Chapter 1

It was a bright, sunny day, the birds were chirping and a gentle breeze was caressing the trees, and the sound of cars could be subtly heard in the distance. The sun was sparkling on the river bed, though it did nothing to interest the two travellers who’d set up a picnic beside it.

They’d been travelling by car for a few hours, and weren’t at all pleased with the sudden stop over. However, one of the two women was celebrating her birthday, and a mutual friend had requested they stop there to find a present he’d hidden. He hadn’t given them many clues, though they were both still looking for whatever it was that he’d left them—and feeling the crunch of time.

They’d scoured the green field, looking closer at the water and even inspected the closest thorn bush near them.

One of the duo, a woman with shoulder length blonde hair and large, brown eyes, scowled her thin lips as she readjusted her hair in a loose-fitted beanie. She glanced at their surroundings, thick, luscious shrubs blocking them from the main road, before obviously eyeing the car nearby and turning her attention onto her phone. Switching to one of her many photography applications, she scrutinised her lip gloss before turning her gaze onto her friend with ash brown hair.

Seeing her friend lean into a tree to inspect yet another thorn bush, the blonde pursed her lips thoughtfully. With a small shake of her head, she asked in a soft voice, ‘are you sure he asked you to come here? What would Hayden do here of all places? It’s the middle of nowhere and he should know we have a tight schedule! Besides, wasn’t he just filming on set yesterday?’

When the brunette stood up to survey their surroundings with obvious disappointment, the blonde persisted, ‘he’s lovely, but he has no sense of direction. I honestly hope that he didn’t send you the instructions, did he?’

‘Relax, Yvette, it’ll only take a minute. Besides, you know Hayden isn’t at all vindictive. He wouldn’t send us here if he thought it would affect our schedule,’ her companion grinned, adjusting her long, brown hair so it was over her shoulder. Her dark brown eyes searched their surroundings eagerly for the present their friend must have hidden somewhere. Her luscious lips were contorted in a childlike grin as she continued her investigations. They both knew that she wasn’t going to give up until she’d found her present, and the blonde ceased trying to even argue with the older woman. Some things weren’t worth her sanity.

‘You’re lucky you’re one of my best friends, Mikaela,’ Yvette scowled before placing her phone in her handbag. Looking at the time was doing nothing for her nerves, especially given the deadline they simply had to meet.

Deciding to think outside the box, much like Hayden did, Yvette began to look under the thickets around their clearing. The man was eclectic, and she knew better than to look for the obvious.

Sure enough, hidden underneath a thicket was a small cardboard box. It was inconspicuous enough for a clueless passer-by to miss it if they hadn’t known to come to this specific location. Seeing it, Yvette thought that it was small, much smaller than the blonde had anticipated, but she let any comment slide. Mikaela was an optimist, and Yvette wasn’t about to burst her friend’s bubble if she could help it.

Upon seeing where Yvette’s eyes were focused, Mikaela let out a gleeful squeak before picking the box up and dancing around the clearing, rolling her hips in the way they had been practicing.

Watching her friend’s expression, Yvette couldn’t help but share her joy. Mikaela’s grin could have elated many a watcher, and even Yvette momentarily forgot her own apprehension.

‘A present, a present! Hayden got me a present!’ Mikaela giggled as Yvette tried not to role her eyes in disbelief. It was far from a secret that Mikaela enjoyed receiving birthday presents, and she had been over the moon with the idea of the gift Hayden had promised her.

Given that it was her birthday, and he’d only ever let the brunette down once, Yvette couldn’t hold it against the older woman. She could still remember the time Hayden had forgotten her birthday in high school. After seeing how upset Mikaela had been that one of her closest friends had simply forgotten her special day, Lynn and Yvette had made it their mission to ensure Hayden remembered her special day. Mikaela had always been very gentle and caring, even as a small child, and Yvette couldn’t help but want to protect her friend.

Tearing open the package, it was quite obvious from Mikaela’s expression that she couldn’t wait to see what Hayden had sent her this time. Just seeing the brunette’s childlike glee was something which elated her companion’s mood in spite of her concerns. Even then, the blonde shuffled closer, noticing an envelope slip to the grassy ground as Mikaela successfully opened the box.

‘I wonder what we’re getting this time,’ Yvette questioned, her brows knitting together slightly. Whenever the two were together, Hayden was courteous enough to get them both something, and the time they’d spent Yvette’s birthday with Lynn had almost ended in a war after Yvette had found out Lynn’s present had taken the poor man not only more time, but also more money.

It was fair to say that not all was fair in love and war, especially where Hayden Choi was involved. The man was a dream boat, a successful actor who had been listed in the top five available bachelors of the year. His greatest downfall was his incredibly thick skull as well as the acting career which took him all over the world. It left him little time for his family or friends, even ones as understanding as Mikaela and Yvette.

