Tina and Phillip boarded the business jet from Capital City to Stonebridge the next day.
Ever buried in an endless sea of documents and reports, Phillip found himself sharing the cabin with Tina, who, with headphones on, was engrossed in some mindless comedy show while simultaneously texting her best friend.
Their secretary and the flight attendant stayed in another part of the plane, only to be interrupted by a video call from a client looking to speak with Phillip.
Handing the phone to Phillip, the secretary went to their seats and paused, taken aback.
Phillip was working while Tina was scrolling through her phone, both in their worlds. If not for Tina's bare feet casually resting on Phillip's dark trousers, you'd think they were strangers to each other. "What's up?" Phillip's voice snapped her out of her reverie.
After a whispered explanation, the secretary handed over the phone, getting a nod of approval. Throughout the call, Phillip didn't bother moving Tina's feet from his lap.
Once the call ended, the secretary quickly went out, not wanting to intrude.
Having worked at VectorVista for years, she'd never seen a woman act so freely around Phillip. Sure, many had tried to catch his attention, drawn by his inheritance from the Richardson family and his striking presence. But Phillip had always kept his distance from romantic entanglements, a rarity among the wealthy elites she'd encountered.
The scene was a revelation, perhaps explaining why Phillip had made time for this trip, even staying a night in the Capital City amidst his busy schedule.
When landing in Stonebridge, Tina reached for Phillip's hand. "Hold my hand."
Hand in hand, they descended from the jet.
Life in Stonebridge was more relaxed than in Capital City, free from the watchful eyes of elders and the picture-perfect Hamilton family. Though confined to fewer activities, Tina found joy in the company of her dashing fiance.
Occasionally, Tina would accompany Phillip back to the Richardson Manor, fulfilling her duties as his fiancee. Though
traditional, the Richardson fam net
was far more progressive when compared to the stifling formalities of the Watson family. Content
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Tina's status as Phillip's fiancee made her the golden girl of Stonebridge's social circles, and her knack for making friends turned her into a local celebrity.
She had grown close to Phillip's friends, joining them for dinners and drinks. They liked teasing her, mimicking her voice in jest, "Phillip, darling."
To which Phillip would retort, "Shut up."
To everyone, it was clear they were a couple destined for marriage.
As winter approached, Tina's stepmother flew to Stonebridge to discuss the wedding plans with Jennifer.
Tina maintained a polite but distant relationship with her stepmother While there was no dramatic feud, the warmth was missing, especially with the shadow of her mother's passing between them.
Proud and aloof, her stepmother never stooped to mistreat Tina, nor did she attempt to win her over.
To Tina, her stepmother was like a stranger under the same roof, yet even more distant than any stranger could be.
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