Chapter 27
Laurel pov
The next morning came, and I quickly got out of bed before the day fully broke. Pale light pressed softly against the curtains, while cold air lingered in the room.
"It is so cold today," I said as I rushed to take my bath.
Steam soon filled the bathroom, fogging the mirror and warming my skin. When I finished dressing, I looked at myself in the mirror, then sighed.
Jason will be so pissed at me when he knows that I will be resigning two days from now.
I picked up my handbag and headed downstairs.
I saw Eric coming out of his room, hair messy, shirt wrinkled, still carrying sleep on his face.
"Noona, good morning."
"Good morning," I replied. "Aren't you going out today?"
"Maybe. I don't know. It is so cold today."
I smiled.
"I'll be back early. Let's go shopping when I'm back."
"Really?" he asked excitedly, his eyes waking before the rest of him did.
I nodded.
He hugged me immediately.
I laughed softly.
I went out, got into my car, and drove straight to the company. The streets were still waking up, cars rolling by, workers rushing, the city stretching itself into another day.
"Good morning," Madison said as she saw me walking into the office.
"Good morning," I replied. "Where is Jason?"
"Today is the last day on the field, so he went to make sure everything was done and good."
"Good," I said.
As I was about to walk away, I stopped and turned to her.
"I will be leaving earlier than what I told you guys."
"We figured it out already," she said. "The project is almost completed. We knew you would leave early."
"But when?" She asked.
"If Jason gets everything done today, I will be resigning first thing tomorrow morning."
She looked at me with a face that looked hurt, her eyes disappointed.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"It's fine," she replied quietly. "Considering how fast you are leaving, it must be quite important. I'll let Jason know when he gets back."
I nodded once and walked straight to Mr. Morgan's office.
"Good morning sir," I said as I walked in to take my seat.
"Good morning, Laurel."
"I came to give a report on the project."
"Oh okay," he answered.
"Firstly, the project is a complete success now. Everything has been done, including paperwork. All that remains is for the sales team to take over."
"Okay. What about the field? Has everything been reclaimed?" he asked.
"Yes sir. In fact, I asked Jason to do the double-checking today."
"That's nice. You all did well."
"And there is another thing I would like to say," I added.
"Go ahead," he said, hand placed on his desk.
"I will be resigning sooner. Apparently, I needed to leave early."
"Oh, that is not an issue Laurel. Considering your uncle called, I knew it was important," he said.
"Go ahead. Show them how it is done," he said smiling.
"And another thing sir."
He rested in his chair, hands folded, giving me sign to go ahead.
"It is about Madison sir," I said. "About the promotion that is ongoing. I think she is doing well sir."
"I know, but Charles keeps asking for it because of his friend, and he is also doing well."
I knew this was going to be hard because Mr. Morgan doesn't like being biased, but I needed to make sure they don't get bullied, especially by that fool called Charles.
"You said I shouldn't hesitate if I need your favor sir. This is it."
He looked at me.
"Madison is a good and loyal worker, one who will come to her supervisor's house very late in the night just because she couldn't reach them and needed to know the plan of the operation."
I took a breath.
"Sir, I know being a supervisor is hard, especially as a woman, but I taught her well and she won't disgrace me. That I know for sure."
He looked at me for a moment.
"Then it is decided. I mean, it is a win for me too since she knows how you carry out operations," he said smiling.
I thanked him and walked out of his office after some minutes, then straight to mine.
Now there were just lots of paperwork to sign and transfer to the sales team. Files waited in stacks across the desk, neat and final.
I sat down and started working.
The hours slipped by quietly, marked only by signatures, emails, and the ticking clock on the wall.
When I finally looked up, I realized it had been more than five hours since I started.
Now I was done.
I checked my phone and called Jason to my office.
He came in, hair full of dust, boots marked with soil from the field, shirt creased from work.
"Good afternoon Laurel," he said.
Though he was still sad, he still never played with his job.
"You need a shower," I said.
"I just got back an hour ago."
"Hm," I nodded.
Then he said,
"Madison told me what you said this morning, and I want you to know that we are going to miss you."
I looked at him quietly.
"I'm just wondering who our boss is going to be," he added.
I smirked.
"You will know soon."
"When you're done, please I need you to move this paperwork to the sales team."
"Yes boss," he replied.
As I stood up, I patted his shoulder.
"When you are done, close my office with the spare key. I need to get going."
Immediately I got into my car, I dialed Eric's number.
"Hey," I said.
"Yes?" he replied.
"Are you still at home?"
"Yes. In fact, I just took my bath since morning."
"That good. Be ready in the next forty minutes. I will be picking you up."
"Oh okay, let me quickly get dressed."
He cut the call and I drove straight into the road.
Traffic moved in restless lines. The city outside my window blurred past in buildings, lights, and people with places to be.
Forty minutes later I was at the front when I saw him rushing out, jacket half-buttoned, shoelace loose.
"Did you just get here?" he asked.
"Yes I did."
"Okay, I didn't want to keep you waiting," he said.
"Laurel, where are we going?" he asked.
"To do some shopping. You need some clothes, especially ones that will fit in Korean style since it will be hot when we get there."
"And I also chose the school, Dulwich. They will resume two weeks after we settle in, so there is plenty of time to still have fun before school."
His face brightened.
"You already did all that?"
"Of course."
We got to the shopping mall and stepped out. Glass doors opened to warm air, bright lights, polished floors, and music playing softly overhead.
Immediately we went to the men's section, picking out clothes and shoes.
Then he came across an expensive cloth, and immediately he saw the price tag, he dropped it.
"Too expensive," he told the attendant beside him.
I smiled.
Thinking, if I don't spend my money on you, why am I working?
I turned to the lady attending to me.
"Bring out your other most expensive clothes, including the one my brother touched and the others."
She nodded and immediately went away with a smile on her face.
Eric turned sharply.
"Noona!"
"What?"
"That one was enough."
"I didn't ask."
A few minutes later, when he saw the total price of the clothes we bought, he stared at me.
"Isn't this too expensive?"
I smiled.
"Expensive? I don't even feel it."
He shook his head, laughing under his breath.
"You are being proud."
"No," I replied. "I am generous."
We got to the car, shopping bags filling the back seat, and I said,
"Let's head to the restaurant."
But Eric looked at me and said,
"I wanted to cook for you today."
"Why stress yourself?" I asked.
But judging from the way he was looking at me, I knew the type of person my brother was. Always wanting to pay good back with good.
"Okay," I said. "Let's head to the grocery store, buy whatever you need, and then we will go back home to cook together."
He smiled so happily that I almost laughed.
As I drove, I glanced at him through the mirror.
He was checking the shopping bags like a child guarding treasure.
And I was strangely pleased.
This was what I could call living the best life.
Seeing him happy.
Seeing him making progress in life.
It made me remember when we were all still kids, when him and Aria usually played around happily.
Back when laughter was easy easy for him.
Back when loss had not entered the room.
Now that Aria isn't here anymore, I need to make sure he still smiles happily as he used to as a kid.