Hello Lovelies! Another Chapter. I love the reviews so please keep them coming. It may take me a few days to update after this but don't worry. When I do update it will be good. :)
Now, with it being Wednesday, Hanna could honestly admit that Cecile and Morgan fit in perfectly. Lucas was being a great help and it was amusing to see Morgan smile at him dreamily every time he helped her with a task. Lucas just blushed and looked at Hanna. He wasn't used to being liked by a girl. Hanna didn't know why. Lucas was definitely a cutie. Nerd cute but still a cutie. The front door bell jingled and Hanna looked to see Olivia enter. Hanna looked at her watch. Oh it was definitely lunch time so she'll let Lucas go. He had something he needed to do during lunch anyway.
"Lucas . . . lunch time." Hanna says as Lucas looks at Hanna then turns to look at the front door. He smiles at Olivia before he looks at Hanna. Hanna mouths for him to go and winks at him. Hanna points to where she placed the ring in his jacket and Lucas nods as he wraps an arm around Olivia's shoulders and they walk out. Morgan actually looked sad.
"Sorry Morg . . . he's taken." Morgan pretends to sigh sadly while Hanna laughs.
"Han, can I turn up the music." Morgan asks.
"Definitely" Hanna says as she watches Cecile greet a new customer and immediately takes the lady to the business section. Cecil's hair looked great and her make-up choices were now superb. Hanna continued doing the schedule knowing that she wouldn't need both girls every day. She could easily work around Morgan's schedule and Cecile needed to get back to her since she did have a child at home. What Hanna knew however is that Monday and Wednesday she would be in the boutique by herself Monday was slow and today was slow as well. Tuesday however was extremely busy and in the process Hanna got two new clients. The bell jingles again as someone new enters. Miranda, Hanna says to herself as she walks towards her.
"It's about time you showed up Miranda." Hanna says. Miranda laughs.
"Sorry Hanna. I've been busy getting things situated but now I'm free for a good hour so how about you show me around." Miranda says. Hanna smirks and takes Miranda to a section she knew she would love.
Miranda stayed longer than an hour. She couldn't help it. Hanna's boutique was amazing. It was like Miranda could breathe again after being in clothes that sang to her.
"Ok Hanna I'm taking these two dresses, the jeans, the pants and definitely those two blouses." Miranda says as she sits on the couch. Hanna laughs.
"Any lingerie Miranda you would look phenomenal in the purple corset and matching panties." Hanna says.
"Oh God yes! How could I not get those?" Miranda says as Cecile hands Miranda a cappuccino. Yes, Miranda thought. She could definitely get used to this. This may definitely be her new favorite place. The interior design was awesome as well and certain things Hanna put together . . . Hanna truly had the eye for style and detail. Hanna takes the many clothes Miranda was purchasing to the register. Miranda watches as the guy Hanna was with on Sunday returned. He didn't look like Hanna's type at all, Miranda thought.
Hanna smiles at Lucas as she neatly folds Miranda's clothes and puts them in the shopping bags. She was giving Morgan and Cecile lessons as well and they were eating it up. Hanna takes out a black gift box, white tissue paper and a gold bow and glitter. She opens the box and places the tissue paper inside.
"Ladies, all lingerie goes into these boxes. If it is a set use this box. If it is just underwear or a bra use one of the other two. Now fold the lingerie neatly, place it on the tissue paper. Cover the garments with tissue paper, sprinkle gold and black glitter. Place the cover on the box then tie it with a gold bow like this. Attach a boutique card and then place it in the shopping bag." Hanna says as Cecile and Morgan nod. She hands all of Miranda's bags to Cecile and Morgan who walk towards her and ask if there is anything else they can help her with. Hanna watches Miranda hand over her card and Morgan returns. Hanna swipes, waits for the approval and hands Morgan the receipt for Miranda to sign.
Lucas looks out of it so after Hanna was finished with the next customer she stepped aside to talk to Lucas.
"How did it go" Hanna asks. Lucas sighs.
"Awkward" Lucas says. Hanna looks at him confused.
"Meaning?" Lucas sighs again.
"Remember that girl in high school? The one where I couldn't eat when she agreed to go on a date with me and you and Caleb went on a double date with me?" Lucas said. Hanna nodded. "I felt like that, I couldn't talk, I couldn't eat, I think I may have passed out with my eyes open and I know I was sweating because Liv kept asking me if I was alright." Lucas said as Hanna laughed.