‘I bet it’s cake vouchers again. He knows I love cake,’ Mikaela chuckled, and Yvette could see why. Everyone knew just how much Mikaela loved her food, especially if she could try out a new place.

Yvette knew that, while she wouldn’t call herself a connoisseur, Mikaela made no secret of wanting to sample all walks of the culinary life. She wouldn’t turn her nose up at a stand or van parked on the side of a busy road, nor would she hesitate to go into an exclusive restaurant. When it came to food, Mikaela tried everything—even the seafood she professed to dislike.

‘Don’t be so sure, that would have to be a lot of cake vouchers, and our dance trainer might just kill him after your binge last week. Besides, Lynn could have helped him pick out a nice knit from France. Please let it be an authentic couture! Please!’ Yvette pleaded, almost making the brunette sigh visibly in frustration. Where Mikaela loved food, Yvette’s mind usually headed straight to fashion.

‘That’s strange,’ Yvette murmured as Mikaela gleefully pulled out bubble wrap from inside the package, her gleeful smile as wide as a dog eating his owner’s breakfast. She disregarded the box as she began to unfurl the packaging, hoping to find her present.

Upon finding nothing but bubble wrap, she frowned, her brows knitting together in confused disappointment before she started glancing around her, hoping to find the missing present. Ever the optimist, Mikaela probably thought that she had dropped her gift on the ground, disregarding an envelope that had fallen at her feet.

Shaking her head in disbelief, Yvette leant down to pick up the envelope strategically placed underneath the box so Mikaela couldn’t see.

‘Hey, there’s a note,’ Yvette said as she picked the note up from the front of the packet, which had been discarded by the brunette.

Unfolding it, she recognised the man’s sloppy handwriting and felt herself unable to hide her smile. Her eyes flickered to a very confused Mikaela before returning to the note.

Dear Yvette,

I doubt Mikaela would find this note, especially since she’ll be too busy obsessing about the nicely packaged box I left in the bush, and I apologise in advance for any grief you’ll receive. But, all things considered, you can’t say I lied. I hid Mikaela’s package, like I promised. I simply neglected to add the gift in question to the box.

By the time you’ve found and read this, Mikaela will probably be fuming. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget to pack her present this year, but I’ve got something better after my delayed gift last year.

Yvette paused in her reading, her eyes flicking to Mikaela, whose cheeks were puffed out in tell-tale frustration. No doubt the woman did not appreciate Hayden’s prank, especially if he’d neglected to buy her a present in the past.

‘Really, Mikaela? Did Hayden really forget your birthday again last year?’ Yvette giggled as Mikaela’s eyes narrowed dangerously. The woman’s mood was definitely going sour, and Yvette didn’t want to prod the beast.

Hurriedly returning her eyes to the letter, she aptly avoided the woman’s wrath.

Anyway, it shouldn’t surprise you that I know how you’ll both react. Relax, I know what I’m doing, I hope. Anyway, a friend and I will be staying at Highpoint City, you should meet us there.

Love,

Hayden

P.S. Happy birthday, Mikaela!

P.P.S. Also, hope you’re both well :)

Rolling her eyes at his typically haphazard behaviour, she called, ‘Mikaela, he’s staying in Highpoint City with a friend. You can rip him to pieces once we’re there. Then, once you’ve both calmed down and had some food, gotten out of this blistering sun, he’ll give you your present and you’ll be all happy again. Let’s go!’

The other woman didn’t need to be told twice. In all the years since she’d began taking short trips with her friend, Yvette had never travelled as quickly as she did that day, her friend rushing back to the car far faster than Yvette had ever anticipated.

‘Shotgun the shower first!’ Mikaela giggled before disappearing into car, leaving Yvette to flounder outside momentarily before Mikaela buckled into the driver’s seat, grinning eagerly at her friend.

Once her mind had processed Mikaela’s actions, Yvette could only roll her eyes before walking towards the car and setting herself up in the passenger seat. Yvette knew that once they got to their shared hotel room, they’d see how it all went with Hayden and their appointment.

The car started with a soft growl as Yvette closed the door behind her, sitting in the front passenger seat beside Mikaela. Brushing her fringe out of her eyes, she buckled up before glancing at Mikaela. Sensing her companion’s attention, Mikaela glanced at the woman before sending her an innocent smile.

Knowing the driver’s adept and seemingly innocent deviousness, Yvette couldn’t help but respond in kind. Just catching a glimpse of her face, Yvette knew that Hayden Choi was in for a world of punishment.

But then, Yvette wouldn’t forgive him if he pranked her, either, and she and Mikaela were so close that she might as well have been pranked herself. And if there was one thing she didn’t appreciate; it was the feeling of being pranked.

A/N:

Hi everyone, thank you so much for taking the time to read my first chapter. Let me know what you think so far :)