Chapter 30
Sighing, Tyler lays his head on his desk, like he used to do in high school. "We shouldn't have left that picture up." It's been a few days since Drew's visit, and with Betty now calmed down, Tyler and her are talking about the incident. They really hope he didn't regain his memories, else that'll make everything so much worse for everyone, especially May wherever she is.
"I know, Tyler. I'm sorry. I forgot it was up." The photo has been on the wall for years, so no one thought about removing it when Drew came by.
He shakes his head, though it still remains face down on the desk. "It's not your fault. I shouldn't have agreed on a tour. I don't know what I'm doing." Tyler doesn't feel like he's a good enough caretaker, like May was. He isn't as personable with the children, nor is he approachable. They all still rely on the nicer older teenagers, such as Betty, while Tyler does paperwork.
Betty reaches her hand across the desk to rub Tyler's hair. She's seen him mentally struggling for years now, which has gotten worse once May left. Despite not knowing what's going on in his head, Betty wants to help Tyler overcome his worries. "Well, it happened, so we can only move on from it." When Tyler doesn't respond, Betty adds, "He's cutting the funding anyway. We definitely won't see him again."
"I forgot about that." mutters the man. "We need a lawyer."
"What for?"
Tyler finally raises his head to look at Betty. Ever since he took over the orphanage, she has been his biggest supporter. He isn't sure what he's going to do once she leaves for college this fall. Unlike Tyler, Betty still utilized the Hayden Corporation tutors and programs. Regardless of Drew's memory loss and betrayal, Betty claimed that he sacrificed his happiness for a better life for them. Therefore, Betty will honor the Drew she knows and use his programs to be successful.
"To figure out what we own now. I don't want Hayden Corporation trying to charge us for the renovations or take back the furniture." Tyler doubts that'll happen, but he doesn't trust that world anymore. Drew had promised to protect the orphanage, but here he is taking their main source of funding away from them, even if he doesn't remember fighting so hard for the orphanage years ago. Tyler finds it difficult to trust people.
Nodding, Betty understands where Tyler is coming from. She gives him a small weak smile. "I have a lawyer, but you're not gonna like it."
Seeing that glint in her eyes makes him groan as he places his head back down on the desk. Taking over the orphanage has really brought an appreciation for May and Ms. Lovely. "Don't tell me…"
"Brenden Birch. He's at a lawfirm working with family and child cases in Petalburg City."
After some time, Tyler swallows his pride. When May and Drew abandoned them, Brenden did too. Tyler always knew Brenden only came around for May rather than the orphanage. It annoys him knowing that they may have to ask Brenden for help, but this is for the orphanage. Tyler will swallow his pride for the children, which makes him think this must be what May was going through when she gave up her happiness with Drew for them.
Is that why she left? She wasn't happy anymore? Tyler recalls telling Ms. Lovely he'll be happy if she let him take over the orphanage. Had she said the same thing to May years ago? And since May became unhappy once Drew left, that made May leave? She couldn't honor Ms. Lovely's request anymore? What if Tyler becomes unhappy? Will he have to leave too?
He looks up again at Betty's expectant eyes. He knows he's going to be very unhappy once she leaves for college this upcoming fall. Does that mean he'll be leaving too? He quickly shakes his head of the thought. No. He needs to be here for the children and the orphanage, and Betty will visit. Tyler is sure of that.
"Tyler?" Betty worriedly asks her friend who now stands up from his seat.
"Sure. Call him." Tyler shrugs as he walks towards the door. Brenden can come. Heck, Tyler can grovel for Brenden's help as long as it means the orphanage is okay.
Petalburg City
"I thought you said you weren't gonna be leaving for a while?" pouts the brunette as she watches her boyfriend pack a bag again.
They had spent the other day having dinner with Dawn and Paul, where Dawn got to formally meet Brenden. Of course, Brenden knows what Dawn means to May, coming from that world May has been trying to ignore. However, Brenden hasn't asked any questions about her relationship with Dawn yet.
Sighing, Brenden looks over to give her an apologetic smile. "I know, but they want me to go to LaRousse City." He had contemplated telling ehr his destination, but hopefully she'll understand once she figures it out.
Now, May curiously looks at him. "Why there?"
Brenden returns his attention to packing his bag. "Betty called…"
"What?" May exclaims because she thought he cut everyone out of his life like she had. Yes, May let Dawn back in, but Betty never really knew Brenden. What's going on? "Is everyone okay?"
Nodding, Brenden debates whether he should tell her the details. He opts to just keep it minimal. "Yeah. Everyone's fine, but the funding has been cut, so they want my help in figuring out what they have left...you know, in terms of power and what not. Like if they have to return things to the corporation."