"Lucas you love her and you want to be with her for the rest of your life. Go to the car, get in, go to the hotel and ask her to marry you then come back." Lucas nods and walks to the door. "Lucas" Lucas turns to look at Hanna. "Come back with the news I want to hear." Hanna says. Lucas smiles and walks out. Hanna shakes her head and looks at her watch. 3 o'clock. Hanna knew she had five more hours until she closed for the night. Hanna remembered that Morgan, since she opened, needed to leave at five and Cecile needed to stay until 7. Hanna made sure both girls worked eight hours the three to four days they worked for Hanna.
"Morgan remember you leave at five and Cecile you leave at seven just in case I forget." Hanna says as both girls nod and clean as they help new customers. Hanna smiles at Miranda who is still enjoying her cappuccino with her bags on both sides of her. Hanna walks towards her.
Miranda watches Hanna as she walks towards her and smiles. She liked the way Hanna ran her business. For as long as Miranda has been watching she noticed that every customer received the same treatment. A lot of customers were obviously first time shoppers but Miranda, as long as she's been here, hasn't seen one customer leave without a bag. Miranda also liked the professionalism in the girls Hanna had working for her. Both were so different. Cecile having an obvious obsession with shoes while Morgan's obsession was clothes. Both fit Hanna's boutique perfectly. Hanna sits beside her and crosses her legs. Miranda knew those snakeskin Michael Kors platform open toed sling back stilettos anywhere. The fact that Hanna has yet to look like she was in pain as she wore those five inches was an amazement unto itself. Then again pairing those with a white shorts romper and a black cycle vest . . . Miranda was truly impressed.
"How are you liking it?" Hanna asks Miranda as she takes the now empty cup from her.
"Like is an understatement Hanna. I love this place. Expect me to be back many times. However, my fiancé may not like how much time or money I spend here." Miranda says as Hanna laughs.
"Probably not Miranda. You spent $400. What are you going to do when I start selling shoes?" Hanna says amused. Miranda looks at her in excitement.
"I'm going to be spending more than $400 Hanna." Miranda says in all seriousness. Hanna laughs before they continue talking about their lives. Miranda felt she could be honest with Hanna. Maybe letting her know more than she ever told Caleb. For instance, even though Miranda was a foster child she was adopted when she was six and the family that raised her treated her like a princess. Caleb just thought Miranda had a crappy childhood and teenage years like he did until his mom found him and then shit got better. Hanna tells Miranda that her life wasn't a walk in the park but she had a shit ton of happy memories that outweighed the bad ones. Miranda hears the jingle on the door and the nerdy guy looks a lot happier than he did before.
"Excuse me Miranda and if I don't make it back to you don't be shy. Make sure you come back and visit me." Hanna says as she touches Miranda's hand before she gets up.
"You can count on that Hanna." Miranda says. Hanna's blue eyes twinkle when she smiles. Miranda watches Hanna as she walks to the nerd. He nods and Hanna practically leaps into his arms. He laughs and hugs her tightly as her feet momentarily leave the ground.
"Is there anything else I can get for you Miranda?" Cecile asks interrupting Miranda's line of sight.
"Maybe a water but other than that I am fine Cecile. " Miranda says. Cecile nods, getting a water bottle and quickly handing it to Miranda before she stands beside Morgan.
"There is something off about her." Morgan says as her eyes narrow slightly. Cecile looks at Miranda and then Morgan.
"What do you mean?" Cecile asks.
"She isn't what she seems to be." Morgan says. Cecile still didn't get it. Morgan rolls her eyes before she smirks at Cecile. "Meaning look at the way she dresses Cecile and look at all that she bought. We may not have the money but you know our style by looking at us and half of what I am wearing doesn't cost as much as the jewelry and outfit Hanna gave me as her first employee." Cecile was starting to get what Morgan meant. Even with the hair and make-up appointment Hanna set up for her on Monday Cecile knew herself and knew her outfits didn't cost as much as that hair and make-up appointment. Nor did it cost as much as the accompanying make-up, shampoo and conditioner Hanna also bought. Hanna was very giving but Cecile and Morgan both knew that Hanna's dress sense was solely Hanna. Miranda's outfit choices didn't match the pieces she bought. Not that her outfit choices were bad. On the contrary Miranda's outfits were cute but not the same style she bought. And with the amount she spent effortlessly it was obvious she had money or was used to spending money without caring about cost.
"You think we should tell Hanna to be careful?" Cecile asks Morgan. Morgan looks at Miranda before she looks at Lucas and Hanna.
"Eventually we will have to. Hanna is too giving and too good of a person to be swindled." Morgan says. Cecile and Morgan both agreed to tell Hanna when they needed to.
