"Man, I'm exhausted. Who would've thought that owning your own business would be this much work?"
Macy smiled at her boyfriend's remark. She nudged him playfully and said, "What, now you're tying to brag to us?"
"Hell yeah! You both said I would never make it, but here I am, driving you with my very own car."
"Right, but babe you know you still haven't celebrated it with us. We have to go for a joyride soon, and have a car picnic too."
"Of course. How does this weekend sound?"
"It sounds perfect."
"Would you two love birds keep it down? A celebrity is trying to sleep back here."
Macy laughed at her friend's comment. "Our apologies, madam Sage. We'll keep the noise down to a minimum."
"Good."
Macy Henderson was best friends with Sage Wilson ever since she was a child. She was the first friend Macy ever made when she moved to the city, and they had been inseparable since then.
Macy was free to go to Sage's place whenever she felt like it, and Sage practically lived at Macy's house. Their friendship had grown to the level where both girls related like sisters.
They met Grayson when they were in college and in little time, he became the third member of their little squad.
A couple of months after their graduation, romance sparked between Macy and Grayson and the two had been dating since.
"How was work today?" Macy asked Sage who groaned at the question. "I take it it wasn't good?"
"Oh no, it was great. Wonderful, even."
"Then what's the problem?"
"My stupid boss! He asked me to come up with three new outfits that has never been seen before, and I was like 'okay, that is my job' but then the asshole told me to do it in a week! How the hell am I supposed to come up with not one, not two, but THRRE new ideas in just one stupid week?!"
Macy and Sage had completely different personalities but it never bothered their friendship, if anything, it made them even closer.
Sage was always the belle of the ball, the life of every party. Her beauty and preppy attitude attracted both men and women to her.
Macy was the exact opposite. Not only was she an introvert, she was also antisocial and had problems dealing with other people. She was the kind of person who never ventured outside their comfort zone, and so is very inexperienced when it comes to almost every aspect of life.
"You're Sage Wilson, if anyone can work such a crazy schedule, it's you."
"Awwn, that's why you're my bestie."
"Sage, am I dropping you off at your place or..?"
"I'm spending the night at Mace's." She replied while scrolling through her phone.
"You know, I think I'm starting to get jealous of you Sage." Grayson said, looking at her through the rear view mirror.
"Me? Why, what did I do?"
"Isn't it obvious? You're spending way more time with my girlfriend than I get to."
"That's because we're twins." She replied, grinning at him.
"From different parents?"
"It's possible." Sage laughed for a while before her expression turned sober. "Hey Mace?"
"Yeah?"
"How's it going? You know, with your dad?"
"He's not my dad." Macy had corrected Sage like a million times, but she always kept calling him her father. "And I have no idea what he's thinking anymore."
"What difference does it make to call him your step father? He practically raised you and took care of your mom. I'd say that is the job of a father." Noticing that Macy didn't want to go on discussing parenthood, she decided to change the subject. "What do you mean? Did he say something?"
"That's the thing, he's not saying anything. He has been oddly quiet these past few days."
"Do you think maybe there's something on his mind?'
"No, it's not like that. He's fine, except for when I say something about work. Then he acts up and just brushes me off."
"Mace, you said he wants to retire, right?"
"Yes?"
"And he said that you're the perfect candidate to take over for him once he does. Right?"
"Yes."
"So stop worrying! It's been what, like twelve years since the prodigal son left and refuses to come back home? And unless he has another child somewhere, that position is as good as yours. All you have to do, is calm your nerves and just prepare to become a boss lady."
Macy smiled at her friend's words, feeling more relieved. Talking to her always made her feel better. "I guess you're right. Maybe I am just overthinking it."
"You probably are."
Grayson dropped off both ladies at Macy's's house and after briefly greeting her mother, he was on his way.
★★★
The next morning, after Sage had gone off to work, Macy went out to a bookstore. It was her day off, so she was free to take it easy and just relax. She stopped by a cafe for some snacks but she couldn't have any as her mother texted her to come back home for an urgent meeting.
When she got back home, she noticed her mother and Mr Darwin already seated at the dining with the chef and the cleaners.
Taking her seat next to her mother, Macy waited for him to start.
"I understand you would like to rest on your day off from work, but I feel it is also the perfect time to discuss this issue." He said, his gaze never leaving Macy's.
She wondered what was wrong, or had she done something wrong? Or was she not doing well in her job?
She wanted to ask but she knew he hated being interrupted, so she just waited.
"I know this might come as a shock to all of you here, just as it did to me, but uh…the purpose of this meeting is to discuss William's return."
"What?!"