Memories Drifted Like Paper Boats by Zyra Cole 41

Chapter 41 

Chapter 41 

Pauline nodded, looking puzzled. “Yeah, I do.” 

 

 

They’d added each other on WhatsApp the very first day Edwina started working, when she sent over some design drafts. 

“Hand it over,” Kelvin demanded. 

He bit out the words, his tone icy and detached, his expression frosty as ever. 

She was even more surprised. It was common knowledge around the office that Edwina was his assistant. 

Seriously, in this day and age, for a CEO not to have his assistant’s WhatsApp and actually track down someone in a tiny department to get it, now that’s totally absurd. 

She could barely hold back her laughter. Edwina might not care about getting fired, but she definitely did. 

“Mr. Gibson, here’s Edwina’s phone number and WhatsApp,” Pauline said, handing over the info. 

“Thanks,” he said, saving the details and instantly adding her on WhatsApp. 

Pauline turned to Edwina and filled her in on what had just happened. 

After leaving the hospital, Edwina headed straight home and sprawled out on the couch, sketching out circuit plans. Oliver had just scored her a multi–million–dollar interior design gig, and with all the bills piling up lately, she really couldn’t afford to slack off. 

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, a friend request from Kelvin, with a message attached. 

The message says, [I still haven’t had a chance to thank you for the hospital matter.] 

Edwina was completely unfazed. She stared at Kelvin’s pitch–black WhatsApp profile pic and murmured under her breath, “Ugly.” 

Ice–cold and savage, she hit “Decline” without hesitation, then kept sketching. 

Pauline’s inner gossip queen was in overdrive. She couldn’t get any work done and started blasting Edwina with a barrage of WhatsApp texts. 

She texted, [Edwina, spill! What’s going on? Why did Kelvin want to see you? Are you helping him with another project? Is it about the satellite thing again?Shocked.jpg Wait, are you guys dating or what?] 

Edwina helplessly raised an eyebrow at the last message, and she actually replied for once, [Pauline, forget about fashion design. You should be writing novels with that wild imagination of yours.] 

Then she instantly muted Pauline’s notifications, and the world was blissfully quiet again. 

Gloria came over with a plate of fruit, hovering awkwardly and clearly beating around the bush. 

 

Edwina looked at her. “What’s up?” 

 

“Well, I just wanted to ask how it went when you visited Mrs. Gibson today? Did you see Kelvin? How was it between you two?” she asked, 

‘Ugh, same old boring questions, Edwina thought. 

But she stayed patient with her. “It was fine. Grandma’s doing pretty well.” 

“And how about Kelvin?” Gloria hesitated, her voice trailing off. 

“I’ve got to get back to my sketches, so I’ll head to my room now,” Edwina said, walking off to her bedroom. 

Gloria could only watch as she disappeared into her room, and sighed. 

Darius chuckled. “Take it easy, Gloria, you should stop stressing about her and all that Gibson family wedding stuff. Edwina is independent and she’s got her own ideas. She’s seriously talented. Only been at DH for a few days, she already busted a corrupt manager at the factory.” 

“She’s driven in her career, so don’t try to box her in with all that romance and marriage talk. Maybe it’s better for Kelvin to marry Helene instead. She’s the one who really needs taking care of,” Darius spoke. 

Outside the door, Helene overheard the conversation and her heart was a mess of mixed feelings. 

She was happy, but also furious. 

She was thrilled her parents would finally stop blocking her from seeing Kelvin. 

But what pissed her off was that she was only the backup. She’d only get Kelvin after she tossed him aside. ‘So I need someone to look after me? What’s that supposed to mean? It’s just calling me useless, inferior to Edwina in every way!‘ Helene fumed to herself. 

‘Just wait, one day, I’ll make Gloria and Darius seriously regret the choice they made today,’ Helene swore to herself. 

She pulled herself together, put on her brightest smile, and walked in. “Daddy, Mommy, I’m home!” 