May had heard about the funding being cut from Dawn last week, so that doesn't surprise her. The fact that the orphanage is reaching out to Brenden for legal help on what they now own doesn't surprise her either. He has always vowed to help them, even without her there anymore. They don't have the money to afford an attorney.
Letting out a breath, May gets off the bed to walk over and hug Brenden from behind, which makes him stop packing as he relaxes in her hold. With her face pressed into his back, she mutters, "You're back to the Brenden I grew up with." The Brenden she could rely on unconditionally. The Brenden who looked out for everyone without asking for anything in return. The selfless Brenden who put others' needs before his own. The Brenden she fell in love with, but she still doesn't feel like she loves him right now.
He can't help but grin as he removes her arms to turn around and face her. Bringing a hand to her chin so that he can raise her face to his, Brenden gives her a soft kiss on the lips. "It's because I'm with you again."
May has made him into a better person. Being gone from the orphanage, Brenden was so self absorbed in trying to make a name for himself, away from his famous researcher father. He has slowly been becoming that person May trusted and could call her best friend when they grew up at the orphanage together, which is why he will help the orphanage no matter what.
Once the two pull apart, May returns his smile while wrapping her arms around his neck. "Call me everyday, okay?"
"I always do." He chuckles.
"Good because I miss you too much." May pecks his lips. "Oh, and don't tell them we're together." When Brenden gives her a curious look, May continues, "I want them to move on from me, Brenden. I did leave without saying goodbye. So just pretend like you don't know where I went."
Brenden sighs when he sees her pleading eyes because he wants to tell Betty and Tyler and Ms. Lovely about May. He wants to alleviate their worries by letting them know she's okay with him. However, he needs to respect May's wishes. He sees where she's coming from with wanting to cut the orphanage from her life too.
"Okay, May. I won't tell them anything about you."
Days Later
"You really shouldn't be here Mr. Drew." Owen worriedly tells his boss.
Obviously, Drew Hayden does what he wants, and what he wants, is a break from Brianna. Well, she's off on vacation in Alola anyway, which he paid for. Drew feels guilty not spending time with her, but he finds it a chore being with her. Moreover, since he's out of the office, he can relax a bit. He's been looking for an excuse for a change in scenery. Hopefully, it'll help with his many headaches.
"You worry too much, Owen." Drew smirks at his secretary. They're getting lots of stares from those around them, especially from girls ogling Drew Hayden.
"Ms. Berlitz said she'd meet us when she's back in LaRousse City."
"I don't wanna wait that long, and I'm available now." Drew shrugs. "Besides, catching her off guard is the best way to see her business practices."
When Drew and Dawn had spoken on the phone last week, Dawn proposed they meet to discuss their business relationship. She told him she won't be back for a couple of weeks since she's overseeing the grand opening of the Petalburg City branch. Drew found it as an opportunity to come meet her as well as check out her business. He still hasn't heard from Solidad, so Drew is using this excursion as a way to preoccupy his mind.
"I don't have a good feeling about this." The frantic secretary mutters, which makes Drew chuckle.
"Have I told you you worry too much, Owen?"
"All the time, sir."
"Well, stop worrying already. Trust me." Drew winks at the man, and they approach the part of the mall with construction for Berlitz Beauties. Of course, the shop is locked due to it not being open, but Drew knocks loudly.
The woman who opens the door instantly recognizes him, so she lets him in. "Hello, Mr. Drew Hayden! We were not expecting to see you! I apologize for the mess." Dawn had informed Cheryl of a possible contract with Hayden Corporation, but Dawn made it seem like these talks would occur in LaRousse City, not Petalburg.
Smirking as he flicks his hair, Drew makes Cheryl blush profusely. "I was in the area and wanted to check up on my future investment." Drew is impressed with the aesthetic and layout of the shop. Dawn does know what she's doing. "Where's Ms. Berlitz?"
Cheryl looks at her watch and replies, "She's currently on lunch but should be back soon."
Nodding, Drew motions to an empty chair. "Mind if I wait here for her?"
The other workers are also admiring Drew's handsomeness, so he flicks his hair once more for show. With a deep blush on her face, Cheryl tells him, "Yes, you may, sir. Please let us know if there's anything we can do for you."
Waving his hand at her, Drew smiles. "Thank you…" he reads her nametag. "Cheryl, but we will be okay. I appreciate the hospitality." He then pulls out his laptop to work while he waits for Dawn. Despite being wealthy and powerful, Drew doesn't like treating people poorly, even if they are poor. He's still a respectable enough person to be nice to others.
