Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

Fresh from the shower, his hair slick and damp, Oliver felt the droplets trail from the tips of his locks, gliding down, pausing briefly at the ridge of his collarbone before continuing their path. He approached the bed, where Josefina lay in deep slumber. Assured she was out like a light, he quietly retreated to the adjacent guest room to catch some Z's.

Later, seated on the couch, Oliver busied himself with some paperwork on his laptop until an unfamiliar ringtone broke the silence. A frown creased his brow as he answered the call.

"Oliver, it's me," Shay's voice filtered through, tinged with a tremor of hesitance.

"What's up?" His tone remained as cold as ever, devoid of any warmth, almost robotic, lacking even a hint of tenderness.

Shay stumbled, "It's just that I-"

With a click, the line went dead. Oliver had hung up. Shay felt the sting of rejection, her face contorted with the shock of his callousness. How could he be so heartless?

Fuming, she dialed Sydney, who was just about to tuck herself in for the night. The phone barely rang before Sydney, recognizing Shay's number, picked up.

that my Oliver's got a girlfriend now? Any idea who the lucky

Harrison girl," she spat out. "You haven't seen the half of it, Shay. That girl's got nerve. Your dad and Oliver had a bit of a tiff, and she just swoops in, provoking your dad. Now look at us, practically under house arrest in this villa, can't step a foot outside. I'm dying

be. In the brief time Shay had been abroad, had that

Allowing her to do as

huffed. "I don't know what's gotten into him. He

expression darkened further. "He's really

without them. Now, he's so desperate

ended up breaking a leg. Now he's crawling around, gloomier than

needed to return home, and pronto. "Mom, I'll be back in a few days. I've got to see for myself what kind of girl has Oliver wrapped around her little finger." Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to

was set. She hung up, sinking back against the couch, staring blankly at the breakfast spread before her, appetite nowhere to be found. Restlessly, Shay grabbed her phone and shot

she slowly opened her eyes, only to be met with a sight that sent her heart