After coaxing her brother with promise of contacting him every week, she finally managed to send him on his way. The poor thing wanted her to contact him every day, but Elia felt that was too much of a risk. If he gets caught in a call with her by their stepmother, then that would be a nightmare. The latter might pressure him to talk on her behalf, and that is the last thing Elia wanted right now.
To make up for the time spent talking to her brother, Elia worked an extra hour and rushed just in time to meet Lena.
"Sorry, I'm late!" She sat opposite Lena and drank a glass of water to calm herself down.
"It's okay." Lena watched as Elia gulped down the water in urgency and felt bad for her. She was minding her business, working hard, and making time to meet who she considered her friend, and yet, here she was trying to manipulate the sweet girl. Lena felt ashamed of herself at this moment.
"How have you been?" Lena asked, "With the Donovans?''
