Chapter 149: Particular Issue

"Guys, meet Daphne. A good friend of ours." Veronica took the initiative, her hands gesturing to the bleach blonde-haired lady whose baby-blue irises remained notably frosty.

"Daph, meet Clarissa and Aiden. Our cousin and her boyfriend." the elder twin introduced the young couple to the lady whose gaze remained as is.

Then, with a genuine smile that actually reached her eyes, she extended a handshake to the chestnut-haired lady, her voice carrying with it an elegance that was more natural than it was trained;

"Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot of good things about you from Ron and Val. I also think we’ll get along really well."

"The pleasure’s all mine. It’s the first I’ve heard of you though, so forgive the lack of knowledge on my part." Clarissa reciprocated her gesture with a curious light in her eyes.

"It’s fine. Now that we’ve met, you’ll get to know me moving forward." Daphne replied cavalierly, though her words also carried with it an assuredness that left no room for doubts.

"I see." Clarissa tilted her head slightly, her gaze flicking over briefly to the twins with slightly squinted eyes, the sarcasm in them evident;

She seems... fun.

The duo simply shrugged, their gesture seemingly implying a ’You’ll get used to it.’ response.

They’d had the exact same reaction within the first few weeks they’d gotten to know her so they couldn’t quite blame their cousin.

By now, both ladies had stopped shaking hands, and Daphne’s gaze had travelled over to Aiden, her eyes lingering on his face for a second too long.

Then there was a flash of disdain in her eyes before she casually extended a hand over to him as well, her tone losing most of the prior authenticity, the smile clearly not reaching her eyes.

"Pleasure to meet you," she simply said.

"And you as well." Aiden replied casually, not the least bit bothered by the switch-up from her.

Naturally, everyone else at the table caught this shift in energy, though with the way the parties in question handled it with such flimsy, they saw no reason to read into it.

From thereon, the ladies began chatting.

Well, it was mostly the twins, both of whom pulled the rest of the individuals at the table from time to time.

Clarissa and Daphne especially, found themselves more invested in their convo than Aiden who simply remained quiet, only giving inputs when he was called on or when he felt he needed to.

There was also a bit of a weird dynamic that followed, one where Daphne looked notably disinterested whenever Aiden talked, but would actively engage whenever Clarissa spoke.

Again, Aiden couldn’t give two hoots what the clearly rich lady was trying to accomplish, and neither did he think she was trying to accomplish anything really.

It seemed to him, that for whatsoever reason, she just didn’t like him as a person, period.

And though Veronica and Valerie remained ignorant of this, the chestnut-haired lady didn’t... not that she acted upon it, especially when Aiden was clearly undisturbed by it.

If the coal-haired youth was honest, he actually appreciated the direct nature of her disdain, especially since his most disliked set of people were the green-snaked type.

Somewhere along the line though, the gang arrived at the cafeteria as well.

It also didn’t take long before they spotted Aiden, all five walking over to greet not just him, but the ladies around the table as well.

Much like she’d been treating Aiden, Daphne’s cold air prickled every single one of the youths.

And much like Aiden’s lack of interest in her shenanigans, the boys simply offered her a respectful nod and smiles and resumed their conversations.

Lest the entire table turn rowdy, Aiden excused himself from the ladies, opting to go sit down with the boys at their table.

Just before he left though, he gave Clarissa a quick kiss on the lips without warning, a flirty smile on his lips;

"Thank you for the antidote."

Then he winked at her, and began walking over to his buddies with a relaxed air.

Still dazed from the spontaneity of his actions, Clarissa immediately snapped out of it and called out to him;

"You get back here right here and give me a long, proper kiss, handsome!"

Aiden’s laughter cascaded over the air to meet her, his hand giving her a little wave and a mischievous smile resting on his lips.

"God that’s hot." Clarissa audibly remarked, his laughter enthralling her like it was the first time she was hearing it.

Then she turned to the ladies, her legs slightly swinging back and forth under the table, and an unmistakable blush on her cheeks as a small squeal escaped her.

"What?" she asked humorously when she noticed her cousins staring at her with teasing smiles.

