure as heck wouldn’t jump into
cold water on its own.”
“Sephora!”
“Get lost!” Sephora sidestepped Bridgette and walked a few steps to the corner.
Bridgette, in her heels, couldn’t keep up at all. She was so mad that she stamped her foot. Watching Sephora disappear again, she stopped and pulled out her phone.
“Rodney, are you in the plaza?”
Rodney was playing shooting games with Lowell when his phone rang. The girl on the other end had a high, cute voice.
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“Who’s this?”
He frowned and checked his phone. No name was saved.
It must be some girl he met somewhere.
Anyway, the three of them were getting bored there.
“Yeah. You wanna come join me?”
“Can I?” Bridgette was surprised for a second, but then she was overjoyed. “Can I go to the plaza with you?”
“Sure. When you get to the lobby, say my name, and I’ll have someone bring you to me. I’ll be waiting for you.”
The call ended, and Bridgette was over the moon.
Rodney was the brother of Elaine Gilmore, a friend she met at the art center. They had dinner together and swapped numbers. Back then, Rodney said, “When you’re free after class, come hang out with me at the plaza.”
The plaza was run by someone with the surname Austin, but the Gilmore family also had some shares in it.
Even that little bit of investment was worth way more than everything the Levine family had put together.
Bridgette figured that if she couldn’t count on her parents, she’d better hook up with a rich guy
She got to know Elaine and, through her, met Rodney.
He was from a good family and looked great. Also, he was only
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twenty–one, five years older than her, which was perfect.
Bridgette checked herself in the mirror and headed into Austin Plaza, feeling a bit nervous.
But from far away, she thought she saw a familiar figure. Was that Sephora?
She hurried up, but by the time she got closer, the person had gone inside.
“Hello there,” the front desk girl said with a smile. “Could you please show me your membership card?”
Bridgette shook her head to clear her thoughts and replied, “I’m here to see Rodney.”
“So you’re Mr. Gilmore’s friend. Right this way, please.”
Bridgette couldn’t help but ask, “Who was that lady who just went in? She looks kinda familiar to me.”
“Oh, she’s one of our VIP members. We can’t give out her info. If you know her, you can reach out to her yourself.”
VIP member?
tte dropped the idea right away.
ere was no way Sephora could be a VIP member here.
After all, she was from the sticks.
Bridgette got to the shooting range soon, but the first person she saw wasn’t Rodney. It was a tall guy.
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He was like 1.9 meters, wearing a plain white shirt and black pants.
His shirt was buttoned all the way up to the neck, and the sleeves were rolled up a few times, showing off his strong forearms. He was holding a gun. Even though he looked kind of laid–back, every shot he took was perfect, right in the center of the target.
Bridgette’s breath caught in her throat. When Lowell turned around, she felt her heart was about to burst out of her chest.
He had a bit of sweat on his forehead. He walked straight over to Rodney, fiddled with his earpiece, and then plopped down on the couch.
Rodney noticed Bridgette and thought she looked familiar. “You’re Lanie’s classmate, right?”
Lowell also looked over.
Bridgette nodded, her face turning red.
Rodney grunted, “Uh, a Little girl… Never mind. Since you’re here, I’ll take you to the art hall.”
Then he nudged Lowell’s arm. “Lowe, you tired of shooting? Wanna go make some pottery and chill out a bit?”
“No, I’ve got other stuff to do. Let Maxwell go with you.”
“He’s always playing with his gadgets. When does he ever have time to chill? Forget it, little girl, come with me.”
Lowell turned and walked off, and Bridgette reluctantly tore her eyes
away.
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Rodney wasn’t into young girls. He figured Bridgette wanted to have some fun, so he planned to drop her off at the art hall and let her entertain herself.
There were plenty of top–notch musical instruments over there. It was set up for Elaine. Even though it was open to the public, not many people went there.
When he stepped into the art hall, Rodney heard some amazing piano. music. It was way better than what Elaine could play, so he couldn’t help but look over.
He saw a girl wearing a mask.
She was sitting up straight in front of that super expensive piano, her long fingers flying over the keys, playing perfectly.
Meanwhile, Bridgette was staring at the girl’s back. That outfit was the same one Sephora had worn today!
But the music she was playing was like concert–level stuff.
No way it could be Sephora.
The music suddenly stopped. Sephora turned around and saw the new arrivals. Spotting Bridgette, she frowned a little and got up to leave.
But Rodney strode over and stopped her. “Hey, wait…”
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