“All the office stuff is sorted, so tonight, let me cook for you! Edwina still hasn’t tasted my food,” she said. 

“Such a good kid, so sweet,” Gloria beamed with pride. 

Gloria looked at her, feeling genuinely glad. She hadn’t expected Helene and Edwina to hit it off so well, maybe she’d been too quick to judge before. 

A silver–gray Porsche was parked outside Belleview Gardens, low–key but undeniably fancy, catching the eyes of all the locals coming and going. 

Kelvin had been sitting in his car for two whole hours, waiting for her to reply. When he tried to add her again, he couldn’t even send another friend request. 

‘Did she seriously just block me? Edwina Lennox, you’re something else!‘ he muttered to himself, feeling both. 

 

annoyed and a little stunned. 

He had never been rejected by a woman over and over like this before. 

‘Forget it, I won’t hold it against her,‘ he sighed, letting it slide. 

(69 

89 Vouchers 

What he didn’t realize was that he was showing Edwina a level of patience and leniency he’d never given anyone else before. 

Kelvin decided to head to the Simmons family and officially break off the engagement. This marital alliance was nothing but dead weight, a total drag. 

He was handing over a fortune worth billions, so he was sure the Simmons family wouldn’t have any reason to refuse the breakup. 

Kelvin raced straight to the Simmons estate, his car tearing down the road. 

It was his first time setting foot in Simmons’s place. The swanky villa and fancy interiors were pretty much a carbon copy of his own family’s old mansion. 

Ivan came in to announce his arrival. 

Darius and Gloria exchanged puzzled looks. “Kelvin Gibson is here? The Gibson family’s son?” 

Ivan nodded. “Checked him against the photos, it’s him.” 

“What’s he here for?” Darius muttered to himself. “Let him in.” 

“Yes,” Ivan replied, heading out to greet the guest. 

In the kitchen, Helene heard that Kelvin had actually shown up at the villa and was ecstatic. She didn’t care if the food burned, whipping off her apron, straightening her outfit, fixing her hair, and touching up her makeup. 

But then, she suddenly froze, her brows furrowing tightly as she stared up at the stairs, as if she’d just spotted a monster lurking upstairs. 

“Miss Helene, what’s wrong? ‘Mr. Gibson’s here, he must be coming to see you! Maybe he’s even here to talk the engagement or pop the question!” Lanette blurted out, practically buzzing with excitement. 

After all, if Helene could really marry Kelvin, she could totally ride those coattails and bask in glory herself. 

Helene enunciated each word, her voice icy. “Edwina is still upstairs.” 

‘If he finds out Edwina is actually the Simmons family’s daughter, what will happen? There’s no way he’d ever want to marry me then,‘ she thought, panic rising in her chest. 

Lanette’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Don’t worry, Miss Helene. I’ll grab the key and lock her bedroom door from the outside. I’ll stand guard, no way she’s getting out to see him.” 

“Okay,” she responded. 

  

It was a dumb move, but honestly, it was foolproof, 

“Quick, check if my lipstick’s smudged?” she blurted out, nerves all over her face. 

“Nope, it’s flawless!” Lanette fawned with an ingratiating smile. “You look absolutely stunning! He is sure to be utterly captivated by you.” 

Helene preened under praise. 

“Mr. Gibson, this way,” Ivan said, ushering Kelvin into the living room. 

Kelvin inclined his head politely, “Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, it’s a pleasure to meet you finally, 

They both fixed him with sharp, assessing looks. 

Even though the two families had long been engaged, they had only ever seen him in photos. This was the first time they met him in person. 

They had to admit, Kelvin had even more presence in person than in pictures, That natural, commanding aura was something no outfit could ever fake. 

Darius and Gloria had seen it all when it came to people, so they knew right away just how exceptional Kelvin 

was. 

Darius challenged, “I’ve never shown my face in public, and I never gave the Gibson family any photos. So how do you know for sure I’m Darius Simmons?” 

“Don’t you think you’re jumping to conclusions?” he pressed.