Hanna couldn't stop hugging Lucas and Lucas couldn't stop hugging Hanna. Eventually they let go of each other as Hanna pushed Lucas in the arm.
"I knew you could do it and I knew she would say yes." Hanna says as Lucas laughs.
"I'm happy one of us was so sure Han." Lucas says amused. Hanna smirks as she interlocks arms with him.
"Do you think she will let me help plan?" Hanna asks. Lucas laughs.
"Are you kidding? Han she was already asking me if you would mind setting everything up since she has to go to Africa to take some pictures for one of the businesses she works for. Olivia leaves tomorrow and you already know I leave for Japan on Friday. If you don't do it we'll never get married." Lucas says as Hanna squeals again and hugs him.
"You ready to run a business, plan a wedding, find dresses and tuxes and a venue and be my best Woman." Hanna's jaw drops.
"Lucas Gottesman are you asking me to be your best man or rather best person?" Hanna asks.
"Sounds accurate enough to me." Lucas says. Hanna's smile could only be rivaled by Lucas's.
"Then you can bet your ass I will do it. I will do it all Lu." The bell dings on the door. Hanna watches Miranda get up and hug a guy.
"About time babe. I have to introduce you. Hanna, Caleb, Caleb, Hanna." Lucas's jaw drops as does Hanna's smile as she comes face to face with the last person she would expect.
"Hello Caleb." Hanna says. Caleb looks at Hanna and can't say a word until Miranda nudges him.
"Hanna" Caleb says as he looks at Hanna and then Lucas. "Lucas . . . it's been a while man. How's Europe?" Caleb asks. Lucas clears his throat.
"It's good Caleb . . . really good. I see a congratulations is in order." Lucas says looking at Miranda's ring. Caleb looks at Miranda and then at Hanna.
"Yea . . . thanks." Caleb says as his eyes find Hanna's again. Hanna clasps her hands in front of her. Lucas wraps his arm around Hanna's shoulders knowing how uncomfortable she was.
"Wait do you guys know each other?" Miranda asks as she looks at the three of them. Not good, Miranda says.
"Yea, we all went to high school together." Hanna says. Lucas gives Hanna a look and Miranda doesn't miss it even though she doesn't know what it means.
"Oh yea. Tell me Hanna how was this guy in high school." Miranda asks. Maybe she can get some insight on an old girlfriend to get his password. Caleb didn't seem like the type to use an old girlfriend or girlfriends as a password but sometimes the unexpected is expected.
"Let's see protective . . . kind . . . honestly probably exactly how he is now." Hanna says. Hanna doesn't look at Caleb her eyes stay on Miranda.
"Any old girlfriends I should be worried about?" Miranda asks amused. Hanna laughs.
"Doubtful Miranda if I know one thing about Caleb he doesn't cheat and plus he didn't propose to any of his old girlfriends he proposed to you. So you have nothing to worry about." Hanna says as Miranda nods and squeezes Caleb's side.
"Good to know. Hanna I'll see you soon okay. Babe can you help me with my bags." Miranda says as she walks away. Hanna looks at Lucas and Lucas hugs her knowing exactly what was going on in her mind.
"Why didn't you tell her?" Lucas whispers in Hanna's ear.
"What would be the point Lucas? I actually like her so I'm not going to let her worry about anything that she doesn't need to concern herself with. He's marrying her. Caleb and I ended a long time ago." Hanna whispers as a few more customers come in. Lucas looks at Hanna as she directs Morgan and Cecile and introduces herself to each customer and asks what they were looking for today. Lucas looked at his watch. It was five which meant it was time for Morgan to go home.
"Morgan . . . time to clock out." Lucas says. Morgan nods at Lucas but continues talking and helping the customer she was with. That's what Lucas liked to see. Morgan wasn't in a rush to leave and she wasn't going to leave until her customer was ready to check out. Lucas watched Caleb and Miranda's interaction and Lucas knew it was still there. The draw between Hanna and Caleb. Even now they watched each other. It wasn't obvious unless you were watching both of them. Miranda didn't seem to notice or so Lucas thought.
As Miranda left the boutique with Caleb she was curious about the Lucas Hanna connection.
"So I've been dying to know babe. Are Hanna and Lucas dating?" Miranda asks. Caleb looks at Miranda. Hanna dating Lucas? Never.
"Doubtful. Lucas isn't her type." Caleb says as he drives them to their apartment. Miranda's curiosity can't be quenched.
