Chapter 603: Why lie?

"Is that... Finn?"

The corners of Nina’s mouth hooked up with excitement. She ditched the message she was about to send to Yuri and speed-dialed her fiancé. It rang a few times before the line connected.

"Nina?" Finn’s voice sounded surprised, making Nina smile mischievously.

"Finn, where are you?" she asked playfully.

"Work."

She paused and raised her brows. "Hmm?" she hummed, glancing at the group idling at the end of the hall. "Business meeting?"

"No, in the office."

"..." Nina pressed her lips, her eyes fixated on Finn, who was with the group, his phone in his ear. "In the office? Right now?"

"Mhm."

"Ah..."

"Why are you asking?"

Nina tried to smile, taking a huge step to the side to hide. "Nothing," she whispered to herself. "I just... missed you."

"Haha. You do?"

"Mhm."

"Should I meet you later?"

"No. I’m out with Penny tonight," she said. "Anyway, she’s here! Bye."

"Mhm. Have fun."

Her meek smile twisted as she whispered, "I love you," but the call ended before she could finish.

Nina lingered there for a while before she peeked over the wall. The group and her fiancé were still there until the manager approached them, ushering them to where they were supposed to be. When they were out of her sight, a shallow breath escaped her as she slowly walked out from where she had hidden.

"What’s going on?" she wondered to herself. "Why would he tell me he’s in the office?"

Was there something he was trying to hide? He could’ve said he was meeting someone important.

Slowly, her lips curved down, and she didn’t like the emotions sprouting in her heart, along with the lingering questions in her mind. Even if Finn were at a nightclub, she wouldn’t question it. However, he had lied to her so blatantly, and he sounded so natural while doing so.

"No, Nina." Nina shook her head, eyes shut. "Don’t think about it anymore. Maybe he just didn’t want to tell me because it’s not important."

But then, why lie?

Nina shook her head until she thought she was over it. However, she quickly realized it wasn’t like that at all when she returned to the private lounge Penny had booked for the girls.

"Oh, Nina!" Ginnie raised a hand as soon as Nina opened the door. "You’re back! Grace told me you left because you needed to take a call. Where’s Penny?"

Nina took a deep breath and stormed inside, ignoring Ginnie’s jovial remarks. She sat down in her seat, gazing at the glass of drink in front of her. Without saying a word, she reached out for the glass and chugged it down in one go.

Ginnie: "..."

Grace: "???"

Both women stared at Nina, stunned. They only snapped back to the present when Nina suddenly put the glass down.

"Nina, is everything okay?" Grace asked because Nina had been fine before she left. Now Nina seemed... infuriated.

Nina forced a smile. "Mhm. My client... she’s a little too demanding. I don’t usually take calls when it’s off office hours, but I still do because of her. And she told me that the design I did didn’t suit her. So, I need to do another revision."

"Oh..." Grace and Ginnie’s mouths formed round shapes, rocking their heads, "buying" the reason. Or perhaps Ginnie was the only one who bought it because Grace didn’t fully believe it. Even so, Grace didn’t point it out, as it was already out of her business. Unless, of course, Nina brought it up and vented, then her ears were open.

"I haven’t called Penny," Nina continued, forcing out a grin. "Should I call her?"

Ginnie scrunched up her face and waved. "Don’t bother. She’s probably getting her hair done or something."

"How about we enjoy ourselves before then?" Grace proposed, casting the two a meaningful look. But before they could respond, they heard the door open.

"Penny, congrats, my dearest~!"

Turning their heads to the entrance, Grace, Nina, and Ginnie blinked at the beautiful woman in a sparkly short dress standing by the door.

"Lily!" Ginnie exclaimed the moment she recognized her. "What happened to you? I almost couldn’t recognize you from the last time I saw you."

Unlike Grace and Nina, Ginnie quickly jumped from her seat and rushed to Lily. Lily and Ginnie had been close friends until now. They would meet from time to time, but with their schedules, they couldn’t do it as much as they used to.

As the two hugged, Lily and Ginnie grinned.

"Where’s Penny?" asked Lily, turning her head, only to see the familiar Nina and then another familiar face. "Grace!"

Grace and Nina offered Lily a smile, watching as Lily and Ginnie sat around their table after the brief greeting.

"Goodness. Penny... how come she’s late for her own party?" Lily pouted, eyes narrowed, scanning the faces around.

Ginnie clicked her tongue. "Lily, you’re talking as if you didn’t want us here."

"Impossible! Of course, I want you here! I’m just saying the person who hosted tonight’s party should already be here."

"Doesn’t matter." Grace shrugged, smirking. "Since she’s late, how about we start the party?"

Everyone turned to Grace, and although Lily’s eyes were reluctant, Ginnie and Nina didn’t mind. After all, Penny wasn’t the type to hold grudges over such a small matter. In fact, Penny would want them to enjoy themselves while they wait. Moreover, it would be too boring if they just sat and looked around at each other.

With that, they placed their orders and took the initiative to get to know each other as people within Penny’s circle.

******

Meanwhile...

Penny slowly opened her eyes, only to catch an unfamiliar ceiling. Lines formed on her face as she turned, catching sight of the bag of fluid hanging on the side of the bed.

"Huh?" she hummed, furrowing her brows deeper, confused. It took a moment for her to remember what happened, but when she did, she winced at the painful strike of a headache.

"Are you feeling better now?" asked the therapist, who was sitting on the side of the bed.

Penny slowly sat up and looked at the doctor, nodding. "Mhm."

"Do you remember what happened?"

"..." She slowly set her eyes down, let out a breath, and nodded. "I... remember."