Chapter 14

Previously on the last chapter...

"Hey, you know I saw." She smirks. Emilyn knitted her eyebrows together, "I saw the interaction between you and Christopher." Ana wiggles her eyebrow.

"What interaction?" Emilyn asked while grabbing more things from the bag.

"When you look at him and he stares back at you." Ana grins.

"What? You are being delusional." Emilyn rolled her eyes and placed the last item on the shelf.

"I saw it." Ana wiggles her eyebrow again. "You just can't see it, he's into you."

"Yeah right." Emilyn brushes the comment off. "Why would he be interested in me?"

"Why not?" She frowns. "you're pretty, kind, smart, and a wonderful friend. One more thing, you are a talented writer."

"Thank you for that compliment, can we just go eat. I'm hungry."

"Okay, let's go."

***

"Dinner is ready," Emilyn called out. Everyone from their living room got up from their seat and made their way into the kitchen.

"Yes!" Food!" Finley shouted and raised both his hands to cheer. Emilyn laughs and shakes her head at his action.

"I guess you have met Finley," Emilyn asked Christopher.

"Yeah."

"Let me introduce you to my best friend...." Before Emilyn can introduce Ana to him, he said, "Anastasia Conner. Am I right?"

"You know me?" Ana asked.

"Yeah, last year at one of your parents' ball. You are Cameron Conner and Allegra Kings daughter right?"

"Yup, those are indeed my parents' names." She gave a semi smile. "But please call me Ana. I hate that name, Anastasia." She groaned.

"Okay, Ana." Christopher takes out his hand for her to shake, and she gladly accepts it.

"Let's eat, the food is going to get cold." Grandma Lou said, and we took our seats. Finley obviously took a seat next to Ana and Grandma Lou at the head of the table, which leaves Emilyn sitting next to Christopher.

"So, tell me more about how you propose, Finley," Grandma asked.

"You guys are engaged?" Christopher asked

"Yeah," Ana replied and showed him the ring. Christopher congratulates them, and Finley continues telling his story.

He told the whole journey of what they did, "I also would like to add, Emilyn also help me with the decoration." He said. "Thanks for the decoration, they are beautiful."

"Thanks for mentioning me, I thought you are going to take all the credit. Since Ana didn't know that I help too." Emilyn said.

"Sorry, I forget to tell her." Finley apologizes. "But since I saw you sulking in your seat, so I think I should thank you." Finley snicker.

"Hey!" Emilyn crossed her arm and pout. "I don't sulk. Take that back or I'll tell Ana your secret."

Finley stops laughing and froze. Emilyn gave him a smirk. "What secret?" Ana asked.

"It was 2 years ago...."

"Okay, I'll take that back." Finley stops me.

"Good." Emilyn continues eating, satisfied with the reply.

"What secret? tell me?" Ana urged. "What happened?"

"I'll tell you next time," Emilyn told Ana.

"Emilyn," Finley said in a warning tone. "You promise."

"I did. But who knows one day it might accidentally slip out of my mouth." Emilyn taunts him.

"Emilyn," Finley said in a serious tone.

"Fine." Emilyn huff. "I promise I won't say a word until I die." She groaned.

"Please tell me," Ana begged.

"I'm sorry Ana, I promise Fin I won't tell and take it to my grave." Finley gave Emilyn a thumbs up.

"Fine." Ana huffed and continue eating. After they finish with dinner, Emilyn volunteers to wash the dishes with Ana. The guys and her grandma are outside talking.

"Hey, what are you guys talking about?" Ana asked, walking out of the kitchen after washing the dishes.

"Nothing much," Finley said. "Is getting late, we shall get going." He stood up from the couch. Ana grabs her jacket and bids them goodbye.

Soon, Christopher also stood up from the couch, "I'll should get going too," Christopher said, putting on his jacket.

"Thanks for coming Christopher, you are welcome anytime." Grandma Lou hugs him, and he returns the hug. "I guess you want to say something to Emilyn." She snickers. "I'll be going, don't want to disturb you guys."