"What type does she go for?" Miranda asks. She was curious if she and Hanna were more alike than she originally thought. Caleb smirks as he answers her and thinks of Sean.
"The all-American type. You know the types. The homecoming king who plays football and is a jerk to everyone who he feels is inferior to him but a total charmer to those who he feels are on the same level." Caleb says as his jaw clenches when he thinks of Hanna with Sean. Nothing happened between them. Thanks to Sean, Caleb got his chance to not only experience true love but to know the difference between someone who really cares and someone who fakes it. Without Hanna Caleb knew his life wouldn't have turned out as well as it did. Hanna always believed in him, probably even now. He had to see her.
Miranda looks out the window and nods. This is definitely the start of a beautiful friendship Miranda thought. Hanna was like her soul sister. She could shop with her, talk with her and even talk about men.
"Who are her friends other than Lucas?" Miranda asked. Caleb smirks because if he knew one thing would break up the friendship Miranda was thinking about having it was this person.
"She is best friends with Emily, Aria and Spencer." Caleb says. Miranda's eyes roll. Miranda didn't like Spencer and Spencer has made it clear on many occasions that she didn't like Miranda. To top that off, call it a slight case of jealousy, but Miranda knew Spencer and Caleb knew each other intimately. Anybody that new her fiancé, fake or otherwise, intimately could fuck things up for her later.
"How are they friends?" Miranda asks.
"They always have been. If you really want Spencer on your bad side . . . mess with Hanna, Aria or Emily. She would do the world for those girls and they would do the same for her. Also, Hanna is her stylist." Caleb says as they pull up to the parking deck of the apartments. Caleb parks the jeep and gets Miranda's bags from the back. Now a lot of things made sense. Miranda disliked Spencer but her outfit choices were phenomenal.
"Now it makes sense." Miranda says to Caleb as they walk to the elevators.
"What?" Caleb asks as he pressed the seven button.
"Why I always like Spencer's clothes." Miranda says as the elevator dings for their floor. Caleb laughs as he follows Miranda to their door and she unlocks it. They enter the apartment and Caleb puts Miranda's bags by the room door.
"So tell me about your day while I was at work." Caleb asks. Miranda divulges but she knew she had to lose him soon so she could meet her boss. Before Miranda went to Hanna's boutique she was able to get on Caleb's system but then he corrupted it like he knew someone was watching. That someone was her and she hated that Caleb always found her. Maybe her boss knew of a way to not be spotted. Miranda's phone chirped again.
"Anyways babe I should head out I have to meet with a possible employer who may take my gaming designs. It's probably going to be a late night so I may stay at the hotel there. Promise not to wait up?" Miranda says and asks as she strips and walks into the shower.
"I won't wait up." Caleb said as he looked at Miranda. This wasn't a first. He was used to her doing shit like this but he had to admit it was now getting old. Caleb looked at the time on the microwave as the water in the shower turns on. It was seven yet Miranda was sure she wasn't coming back. Caleb grabs a beer from the fridge and then walks out on the balcony. He looks out over the city while a blonde with blue eyes runs through his thoughts. Caleb was slightly surprised Hanna was still friends with Lucas. Then again that didn't surprise him at all. That was who Hanna was. The only person she had trouble forgiving was Mona but if she could forgive Mona one hundred percent, Mona, like Lucas, would always be around her. It was hard not to be around Hanna.
Caleb finished his beer and heard the shower shut off. Caleb thinks about the past before Miranda walks onto the balcony. He looked at the dress on Miranda and for the first time something felt strange. Maybe because he was actually paying attention but Caleb has never known Miranda to buy a dress like that.
"So . . . what do you think?" Miranda asks as she turns and smiles.
"You look different. Sexy but different." Caleb says. Miranda smirks. She liked that he said she looked different which means she looked like her norm. She didn't want to be the Miranda Caleb knew. She wanted to be the Miranda she always was and the one who could get any man she wanted and she wanted her boss.
"Glad you like babe. See you tomorrow?" Miranda says as she kisses him quickly and walks inside.
"Tomorrow" Caleb says as he watches her. He watches her put on her heels, grab her keys and her coat and walk out without even an "I love you". Caleb looks at his watch. It's seven thirty. Caleb puts the empty beer bottle in the recycle bin. Caleb drags on his gray beanie on his head, grabs his jacket and then his keys. He turns off the lights in the apartment before he closes and locks the door behind him. If Miranda wasn't going to be home he wasn't either. He had a blonde to talk to . . . he needed to talk to her and he wouldn't be able to sleep right until Hanna did. Caleb gets in his car and drives to eleven-05.