Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Bella: Ooooh. A guy?
“Yeah,” she said glumly. Grant had been dropping more hints than usual, and she didn’t want to think of the day that she would have to turn him down.
Bella: You like him?
“I don’t hate him.” It felt disloyal to say she didn’t like Grant outright even though that was exactly how Daria felt. In fact, she couldn’t understand why she hadn’t fallen for him still. Grant was good-looking, rich, intelligent, and nice. He also knew about her “past” and he didn’t mind.
Only one possible reason occurred to her, and it terrified her so much that she didn’t even want to think of it. “Actually,” she heard herself say, “I might just say yes to him now if he asks me out.” That should shake things up, she thought. It should get her out of her funk and make her start living again.
From the other side of the island, where “Bella” was staying, Nik shot up in his bed as Daria’s reply showed up on his screen.
What the fuck? He had thought Grant didn’t stand a chance, but that just showed how little he knew about Daria now. The most time she had spent with the other guy was half an hour outside her little porch, talking about flowers – flowers! He had seen Grant’s face, and Nik was sure as hell the only kind of flower Grant wanted to see and taste was between Daria’s legs.
Fuck him, Nik thought. If Grant thought he could have an easy way getting Daria, no fucking luck. As soon as Daria said goodbye to “Bella,” he showered and changed, intending to leave as soon as possible.
A month ago, Nik had realized that even if his team of investigators hadn’t been able to find a trace of Daria, there was still one thing he could do.
Daria loved her art too much not to do more of it, and he had stalked the Internet until he found several artworks that matched her style. Using Leah’s picture with her permission, he had created “Bella” and emailed the artists, inquiring about lessons.
Daria had been one of the last to reply, but he had known it was her the moment she replied. Too many OMGs, too much optimism – everything that was silly and sweet about her was in her email.
From there, it had only been a matter of hours for Nik’s team to use her I.P. address to figure out where she was. The fact that she was staying in Teleios had stunned him. He also wanted to draw hope from it, but he knew it could also very well be Daria wanting to redo her life and asking for another prince from God, a real one this time.
Don’t answer her prayer, God. It still felt ridiculous to Nik to speak to God directly but if it had worked for Daria, then he knew it could only be true. You already answered her once. No need to do twice the work. Let me handle this for You.
On his way out, he called for his PA. “It’s time,” he said simply.
SOMETHING WAS UP, DARIA thought. The air about her was strangely electrifying, but she couldn’t quite put her finger as to why it was. Sure, there was a huge party tonight, but there were always parties in Teleios, and tonight wasn’t anything special.
Making her way to the café, she absently noticed a girl walking while holding her parents’ hands, a balloon tied to her wrist.
Cute panda, she thought when she saw the balloon’s design.
When she reached the café, she greeted the people behind the counter by their names. They had wider-than-usual grins on their faces, but she figured it was probably because more tourists tonight meant more tips for them.
Taking a seat at her usual booth in the back of the café, she noticed the new paper tablemats with interest. Black and white, just like a panda.
When Monica, one of the waitresses, approached her, she asked, “Are you guys redecorating?”
“Sort of,” Monica answered vaguely. “Are you ordering your usual?”
“Mm, maybe something heavier. Grant invited me to the party, and I have a feeling they’re not going to serve real food there.”
Monica laughed. “I believe you.”
She placed her order and after thanking Monica, she turned her attention towards the windows. Since the café had a beachfront location, she was able to enjoy a nice view of the sea.
To her shock, she saw a couple of sailboats with pandas on it.
Just a coincidence, Daria told herself. But unease had stirred inside her. She finished her meal as quickly as she could and, after leaving a tip for Monica, she started making her way back to her room.
She was just going to text Grant and tell him she had an online walk-in and the money would be too good to pass up. He would understand. He was a nice guy.