"Val, I think she has a crush on her boyfriend." Veronica angled her head slightly towards her sister.

"I know, right? It’s so fascinating..." Valerie bobbed her head softly in acknowledgement, one that earned an eyeroll from the lady.

Then, with a curious light in their eyes, both twins leaned forward, hands resting on the table as the younger twin proceeded to ask;

"Say, do you think--"

"Don’t, even, think about it." Clarissa cut her off as she explained;

"Casper’s a taken man, and Daisy will rain hellfire on you from wherever she is,"

"Theo’s a cinnamon roll so if you’re thinking of going after him, you’d better be serious about it,"

"Clyde, Benjamin and Larry are bar none some of the finest gentlemen out there you’ll ever meet, so don’t you dare think of starting some villain origin story with either of them."

"’Nuff said; Leave the boys alone! And I mean it you party-loving, uncommitted vixens!" Clarissa warned them with a pointed finger, her gaze serious.

"Damn, girl. Chill~. We’re just asking." Valerie leaned back with a foxy stretch and a smile, though her tone reflected that she’d gotten the message.

"Calling us out and shit like we’re wanton seductresses." Veronica casually added, popping the cherry at the top of her parfait into her mouth.

This time, Daphne actually giggled whilst covering her mouth, an almost angelic tinge to it that had all three looking at--the twins in amusement and Clarissa in honest surprise.

"Also, they’re so not our types as you’ve both successfully put it one time too many... and neither are they in our leagues." Veronica then added for good measure, though her tone remained humorous.

"So, they can rest easy knowing we won’t be casting enchanting spells on them." Valerie winked at her cousin who once again, gave them another eyeroll.

’I wonder if you’ll be saying that once you see how talented they are and how resourceful they can be.’ Clarissa inwardly remarked, opting to keep the gang’s ventures under wraps.

’Still,’

’Both of us, huh?’ Clarissa found herself recalling Ron’s earlier words.

If Daphne had also warned the duo about their taste in men before, then she definitely wasn’t as bumptious as she seemed on the surface.

So, she looked to the lady whom had managed to school her expression back to normalcy with even more curiosity, her pompous air and cold demeanor having returned.

Catching her gaze, the lady in question briefly explained;

"I have a resting bitch face."

"A what now?" Clarissa repeated, her tone amused.

Though she could easily infer what it was, she honestly couldn’t help but find it entertaining how elegant Daphne managed to sound whilst saying it.

"Resting bitch face. That’s what Val and Ron told me." she stuck a thumb in the twins’ direction, both of whom chimed together;

"It’s true~."

"Must be a blessing and a curse, huh?" Clarissa said to the gorgeous lady, some part of her getting to understand her a bit more.

"Like you wouldn’t believe it." Daphne replied with a light chuckle.

From thereon, both ladies hit it off, both finding themselves on very common grounds and beliefs.

It was also through their conversation that Clarissa got to know that the lady was actually the heir to one of the biggest fashion, cosmetic and grooming brands in the world--Harrignton & Vale.

That in turn, explained why she looked like she’d just stepped off the runway.

In fact, if Aiden had still been here, he’d have found himself wanting to make connections with the lady despite her overall frostiness towards him.

More so, when just a month ago, he’d encountered one of their less popular brands at a convenience store in New York where his lady had expanded his horizon with her words.

That said, Aiden was never the type to push it, and neither was it a necessity for him to since he wasn’t even interested in that industry in the first place.

Unfortunately, even if Aiden maintained his lane and remained as he was, there was one particular issue he was always going to have with the lady.

One that was by no fault of his at all.

Daphne, absolutely, disliked men.

Worse still, she disliked overly handsome and good-looking men the most.

Afterall, they were the ones who often got away with the worst attitudes and habits... several of which she’d experienced firsthand over the course of her life, even when she’d had been underage.

It was also why, despite the fact that Aiden hadn’t stolen a single glance or ogled her like she’d been expecting him to, and neither had his friends, she still harbored the same disdain for him, and likewise all of his friends.

Well, except for one.