Ravi looked up as Leery stepped into the room. "You came back earlier than I expected."
Leery met his gaze steadily. "Trust me, sir."
"Always." Ravi leaned back. "Let me see the outcome."
"Here, sir."
Leery placed a brown envelope on the side table. Ravi reached for it, sliding the photographs out one by one and studying each carefully.
"The first person," Leery began, "is Tesni Mendoza. She is a famous girl, regarded as the greatest Mendoza. When I looked into her finances, she pulls in three hundred thousand dollars from her social media alone."
A slow, sly smile crept across Ravi's lips. "Her father said he is facing a crisis," he murmured, almost to himself.
He set the photo down and picked up the next one. "What about the other girl?"
"She is quiet. Mostly keeps to herself but she is into textile design. She has already sold her designs to the three wealthiest companies in the industry."
Ravi was silent for a moment, his eyes moving between the two photographs. "How old are they?"
"Tesni is seventeen. Aine is nineteen."
The smile returned, darker this time. "I like how this is going."
Later that night, on the other side of the city, Kendle paced the length of the room, his voice low but urgent.
"Boss, just pay Ravi already. You know how cunning he is."
Mendoza didn't look up. "I won't pay him again."
"Boss, why?"
"I can't have a young boy going around giving commands because of money." His jaw tightened. "I won't allow it."
"He will keep asking," Kendle pressed. "He won't let it go."
Mendoza's expression hardened into something cold and final. "I will kill him at our next meeting."
Kendle held his gaze for a moment, then exhaled. "Let it slide, boss." He shifted, moving on before the silence could grow too heavy. "We have acquired all the gold and the transport truck will set out tomorrow."
"Make sure nothing happens," Mendoza said.
"Yes, sir."
The New Look
"God, Tesni, leave my face alone! Let it breathe," Aine groaned, desperately trying to wipe the white fluid from her skin.
Tesni clicked her tongue and swatted Aine's hands away. "Quiet, girl. It's pure refined aloe vera oil. It will give you a smooth face."
"I know, just hurry already. It's so sticky," Aine muttered, scrunching her nose.
Tesni washed everything off her face with practiced ease, then carefully removed the foil wrapped around Aine's hair. Aine reached up to feel it and immediately regretted it.
"What is the meaning of this curly hair?" She stared at her reflection like it had personally offended her.
Tesni ignored her completely and turned her attention to the garment laid across the bed. "I'm giving you a new look. But who sent you this dress and accessories?"
"I was chosen as a representative alongside the school president," Aine said, smoothing the fabric. "He sent the dresses for us."
Tesni went very still. "School President Jokull?"
"Yes."
Whatever composure she had shattered right there. She clasped her hands together, a dreamy and almost dangerous look washing over her face. "He is my crush, Aine. I could not take my eyes off him when he was speaking. His blonde hair drove me absolutely crazy and those hazel eyes…" Her voice dropped low, barely above a breath. "I was watching his adam's apple move and when he was pointing around, his fingers were just perfect. Those pretty veins running along them. I cannot imagine those fingers in my oh—" She slapped a hand over her own mouth. "Sorry."
Aine stared at her with cold, flat eyes. "Leave my room."
"I have not even begun the second section of your facial."
"I said leave."
"Aine—"
Before Tesni could finish, Aine grabbed her by the arm, shoved her out of the room and locked the door behind her with a sharp, final click.
Tesni stood alone in the hallway, the silence pressing in around her. "Why doesn't she like boys?"
No answer came. A shiver crawled up her spine and she turned, walking quietly back to her room.
The Next Day
The notification lit up Aine's screen.
Jokull: Aine
Aine: Jokull
Jokull: Should I come and pick you up? 😊
Aine: No.
Jokull: Why? 😊
Aine: There is no need. I can get there myself.
Jokull: Yeah 😊 I will be there by 11:30.
Aine: No wait, I said
But the chat had already gone silent. Jokull had left.
Aine stared at the screen, jaw tight, her words hanging there with nowhere to go.
The kitchen smelled warm and familiar when Aine came downstairs. Her father was already at the table, his presence filling the room the way it always did, quiet but commanding.
"Good morning, Queen," Mendoza said, his eyes lifting to meet hers.
"Good morning, Dad," Aine replied, settling into her seat.
He studied her for a moment. "Do you really want to go for the program?"
"Yes, Dad."
Before he could say anything more, Tesni swept into the room with her usual energy, bright-eyed and barely containing her excitement.
"Hello, Dad. Hello, Aine. Good morning!"
"Good morning," they both replied.
Tesni beamed. "Mum and I prepared your favourite food today."
A rare moment of softness crossed both their faces. "Wow," they said together.
Tesni was already pulling out her chair, fidgeting with something in her hands. "I also have to read a speech today so I want to practice it here first."
Mendoza gave a small nod. "Go on."
She straightened her back, grabbed the nearest spoon from the table and held it up like a microphone, completely serious. She began to speak and every word landed clean and confident. When she finished, the table broke into applause.
Tesni lowered the spoon and smiled. "I also have a personal speech. For Mum and Aine."
Mendoza gestured for her to continue.
Tesni took a breath and her voice shifted, softer but no less steady. "Mum and Aine, I don't like seeing you quarrel. Tolerate my mother the way you would want someone to love theirs. Let us solve the differences between us." She paused, looking between them both. "Mum. Aine. I love you. I want us to be a happy family before I start college. We shouldn't always be fighting. We should have moments where we laugh, where we breathe. Mum, please try to understand Aine's point of view. She is not like me. She is more mature, more intelligent, more self equipped. Sometimes you have to let her make her own choices."
The table was quiet.