"Grandma," Emilyn whined as her grandma walked away.

Emilyn sigh before turning to face him, "Sorry about that. My grandma can sometimes be a little embarrassing." She scratches the back of her neck.

"No worries." Christopher said. "Actually, I want to talk to you." Emilyn nod. "About this weekend. Is this weekend right?" He asked.

"Yeah. What about it?" Emilyn asked.

"Do you still want to do it? I mean if you feel that you need to take time off to take care of your grandma, it is fine with me."

"No, is fine. Is my job. I should be cooperative with your schedule, not the other way round."

"Okay." Christopher nods. "there's one more question, you haven't answered me yet." Emilyn and frown. "What should I wear?"

Emilyn chuckle, "Just wear what you usually wear when you go to the dog shelter.

"Noted." Christopher smiled at her. "So, I'll see you this weekend."

"Yeah." Emilyn shift on her left leg then her right leg

"Bye." He said

"Bye," Emilyn said back. "Remember is 9 am not pm," She called out before he left. He chuckles and nods.

***

Emilyn checks through her bag, "Camera, check, Tablet, check, Voice recorder, check and my water, check." She checks through her bag, making sure she got everything. She then takes the camera out to put the strap around her neck.

"Hey, did you wait long?" Christopher asks when he arrives. Emilyn turns her head to the left, and he's wearing a dark blue sweater and jeans, that's all. Emilyn can't help to check him out a little; how can someone make something so simple look attractive.

Emilyn got out from her daze and answer, "No, I got here 5 minutes before you."

He nods, "So, how are we going to do this?" He asked.

"First, I would like to take some pictures of you in front of the pet shelter. Is that okay with you?"

"Yeah, no problem." Emilyn positions him right in front of the pet shelter, where the sign can also be seen. But, she doesn't have to direct him much; he knows what he's doing, like a professional.

"Okay, I got it," Emilyn said with a smile.

"Come here." Christopher gestures to Emilyn with his finger.

"What? Why?"

"Just come here." He said. Emilyn feels so suspicious of his action. Slowly, she walks towards him, taking a few steps at a time. "What do you need?" Emilyn eyes him suspiciously.

"Give me your camera." He places his palm out. Emilyn slowly takes it off her neck and place it on his palm.

"Careful, this is not mine. Is the company's, once broken, it will be deducted from my pay." She warned.

Christopher smirks, "Don't worry, I'll handle it with care." He drops his palm in a sudden drop, making Emilyn heart fall. "Just kidding." He grins. She looks up to see the camera still on his palm.

"Don't do that, do you want me to have a heart attack?" Emilyn placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Sorry." Christopher apologizes. "Now come over here." He gestures her to come over to his side. Emilyn narrowed her eyes at Christopher and stood next to him. "Now, smile." He put his hand over her shoulder and take a picture of both of them.

"Hey!" Emilyn gets out of his hold. "Christopher, we are not playing around. I'm here for a serious business."

"Oh, come on, just one more picture. I want to remember this interview with you." Christopher begged.

"Fine." Emiyln huffed. "Just one," She warned him and stood back to her original position.

"Now, smile." Christopher said and took a bunch of pictures.

"Christopher, you said one," Emilyn grumble.

"Sorry, I can't help it." He snickers and gave Emilyn back the camera.

"Let's go in now." Emilyn put the camera strap around her neck again. She walks ahead of Christopher, to open the door to the shelter.

"Good morning, how may I help you?" The person at the front greets them.

"Hi, I'm here with Christopher Evans to do an interview." Emilyn told her

She looked at her computer and said, "Yes, welcome to The Give a Chance shelter." She smiled at me. "Good morning, Mr. Evans."

"Morning, Stacie." Christopher greets her. He seems to come here often to know her name. "I'm here to be your assistant again and I brought a friend to help me."

