Chapter 2

This had gone on for almost a week.

That afternoon, a light autumn rain began to patter outside the window, wrapping the whole city in a gray, damp haze that made the mood even heavier.

I was staring at a pile of project reports that had gone nowhere, wondering what to do, when my phone rang. It was Lily, my sister-in-law.

"Hey, Lily." I did my best to keep the irritation out of my voice.

"Ethan, are you busy? I was hoping you could do me a favor." She sounded a little anxious.

"Not busy. Go ahead."

"Here's the thing. Your brother went to the next city over for a meeting today, remember? He won't be back until tomorrow. And... my sister, the one I told you about last time, just got back from a business trip. Her flight lands here tonight. It's pouring outside again, and I only got my license a little while ago, so I'm scared to drive at night. Could you... could you pick her up at the airport for me?"

Pick up her sister?

My heart skipped. The regret of missing out last time, and that little spark of curiosity, came rushing back all at once. This was the perfect chance to make up for it.

"No problem, Lily, happy to do it. Send me the flight number and the time, and I promise I'll be there on time." I agreed almost without hesitation.

"That's great! I knew I could count on you!" Lily said happily. "I'll text you her flight info in a bit. You two have never met, but don't worry. I'll give her your license plate number so she can find you."

"Okay."

After I hung up, my gloomy mood had lifted quite a bit. I even started looking forward to the airport run that night, wondering what this sister Lily had praised to the skies actually looked like.

I was still quietly looking forward to it when the office phone on my desk rang again, shrill and sharp.

Frowning, I picked it up. On the other end was a voice I knew all too well, cool and tinged with exhaustion.

It was Vivian.

"Ethan, I'm back. I just got off the plane. I'll be at the office in half an hour. Get all the materials for Project Starlight ready. We're holding an emergency meeting to discuss the next plan." Her tone was as commanding as ever, leaving no room for argument.

Anger shot up in me in an instant.

Another meeting! Another plan! Where was she when I was killing myself over this stupid project? And now, the second she's back, she wants to eat up my personal time?

All the frustration and defiance I'd been bottling up for so long finally exploded.

"I'm busy!"

I practically yelled the words. Then, before she could react at all, I slammed the phone down with a loud smack.

The whole office went dead silent. Every one of my coworkers was staring at me in horror. I ignored them, grabbed my car keys and jacket, and charged straight out the front door of the building.

Forget the project, forget the meeting! Tonight, I was doing exactly one thing: going to the airport to pick up my "future destiny," the woman I'd never met!