"Patricia, are you sure that’s the only reason you’re curious about the new maids?"
Patricia turned to the driver’s seat, where Theo was asking the sa question for the third ti during their ride to Pri Group.
"Mhm," she humd as their vehicle stopped in front of the building. "I’m probably just trying to familiarize myself with the new people at ho. That’s all."
Theo nodded in understanding. "Let know if any of them bother you. Mom can always send them back to their agency and hire them on a daily basis instead."
The helpers didn’t need to stay in the house, so he knew their mother wouldn’t fire them outright. There was a lot of work to do, and maintaining a mansion wasn’t easy—nor cheap.
"Mhm." With that, Patricia stepped out of the front passenger seat.
As she did, she heard a familiar voice.
"Patricia!" Hayley called out, skipping her steps, her face bright as ever.
Seeing her approach, Patricia smiled just as brightly. "You’re late?!"
"It’s still early!" Hayley quipped, stopping beside her. "Still ten minutes before we clock in. Good thing I didn’t get stuck in traffic."
" too." Patricia chuckled, silently thanking her brother, who knew the alternate routes to avoid rush hour. Without him, she’d have been running inside.
anwhile, Theo watched the exchange from the driver’s seat, his head turned toward the open passenger door that Patricia still held onto while chatting. He didn’t mind—he wasn’t in a hurry—but it was the first ti he’d seen his sister interact so casually with soone outside their family.
Looks like Dad and I were worrying for nothing, he thought. She seems to be doing well here, and she looks close to her colleague.
His smile softened, heart swelling with relief and satisfaction. Although he couldn’t see the person Patricia was talking to from his angle, he could just tell she was comfortable. Theo couldn’t even rember the last ti his sister was this carefree with soone.
Perhaps the last ti was... when she and Nina were still friends.
"Oh, right!" Patricia suddenly exclaid, eyes widening. "By the way, my brother’s with . Let introduce him to you."
She then leaned down to peek through the open door.
"Brother Theo, this is my friend and colleague," she said as Theo smiled and shifted his eyes toward the person beside her.
At the sa ti, Hayley peeked at the door with a bubbly smile. "Hello, Patricia’s bro—"
She trailed off the mont their eyes t. She blinked. Then blinked again. Without another word, she straightened her back.
Theo, on the other hand, stared blankly at the now-empty space beside his sister.
"Huh?" Patricia frowned and glanced at Hayley, who had turned her back on the car and was now pulling a compact powder case from her bag.
Patricia sighed, shaking her head before turning to her brother, who was still staring at the backseat window.
"Brother Theo." Her voice snapped him out of his daze. He looked at her.
"My friend can be a little shy. But that’s Hayley—the one I talked about."
She smacked her lips and added, "Anyway, thanks for driving . You saved from being late. Take care on your way back, okay?"
"Mhm." Theo nodded, but just as Patricia was about to close the door, he spoke up again in a hurry.
"Patricia!"
"What?"
"Should I... uh... pick you up later?"
Patricia arched a brow. "Why would you pick up later?"
"Well." Theo chuckled awkwardly. "I don’t know. Just wondering if you wanted to."
"Brother, you know I’m on my journey toward independence and liberation," she said matter-of-factly. "And commuting to work and back is part of that journey. I only agreed today because I was running late. But thanks for the offer. Your sister is a strong, independent woman."
With that quick declaration, she shut the door and took a step back, waving with a smile.
"..." Theo sat speechless, eyes drifting toward the other figure still near his sister. His cheeks tinted red as he shook his head and refocused on the road.
As he drove off, he couldn’t help but mutter, "I didn’t know the Hayley she talked about was that pretty."
He had imagined Hayley as a nerd. Patricia often described her colleagues as overachievers, and Theo had pictured soone with average looks. But now?
She’s... my type.
---
Outside Pri Group...
Patricia watched her brother’s car disappear down the road, lowering her hand with a shrug. She turned on her heel — and flinched when Hayley suddenly faced her.
"Huh?" Patricia eyed her closely, her brows furrowing. "Hayley... did you just put on mascara and brighter lipstick?"
Hayley humd, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze darting around in search of the car that had just left.
"Where’s your brother?" she asked, whipping her head back toward Patricia.
Patricia blinked innocently. "He just left. He has work, you know."
"Oh." Hayley pursed her lips and sighed.
Had she known she’d et such a handso guy, she would’ve finished her makeup properly. After all, their male colleagues—Shawn and Teddy—weren’t worth the effort.
"Hayley, you’re acting a little weird," Patricia mumbled. "Let’s head inside? We’ll be late—"
But instead of moving, Hayley suddenly grabbed Patricia’s shoulders, looking deep into her eyes with an almost solemn expression.
"Wha—what?!" Patricia stamred, unsettled by Hayley’s behavior.
Hayley took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Patricia, answer quickly and honestly, okay?"
"Uh... okay?"
"Are we friends?"
"..." Patricia paused, blinking. "Yes? I think we already talked about this."
Hayley nodded. "Then... is your brother married?"
"Huh?"
"Just answer ."
"No?"
"Does he have a girlfriend?" This ti, Hayley leaned closer, eyes intense. "Please say no."
"My brother doesn’t have anyone at the mont—"
"Yes!" Hayley cheered, her smile stretching ear to ear.
"Uhh..." Patricia wrinkled her nose, scrutinizing her friend. "Hayley, why are you asking about my brother?"
Hayley’s grin widened as she patted Patricia’s shoulder. "Patricia, let’s not be friends anymore."
"What?!"
"Let’s be sisters!"
"Huh?!"
Hayley imdiately clung to Patricia’s arm, batting her eyelashes. "I like your brother. Set up with him, please?"
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