The following week, towards the end of June, everything started to look up.

Now with the threat that I would be fired not looming over my head anymore, I felt like a million bucks, or if my purse had anything to say to it, like a ninety six dollars and thirty cents plus a packet of chewing gum.

And to make matters even better, Georgia and I had somewhat found some middle ground. I found out that I didn't quite hate her or detest her as much as I had originally thought. In fact, she was the nicest thing ever. She definitely didn't fit her outward appearance, which usually boasted a bitchy and stick-up-their-ass attitude. She was the humblest and sweetest girl I knew, at least until she had to set Douglas straight for being a jerk or being pompous and overbearing. Or when Mr Suddenly Romantic decided he wanted me gone because he wanted some alone time with her.

And the devious smirk she had that had haunted me throughout the day last week had been long forgotten. For all I knew, she was having a laugh at Douglas' hilarious expression when he tried to see face with her.

"Wait, so Jace, your brother, the guy who is currently in London," I began as I tried to gather the story she'd been sharing from her childhood days, "literally broke one of your good friends heart then he left for London?"

She nodded as she sighed. "I know. And trust me, it was much worse witnessing the look on Phillipa's face when that happened."

"Why?"

She shrugged. "I don't know really. But I think it was another girl. I think she had gone to London and he decided to follow her there. He always knew Phillipa had feelings for him but he didn't mind. I guess, he just wanted to make things easier."

How was that making things easier?

But then again, he was somewhat helping her get a clean break and over him.

"So have you seen her since?"

Georgia shook her head before she drank some cinnamon tea. "I think she decided it was much easier not seeing me after what he did."

Suddenly I felt someone's shadow behind me. "Who are we gossiping about, ladies?" I turned around to find a smirking Will, a pair of shades hanging from around his neck by a string and a Yankees cap on his head. "That Holden girl? Phillipa Holden, I think her name was."

"If you knew why'd you even ask," Georgia arched a perfectly shaped brow at him before she reclined against her lawn chair.

"Out of courtesy," he replied as he smiled back at her. "Besides, I didn't want you guys thinking I'm an eavesdropper."

"Which," I smirked at him, "kinda defeated the whole purpose since you correctly guessed the subject of our conversation."

His smile faded. "I guess it...did. Anyways, she was pretty hot. I don't know whether to believe that your brother was stupid or blind."

I rolled my eyes. Boys.

"What did you want, Will?" Georgia asked him as he leaned against my chair, his hands on my shoulders, slowly rubbing circles.

"What? I can't come out here and join you amazing ladies?"

"What are you, a flirt machine?" I asked him.

"The best, sweetheart." He shot me a wink at which I fake a gag. "Fine." He must've spotted Georgia's no nonsense look. "I came to grab Krys. Ron needed some groceries and I offered to grab them for him." Ron, I learnt lately was the name of the main chef.

"And you need me for...?"

"Carrying the groceries while I handle the bill, of course," he replied before cracking a laugh when I frowned. "Company, you naive bird."

"Since when did I become a bird?"

"Since...oh come on. Are you coming with me or not?"

Georgia furrowed her brows together as she watched him. "And why her specifically?"

"Oh come on. I need someone to come with me and she was the first one to come to mind. It doesn't matter really. I just want someone to come with me."

Georgia stood up and grabbed her purse and phone from the table. "Fine. I'll go with you then."

"What? Why you?" Will looked taken aback by her offer.

"You just said it doesn't matter. And I need to grab something from the shop too."

"Just tell Krys what it is and we'll grab it for you."

"It's much easier if I go."

"Just tell Krys."

"Wait," she smirked as if she figured something out. "Why are you so adamant about it being Krys? Is something going on between you two?" The second question she posed while looking at me.

"What?" I burst out, confused. "No. We're just friends."

"Yeah," Will agreed a second late. "We're just... friends."

Georgia looked like she'd just won Miss World. "Then you won't mind if I come with you, right?"

Will huffed in frustration as he stood up. "Fine, whatever. I'll go start the car." Then he walked away without another word or glance back.

Once Georgia left, following after Will, I leaned back against the lawn chair and closed my eyes, needing some shuteye after staying up and catching up on episodes of Jane the Virgin on Netflix (#TeamRafael/Michael #Both).

My imagination ran wild, thinking of everything yet nothing really. My thoughts then drifted to the upcoming anniversary of my parents death in August. Mr Burns had told me earlier this week that he would be taking care of it and that it would still remain a private and small gathering. Just Nancy and me and the Burns and everyone close like Georgia and Dylan.

Initially I was against it. I mean, for the past two years, Nancy and I had been doing okay, living our life. She usually made chicken carbonara and lasagne while I made the blackforest, mom and dad's favorite dishes. Then we'd sit at the dining table after a visit to their graves and relive memories, sharing stories back and forth. So, I didn't like involving more people, more memories I hadn't heard of before or wasn't a part of. But, Nancy reminded me that he was one of dad's good friends and dad would've wanted us to relive our memories together.

Another six weeks until that day and I choked on my tears, rubbing my hands over my face before I finally opened my eyes again after what felt like forever.

"Here," the now all too familiar voice of Douglas said before I looked over at him, sitting on the chair Georgia had previously occupied,offering me a handkerchief with the initials D . S . B engraved in fine print on the right corner facing me.

Immediately, I felt my face heat up at the thought that he'd been sitting there for however long my thoughts had taken.

"Here," he repeated as he continued to offer up his handkerchief to me.

Concluding that it would be better to save face and accept the handkerchief, in the process cleaning up my face compared to just refusing and remaining in my embarrassing state, I grabbed the cloth and dabbed at my tears, not wanting to stain what felt like luxurious cotton against my tear-stained face.

"Thank you." I handed back the handkerchief once I was done.

He took it and placed it on the table beside him.

Silence dawned as if we didn't know what to say. After all he had just caught me, tearing up. It felt like an eternity until I finally said, "What does S stand for?"

He looked up at me, confused.

I nodded at the handkerchief. "I know what D and B stands for. But what does S stand for?"

Understanding dawned on him when he noticed the embroidery. "My middle name. Stanley."

I smiled, feeling like I achieved something with just that bit of information. "Douglas Stanley Burns."

"Ridiculous name, isn't it?"

I shook my head. "No. I think it suits you well, Douglas Stanley Burns. It has a nice ring to it. I... like it."

He smiled at me warmly. It was surprising to think that just a couple of weeks ago, we couldn't stand one another. "Really?"

I nodded. "Really really."

"Can I ask you something?" He turned towards me, looking me in the eyes with earnestness.

I nodded, yet feeling somewhat flustered by his gaze.

"Is something going on between you and my cousin?"

Blurb [ Frosted (Hate at First Flight #3) ] :

Phillipa Holden has two rules she has lived by.

1. Always be kind and humble, especially to the help.

2. Hate the one guy that took her heart and stomped on it before flying away to London.

But this might just change when she encounters that same guy on her return flight back to Paris.

Jace Frost returns back to sunny Los Angeles, only to work for Mr Holden as Phillipa's bodyguard.

Will Phillipa be able to look past her broken heart and forgive Jace? Or will she find herself plotting to get him fired and on the first plane back to London?

Sometimes a fairytale is just a Frost's breath away!