Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

[Evening, Collins Mansion]

By the time Rachael arrived home, it was already six in the evening.

She slumped on the couch and took a sip of the water one of the helpers brought for her.

She had spent the entire day reading one document after another to familiarise herself with the project and other upcoming endorsements. This had exhausted her both physically and mentally.

"Where is Elsa?" she inquired.

"She went outside around afternoon, she isn't back yet," The helper replied.

"Okay." Rachael got up.

"Madam, would you like to eat something?"

"No, I'll be in my room." She still had to prepare for tomorrow's meeting, she wanted to take a nap before resuming work.

"If Elsa comes back, let me know." After instructing the helper, Rachael dragged her exhausted to the bed.

….

[Watson Mansion]

While returning from the office, Emma visited Rachael's parents to drop the gifts her mom had bought for them.

When she entered the mansion, George was playing blocks with Edward in the living room.

Emma approached them and pinched Edward's cheeks. "What is my handsome boy doing?"

"We are making a castle," Edward exclaimed.

"Oh a castle? Are you making it for your beautiful future princess?"

Pointing towards George, Edward said, "Uncle George said I can get any princess if I have a castle."

Emma glanced at George who was busy building his block castle. "Well, that is not true. Only having a castle is not enough, you also need to be a good boy to get a princess."

She gently pinched his nose. "If you are arrogant and stubborn then you'll never get a girl."

When Goerge stopped what he was and looked at her, she added, "So don't listen to your uncle George, okay? He doesn't know anything about women or what they like."

George: " "

Was she trying to taunt him through a two and a half year old?

"Are you two fighting again?" Reeta frowned.

Emma and George looked at each other but both of them did not say anything. They just kept looking at each other. Both of them could feel the tension between them which was slowly escalating.

"Do whatever you want but not in front of Edward." Reeta squatted down and picked Edward up. "I'll just take him with me."

After they left, George started replacing the blocks inside the box and Emma helped him.

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"Did he bother you again?"

Understanding who he was referring to, she shook her head.

"Let me know if he does."

"You don't have to get involved again, I'll handle him." She didn't want him to get into more trouble because of her.

Emma asked to stay away because she cared for him but George didn't like it.

"I will get involved again and again, do you think you can stop me?" He scoffed.

Keeping quiet for a while, she asked, "Why? Why are you suddenly acting this way?"

"Because you are my sister's best friend." His answer was very precise and clear.

"So for you I am only your sister's best friend?"

George was taken aback by Emma's sudden unexpected question.

When she did not get an answer from him, she sighed and got up. "Anyway, I'll go now."

It would be a lie if she said she wasn't disappointed. She had never felt anything about George in a romantic way but in the past few days, with everything that had happened between them, she had started feeling something.

Though her mind was quite firm about not crossing her boundaries with him, her heart had started expecting a move or initiation from him.

Placing the gifts she had brought over on the table, she said, "Tell aunty that I left them here."

When she was about to leave, George stopped her. "Aren't you staying over for dinner?"

"No, I have some work," she answered. "I have to go home."

"I'll drop you then." When she did not reject his offer, he got up and grabbed his car keys from the table.

…..

[Collins Mansion]

Rachael woke up when her phone in the bedside table started ringing.

Without opening eyes, she wondered about her hands until she found her phone.

"Hello—" Her voice sounded very hoarse and sleepy

"Sleeping?"

"Hmm—"

"Wake up and eat first," Andrew remarked. "Then you can continue sleeping."

"What time is it?" She slowly opened her eyes and glanced at the watch. It was almost 10:00 PM.

She sighed and quickly got up. "I overslept again."

"Doesn't matter, eat first and sleep again," he instructed.

Massaging her temples, Rachael said, "I have to prepare for tomorrow's meeting."

"Ask Ben to push the meeting to afternoon. Rest tonight and prepare for the meeting in the morning." When he heard from Ben that Rachael had to join the office because of the unexpected emergency, he didn't like it.

He was aware of the immense amount of workload that would fall on her shoulders in his absence. This is why he didn't want her to join the office in his absence.

But after considering it for a while, he figured out it was for the best. In his absence, she wouldn't be bored in the house all day. Work would keep her engaged but he didn't forget to tell Ben not to load her with too much work.

He didn't want her to feel pressured as well.

"No it's okay, I can prepare for it tonight." She didn't want to reschedule the meeting.

"Rachael, don't be stubborn and listen to your husband, okay?" He tried to coax him.

"But—"

Cutting her off, he stated, "Okay you have forced me to use the big boss card. As your boss, I am telling you to reschedule the meeting to afternoon. Is that clear?"

When he heard her laugh, Andrew curiously inquired, "Why are you laughing?

"Nothing—" she chuckled. "It's funny how you think you can boss me around."

Without waiting for his reply, she added, "The minute we signed our marriage certificate, I am your boss for life."

...