Food Court
"Wait. I thought you said he wasn't gonna leave for a while?" Dawn asks her friend as they enjoy some mall food for lunch. While Dawn can afford an extravagant fancy restaurant reservation, she doesn't mind the occasional "commoner food" as people in her world like to put it. Dawn was raised humbly. Regardless of the many stares she's getting right now, Dawn is enjoying her time with May. The two have been meeting up every now and then while Dawn has been in the city. She's really missed May.
Sighing, May eats another bite of her food. "Yeah, but he really needs to go this time." May doesn't want Dawn getting any ideas, so she won't tell the bluenette about Brenden's reason for leaving. Dawn might think May wants to get back into that life, and Dawn may lecture her or try to convince her to see him again.
Fortunately for May, Dawn doesn't ask any more questions about Brenden's business trip. "Well, I'm pretty much free this weekend if you want a girls day out." Dawn then looks over at her toic bodyguard. "Of course Paul will be there too, but you know he's like a fly on the wall." Seeing Paul's eyebrow twitch in annoyance adds to Dawn's smirk.
May can only giggle at the two. Spending time with them has caused her to see how close they are. It seems like they're much closer than they were three years ago, and May is happy for them. They deserve to be together in that cruel world of theirs. "I like Paul's company too."
"See, Paul. You're always welcomed with us." Dawn grins at him.
Rolling his eyes, Paul mutters, "Troublesome." under his breath.
Dawn then looks at her watch where she frowns. "I guess lunch is over." While Dawn doesn't have a set time to return, May does. Plus, May has a store to manage, and Dawn has to help oversee her store's development.
May packs up her stuff as she gives Dawn a smile. "We have lunch everyday." May knowingly tells her friend. "And now we can have dinner since Brenden is gone, and I'll be taking you up on that offer for a ride home."
Dawn giggles while Paul helps her grab her trash to throw away too. "True. And we'll be seeing together this weekend too."
"With Paul too!" May chimes in, which makes the bodyguard let out a sigh. Gosh. Now he has two women teasing him. The things he does for that bluenette heiress of his.
As the three walk back to their shops, they bid farewell in the hallway in the middle of their shops. "See ya later, Dawn!" May grins at her friend.
"Yup! Feel free to come in if we're not done yet." Dawn smiles back.
Once Dawn is inside the Berlitz Beauties store, May turns around to head into her store to relieve Fiona of work. Before the girl can go to lunch, she hands something to May, which makes May curiously look at her. "What's this?"
"Ms. Dawn dropped her scarf when getting you for lunch." Fiona replies. The girl had picked it up to keep it from getting dirty. While Fiona wanted to personally give it back to Dawn, she knows that May should probably be the one to do it. Fiona doesn't want to seem like a creepy fan.
May giggles as she grabs the scarf. "You can give it to her, Fiona. She's very nice and down to earth." Fiona has met Dawn a few times, but May can tell the girl is shy with knowing Dawn's elite status.
"Uh. Maybe next time." Fiona smiles. "I'm gonna go on lunch. It's pretty dead in here, and Hellen is in the back."
"Okay. Thanks, Fiona." May replies as the girl grabs her purse to head to lunch.
Seeing as how the store really is pretty empty, despite the mall itself being packed, May asks Hellen if she can step out for a bit. May wants to return the scarf to Dawn quickly because the brunette knows how cold Berlitz Beauties is right now. With it being under construction, there isn't much heat ventilating through the shop.
Walking across the hall, May knocks on the door, and Cheryl lets her in. "Oh my goodness, May! You won't believe who we have here today!"
May chuckles at the older woman. Despite Cheryl's age, she has tendencies of a teenage girl whenever an attractive man is around. May figures it's why Cheryl loves working at Berlitz Beauties. "I'm just here to return Dawn's scarf." May offers the scarf to the woman who rejects it.
"No way! You need to come in and give it to her yourself!"
"Okay, Cheryl. I'll come in." May instantly feels the colder breeze, making her glad that she won't be staying in the shop for long. Yes, Dawn needs this scarf now.
"Good! Right this way!" Cheryl exclaims happily.
Entering the shop, May feels the tense atmosphere. Is everything okay? Well, May needs to get back to her shop since Hellen is all alone, and May knows Dawn can handle whatever business comes her way. It's why Dawn is able to thrive in that elite world of hers. Looking in the direction of the voices, May holds up the scarf. "Hey, Dawn. You forgot-" May drops the scarf as her sapphire orbs land on those familiar confused emerald ones.
*Gasp!* They finally meet. :O