6 A Strange Couple
1512 Words
Leyla's fashion company is located in the busiest part of New York. The company was hectic as Christmas was coming. It was 7:00 p.m. and dark outside, but Leyla was still working.
At this moment, Leyla is wearing the latest CHANEL suit and talking to the designer. A new female secretary knocked on the door: "Mrs.Leyla, an officer named Eden is here to see you. I told him to wait for you in the parlor."
The designer gave Leyla a surprised look when she heard Eden's name. She gathered up the design in front of her and said carefully, "I've finished reporting my work. I'll come back to you when the new design is well revised and finished."
The young female secretary was puzzled as if everyone knew about Eden but pretended not to.
Leyla did not stop her work. After a moment, she said, "Tell him to come to my office."
The female secretary immediately prepared to go out.
Leyla added, "Forget it, I don't want him in my office. I'll go downstairs to meet him myself."
"Yes, Mrs.Leyla."
The secretary hurriedly brought Leyla her Hermes shawl. Leyla took it, fixed her hair, and went downstairs.
In the parlor, Eden sat in a chair. His military cap was off and resting squarely on the table. He crossed his arms, braced on either side of his knees, and leaned forward slightly, his eyes falling on a photograph across the table. His gaze was motionless. Only when he heard the footsteps of high heels hitting the floor did he turn his head, a smile on his face. He stood up and walked over towards Leyla.
"Leyla!"
Leyla leaned against the doorway, arms crossed over her chest, and said impatiently, "What is it?"
Eden hesitated. "I waited for you at the restaurant for a long time last night. Carlos said maybe you were busy with work. Are you free tonight? I'd like to take you to dinner."
Leyla's tone was firm, "I'm busy. You don't have to be nosy, don't come here again."
Leyla turned away, took a few steps, and then turned back. "You don't have to go home for Christmas either. I'll explain it to my mother." She turned and walked out the door.
Eden chased her out. Looking at the back of Leyla's departure, he stood for a long time, lowered his head and lit a cigarette, took a deep puff, and turned around and left.
Leyla came home, sat on the sofa in the living room, kicked off her high heels, and rubbed her forehead.
Seeing her tired face, the maid said, "Mrs.Leyla, you haven't eaten yet, right? You should eat first, we don't know when Carlos will be home."
Leyla nodded, "I'll go upstairs and change first." She stood up and was about to go up when the phone rang.
Leyla picked up the phone, "Mom, what's up? Aren't you in a meeting abroad this week?"
Neveah's voice came over the phone, "Is Carlos here?"
Although Mom's voice sounded pretty much the same as usual, Leyla could tell she was a little angry.
"He's not home. What's wrong?"
"Carlos shot at a classmate at school today and alerted the whole school."
Leyla was taken aback. "Did anyone die?"
"No. Carlos scared the sh.it out of that boy."
Leyla sighed in relief. "Things weren't that bad. Who was that poor student? Do you need me to take care of this?"
"This is quite bothersome. The classmate who was shot was the child of a Wall Street financial tycoon. Fortunately, your father has many friends on Wall Street, and I've just called them. After all, no one was hurt, and this matter should be resolved peacefully."
"Okay."
"However, Carlos has gone too far this time. Shooting privately on campus is forbidden. From now on, you will keep a good eye on Carlos. I'll punish him when I return home."
"Okay mom."
"One more thing. Carlos' fiancee Rena, she has arrived in New York."
Leyla exclaimed happily, "Really? Where is she? I'm going to pick her up. I really can't wait to see what kind of girl she is."
Neveah sighed, "However, she didn't come to our house as promised. Do you know Saint Mariana High School? The principal of this high school, Alfred, is a teacher of Rena's father and a retired FBI agent, and Rena is staying at his house. I spoke with Alfred on the phone and he said he would keep Rena safe. I thought it would be a good arrangement. Carlos has been acting out lately and I don't want to disappoint Rena with this fiance."
"Mom, there are rumors circulating throughout New York about Carlos. I'm afraid Rena already has a bad impression of him."
"That's exactly what I'm worried about, but I won't allow this contract marriage to be annulled. Carlos must marry Rena. It's not just to stop Carlos from going to war, but because Rena is the perfect person to marry. She is rational, gentle and strong. I hope Carlos can become more mature under her influence."
"Mom, your words have made me even more curious about Rena."
"Be patient. Right now Rena is in New York. We can always invite her to our home. However, I am more concerned about you right now. What has happened to you and Eden?"
When she heard her mother mention Eden, Leyla immediately turned into a nonsense little princess. "Mommy, I don't understand what you're talking about. I have a headache, need to go to bed. Love you, Mom."
Leyla hung up the phone. She lay down on her bed exhaustedly. Thinking about Eden's face today, she was confused. She and Eden were still married, but they were separated. So much had happened between them that even God couldn't tell who was right and who was wrong.
Forget it. Leyla decided to focus on her brother's contractual marriage first, so she found the documents of Carlos and Rena's contractual marriage 15 years ago.
"So what mom said is true, there really is such a document."
Just then, Carlos came home.
"Sis, what are you looking at? Anything interesting? Why do you keep smiling?"
Carlos took the document and found out that it was a contract marriage document and his name was written on it!
"What the hell is this s**t? There's a document for a contractual marriage?"
Leyla explained, "When you were little, our parents found a wife for you. This is the marriage covenant that was signed then. Now your fiancee Rena is in New York."
Carlos laughed out loud, "What kind of joke is that? Being my wife with this document? Damn it! Don't even think about it! Even if Rena was a fairy, I wouldn't marry her!" His eyes showed disgust, and with a tug of both hands, the document was torn in half.
"Don't--" Leyla tried to stop him, but it was already too late.
"What's the point of keeping such useless things!" Carlos said as he stepped on it with his shoe, leaving a black mark on the broken document.
Leyla shook her head and went over, picked up the document herself.
"Okay, I'm done with my business, now it's your turn. You clearly promised me last night, why didn't you come? Eden and I waited for you all night at the restaurant!"
"What I promised was to go to dinner with you, not him! You stay out of our business!"
"Sis, what's wrong with Eden? Why are you treating him like this?"
"This is between the two of us, you won't understand."
Leyla sat up straight and looked at Carlos; her face turned serious.
"By the way, what was that about your shooting in the school during the day?"
Carlos picked up an apple, leaned over the couch, and took a bite. "That guy named Kevin deserved it. He embezzled someone else's grant and tried to bribe me. I just fired a shot and had some fun with him."
"Easy for you to say! Mom just called and she's pissed. What should I do?"
"I'll just call her myself and let her scold me." Carlos said, dropping the apple and grabbed the phone.
There was nothing Leyla could do about such a naughty brother. "I'll explain to mother for you!"
Carlos laughed, "I know you won't let me get scolded."
Leyla gave him a blank look. "You are getting married, this kind of ridiculous thing can't be happened anymore."
Carlos did not want to discuss the topic related to marriage, and he stood up. "There's another bar event tonight."
"Where are you going again? Don't go out! You just got into trouble during the day, can't you stay at home at night? The other day the gossip papers were talking about you spending money for that actress Cathy. She shot a video for my company earlier. Let me warn you, you have a fiancee, you can't flirt with other women anymore ......"
Before Leyla could finish, Carlos had already left.
Leyla looked at Carlos' back and shook her head helplessly.
- Writer