"That's great." She clasped her hand together. "But, I would like you guys to put your belonging in the locker." Stacie hands them two keys. Emilyn kept her camera and voice recorder with her. After they place their belongings in the locker, Stacie said, "Okay, follow me. We will start with the basics." Stacie leads them into the shelter. She opens the door to a few dogs. "Today is a special day, we are going to bathe these dogs."

"I've never done it before," Emilyn said.

"Don't worry, Mr. Evans will help you. He's an expert on it." Stacie told Emilyn.

Emilyn nod.

"Now, let's get each of you a dog." Stacie picks up a dirty daschund dog and hands it to Emilyn. "This dog will be easy because it is a short hair." Stacie told Emilyn and pass a tiny, slightly brown dog to Christopher.

"Now, come on." Stacie then leads them to the bathing room. "I'll let you guys handle it. Mr. Evans, I'm going to put the dogs' cleanliness with you."

"You can relax, Stacie. This isn't my first rodeo." Stacie chuckled and left them.

"So, what should we do first?" Emilyn turns to ask Christopher.

"We'll have to wear an apron and waterproof boots." Christopher took the items behind him with the dog in one hand.  Emilyn put it on, and they enter the bathing room.

"Place your dog on the table first." He instructs Emilyn. She gently places the dog on the table.

"Now, I'm going to turn on the water. Make sure it isn't too hot or cold." Christopher tests the water with his hands first. "After that, we place the dog in the tub." Emilyn took some pictures of him with the dog. "Place the soap and just scrub them from their head to their body." She continues taking pictures of him and his dog.

"Are you paying attention?" He turns back.

"Yeah, I need some pictures of you with the dog," Emilyn said. She takes one more picture of him and chuckles.

"Are you done yet?" Christopher asked, and  Emilyn nod. "Now, put your camera outside and come clean the dogs with me."

Emilyn walked out of the room and place her camera outside, "I'm here now." Emilyn announces as she enters the room.

"Now, do as I told you," Christopher said. "Your dog is just seating there and staring at you."

"Hi, buddy." Emilyn scratches his ears. It leans his head towards her. "Are you ready for a bath?" He barked happily. Emilyn follows what Christopher did and place the dog in the bath gently. Somehow, it's going smoothly. She gently scrubs the head and the body of the dog.

"Now comes the hard part." Christopher warned her. "Washing the soap off them." He took out his dog and placed it at one of the enormous sinks. Emilyn follows him.

"Try to hold them, carefully. They might run due to the water." Emilyn watches Christopher, slowly pushing the showerhead closer to his dog.

Emilyn thought to herself, "I can do that too." She follows Christopher's actions, slowly inching the showerhead to her dog. Once the water reaches the dog's head, it jumps up from the sink and runs away. "Christopher! Help! the dog is running away." Emilyn shout, trying to catch the dog from running all over the room.

Christopher turned around and was shocked, seeing Emilyn running around trying to chase the dog. He left to help her catch the dog. They both corner the dog and slowly inching their steps to get closer to the dog.

"I got it," Christopher shouted, holding the dog with his knees on the floor. He passes Emilyn, the dog. "I'll help you once I'm finish with mine." Emilyn nod. She waited not long, and he came to help her. He holds the dog while she cleans the soap off its body.

Later, they took the dogs to the drying section. For this part, it was easy. They just hook their collars to the leash and just blow-dry their fur.

"There. All dry and clean." Emilyn scratches its ear again. He yips and wags his tail happily.

A/N: Hey, Hey, my fellow readers. I would like to thank you for coming this far. Let's give yourself a clap. No animals are harm in this scene, and Christopher did not let the dog freeze while helping Emilyn. He places a towel on the dog first before helping her. I just didn't include it there, feeling there is no necessity to add that detail in.

And also trying to bring more of Christopher's funny side out; he is not always a jerk.

Furthermore, as always, try to comment on what you think about the chapter; maybe you have some opinions. The floor is yours. But remember, any rude comments are not allowed. Thank you.😊