Discovering Bruce’s fame and prestige

“So, what’s your exciting news?” Mishka asked with her eyebrows raised curiously even though she knew that Gillian most probably wanted to talk about Bruce.

“I came across a hunk in the woods when I was visiting the lake on Saturday,” Gillian remarked as she began to take her gymn clothes out of her cupboard.

“Oh, what happened then? Did you guys have a chat? Who is he?” Mishka asked with a curious smile.

“No, I hid away from him, of course!” Gillian exclaimed. She shook out her chestnut brown hair and began to change from her formal work clothes into her exercise clothes.

“No, were you shy or afraid?” Mishka asked in surprise. Gillian wasn’t usually timid or shy. She loved to introduce new people into the neighbourhood.

“He’s so handsome, I couldn’t impose on him,” Gillian responded with a smile.

“She sounds really impressed with him. If only she knew that he’s a relative. I have to stop her from falling head over heels in love with Bruce,” Mishka thought to herself anxiously.

‘I don’t believe it. You saw a hunk and decided not to announce yourself,” Mishka remarked, shaking her head.

“But, I made a plan to follow him to his house discretely and guess what?” Gillian asked with her eyes stretched wide.

“What did you discover then?” Mishka asked with an interested look in her eyes. She was not so sure about whether she had to pretend or whether she had to admit to already knowing about Bruce.

“He lives in a mansion!” Gillian exclaimed with her eyes stretched even wider.

“Oh, he does?” Mishka responded, surprised.

“He does. So, I did my research by asking around that same night and the following day,” Gillian continued in an excited tone of voice. She was smiling happily as she spoke.

“You checked him up?” Mishka asked in surprise. “Aren’t you acting too fast?” she asked, frowning in concern.

“I have to do my research before I allow my heart to beat faster,” Gillian teased with a mischievous glint in her hazel-green eyes.

“No, I’m just teasing! I needed to know when he moved in and in what kind of business he was to be so well set up in a mansion, unless of course, the mansion doesn’t belong to him,” she continued with a shrug.

“That could be the case yes, but even if he’s renting it, the payments must be astronomical,” Mishka remarked.

“Yes, but I did find out that it’s possible for him to be able to afford a place like that,” Gillian announced as she closed the wardrobe door and pinned her hair up.

“You found out that he’s rich?” Mishka asked with her eyes round.

“Very successful, I should say,” Gillian replied. “He can afford a place like that because he’s a famous fashion designer. Can you believe it? A world class designer in our midst, but we’re so caught up with our work routines that we didn’t even hear the news,” she added as she walked out of her bedroom door with her car keys in her hands.

“Or those who knew just felt that we also already knew,” Mishka responded. “But, now that you mention his career, I have to inform you that I think that I met him today,” Mishka announced.

“What? You met him? But why didn’t you say so? He’s such a handsome guy. How come you didn’t tell me right away?” Gillian asked with her hand on the door handle. She then stared at Mishka with her mouth open in shock.

“I was gonna tell you, but I wanted to know about the guy you met as well. I don’t know about his mansion. I only know about his career. He did invite me to find shelter from the storm at his house, but I refused,” Mishka replied.

“So, you actually spoke to him?” Gillian asked, placing her hand over her mouth in amazement.

“Well, we were discussing the coming rain after he commented on my singing,” Mishka replied.

“Oh and he obviously loved it, so I suppose he will want to see more of you than me,” Gillian responded with a mock sad drooping of her mouth corners.

“Oh, who says he’s looking for a singer. Maybe he wants to live a peaceful life and not have a lot of drama around his partner as well,” Mishka responded as a form of consolation to Gillian.

“I don’t know about that. He might want someone who matches him financially and in prestige,” Gillian responded drily.

“So, you didn’t see the mansion?” she asked then.

“No. I promised to pop in, but I had no idea that his house was a mansion,” Mishka responded.

“Anyway, why do you want me to pop in at your house when I drop you off?” Gillian asked with a curious look in her eyes. “We don’t usually visit during the week?” she commented as she led the way out of her bedroom.

“Yes, I know. You have gymn and I have dance classes tonight, but I want us to challenge my grandma a little,” Mishka responded with a pensive look on her face.

“Challenge her? To do what?” Gilian asked in a confused tone of voice.

“I want her to think that we’re both becoming really rebellious,” Mishka responded.

Gosh! That’s tough. It would be easier to pop in at the designer’s mansion for a surprise visit,” Gillian remarked.

“No, seriously. My grandma’s really bugging me lately,” Mishka responded in a calm tone of voice as they reached the kitchen.

“Oh, but I told you that I would sort out your grandma,” Joan remarked as she began to take out plates from a cupboard.

“So, the two of you were discussing grandma Myrtle? Has she caused some upset then?” Gillian asked with a concerned look in her eyes.

“She herself is one big upset to my life and my plans. I just want her to know that I’m really not afraid of her anymore,” Mishka replied.

“So, you want us to shock her?” Gillian asked with her breath held in anxiety.

“Definitely,” Mishka responded.

“But I said that I would put some pressure on her which would surely make her move out,” Joan remarked as she began to dish up for the two young ladies.

“You guys sound as if you really mean business with her,” Gillian remarked as she glanced from her mother to Mishka in concern.

“She’s been bullying Mishka for years now,” Joan remarked. “So, she needs to be encouraged to go and enjoy her own home for a change,” she added,

“It sounds like reverse bullying,” Gilllian remarked with a thoughtful look on her face.

“I have to let her know that I’m not having her bullying anymore. I have to show her that I’m changing,” Mishka remarked.

“You guys sound like you could get up to something dangerous. Isn’t she just an old lady? You are joking, right?” Gillian asked with a half-smile quivering at the corners of her mouth.