Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Mirabella nodded and followed him away.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of McMllian Corporation, a car worth a small fortune pulled up. A driver opened the door for Harriet, handing her a lunchbox with the utmost respect.
Clutching the lunchbox, Harriet looked up at the towering skyscraper – it had been a while since her last visit.
As she entered, the receptionists rose to greet her with reverence.
“Ms. Monroe, we haven’t seen you in some time.””I’m here to surprise Romeo. No need to alert him,” she said, heading forward with lunchbox in hand, as if she were already the lady of the manor.
“Ms. Monroe.” Alice, one of the receptionists, stepped forward apologetically, “I’m sorry, but could you please wait here for a moment? Mr. Romeo is in a meeting and has a VIP client next. May I call Carl to…”
“Are you suggesting I’m not as important as some client?”
“Of course not!” the receptionist hurriedly responded, “It’s just that, recently, a client barged upstairs unannounced, and it put the boss in a foul mood. We all got an earful.”
Harriet smirked coldly, “And what’s that got to do with me? Do you think Romeo would be upset to see me? Don’t you know how I stand in his heart?”
“Absolutely, in Mr. Romeo’s eyes, you are like his sister.”
At the word “sister,” Harriet peered over her sunglasses, her displeasure evident as she scrutinized the receptionist.
“Alice, I find you increasingly irritating. What if I decide to go up today, right now?”With a push, Harriet sent her sprawling, stepping into the elevator and slamming the door-close button.
Alice crashed to the ground, her back hitting a trash can, pain shooting through her spine.
“What’s going on?” “Ms. Luna, you’re here?” said Alice, concern in her voice.
“Ms. Monroe’s back in town,” the assistant whispered with a note of urgency, “and she’s brought a surprise for Mr. Romeo—came in carrying a lunchbox and no one could stop her.”
“What’s she doing here?” Luna frowned, her tone souring by the second.
Then she reassured Alice, “If you are hurt, take care of it. You don’t have to worry about your shift today; I’ll let my brother know.”
“Thanks a bunch, Ms. Luna!” Alice gushed, relief washing over her.
Upstairs, Harriet strode in, lunchbox in hand, when Carl spotted her. “Ms. Monroe, you’re back? What brings you here?”
“Where’s Romeo?”
“The boss is tied up in a meeting. Not on this floor.”
“I’ll wait in his office, then.”
But as she made for Romeo’s door, Carl stepped in front, “I’m real sorry, but could you hang tight for just a moment?”
Harriet barely moved to sidestep him when she was halted by a familiar voice.
“Surely you’re not about to bowl over Carl, too?” Luna emerged from the elevator, every inch the heiress, oozing with poise and grace.
“Ms. Luna!” Carl almost sighed in relief.
“Luna? What are you doing here?” Harriet bristled at the sight of her.”Why can’t I be here? I’m Romeo’s cousin, for crying out loud. And who exactly do you think you are?”
Luna sauntered over, eyeing the lunchbox with disdain. “What’s this? Playing caterer for my brother?
Trying to steal my sister-in-law’s thunder?”
“What if I am?”
Without warning, Luna knocked the lunchbox from Harriet’s grip, sending it clattering to the floor.
Harriet’s cheeks flushed with anger as her carefully prepared meal met the floor.
“In my book, any dame who’s got eyes for my brother and isn’t Mirabella is nothing but a sly fox, up to no good. I suggest you hit the road, or you’ll have me to deal with.”
“And what’s it to you who your brother dates?” Harriet snapped.
“It’s everything to me. He’s my brother, and I’d have to call anyone he chooses ‘sister-in-law.’ But you?
That’s a title I can’t even fathom uttering for you.”
Harriet was livid, “Just you wait until Romeo shows up. He’ll put you in your place.”
“Carl, do me a favor and double-check my brother’s schedule for today. Don’t miss a beat.””Carl, she just pushed me. Did you see it?”
“Sorry, Ms. Monroe, I must’ve missed it. Turned away for a second and all.”
Harriet realized she was outnumbered and her blood boiled even hotter.
“Luna, what exactly has Mirabella done for you that you’re going to bat for her like this?”
“She’s easy on the eyes, I like doing favors for pretty girls. Can’t help it if you’re not on the same level.”
“You—you’re attacking me personally now.”
“And what if I am?” Luna shoved her towards the elevator doors.
Just then, with a ding, the elevator opened and Romeo, fresh from a meeting, stepped out.
“Romeo, she’s been bullying me.” Luna dashed over and clung to Romeo’s arm, tears streaming down her face, putting on the most pitiful act. “She says she wants to be your lady, and I said no. Then she got all pushy, tried to throw me out, claiming that she’ll be the one calling the shots around here soon.”
Harriet was taken aback by how adept Luna had become at turning the tables, and she hurried to clarify, “Romeo, I didn’t.”
“If you didn’t, then why is my sister crying?” Romeo’s tone was full of defense as he glanced at Luna’s red-rimmed, woeful eyes, then turned to Harriet with a frown. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m back in town, came to see you. Brought you some comfort food, but…”
“She brought some snacks for you, and I was gonna be nice and take them to your office, but she insisted on going in herself. I told her, even as your sister, we can’t just barge into your office, gotta respect your privacy. Guess what she said? She claimed that one day she’d be yours, so barging in now or later doesn’t make a difference.”
Harriet was about to burst with anger, “Romeo, don’t listen to her nonsense.”
This darn Luna, such a master at spinning tales!”Enough.” Romeo didn’t want to hear any more of Harriet’s side of the story. “Without my permission, don’t come around here anymore.”
Seizing her chance, Luna clung tighter to his arm and asked, “Romeo, am I still okay to come by?”
“Of course, you can.”
Luna, emboldened by her brother’s support, gave Harriet a triumphant, taunting look and then pretended to be scared. “Romeo, you better send her away now. If you hadn’t shown up when you did, she would have hit me. You don’t know how vicious she was, and now, pretending to be all sweet in front of you.”
Harriet was livid, Luna was so infuriating!
“Carl.” With a single word from Romeo, Carl hurried over.
“Romeo, don’t be mad at Carl. It was Harriet who warned him not to intervene, claiming she’d be the future lady of the group. She threatened Carl’s job if he helped me!”
“Luna—””Romeo, even Alice at the front desk couldn’t stop her. She pushed Alice down so hard, she couldn’t get up. I’m worried Alice might have a fracture, we should get her to the hospital. Maybe don’t dock her pay today.”
Romeo nodded, “Alright.”
Carl struggled to keep a straight face, “Ms. Monroe, right this way, please.”
“Romeo.” Harriet watched as Luna walked away still clinging to Romeo’s arm, her anger simmering.
“Romeo, you’re the only one who can mess with me,” Luna raised her voice so Harriet could hear, “What does she think she is compared to you? She’s got nothing on my own brother!”
Harriet was taken aback by her not-so-warm homecoming. It dawned on her why Serena and Alma hadn’t been able to win over Romeo—it was because of this feisty guard dog by his side!
Once they were in the office.
Romeo asked nonchalantly, “Done with the theatrics?”
Luna’s tears turned into a chuckle, “Heh, Romeo, you always have my back. Didn’t even call me out on my act.”
She noticed the towering snack cabinet in Romeo’s office, “You really have a snack cabinet this huge? I didn’t believe the online gossip until now. I just chased off that vixen for you, so you owe me some treats, right?”
Romeo, ever the paternal figure, opened the cabinet and tossed her a bag of chips.
“So, Mirabella is into these, huh?” Luna ripped open the bag with glee, grabbing a chip, just as Romeo added, “She doesn’t like this flavor, so it’s all yours.”
Suddenly, the chip in Luna’s hand lost its appeal.
“Don’t make a mess,” Romeo grumbled, hating crumbs on his carpet.
“But I saw a post saying Mirabella makes a mess and you’re always there handing her drinks,” Luna retorted, extending her hand, “Where’s my drink?”
“These are her favorites; you can have some water.””So, what brings you here anyway?”
“I saw Mirabella getting attacked online. I made a bunch of accounts to fight back, but it was useless.
So, I thought I’d come to you. Do you have a plan to help her?”
“Let’s not worry your pretty little head about her.”