Ophelia made her way to the table, her steps a mixture of excitement and hesitation. As she slid into the seat across from Kalina, she leaned forward with exaggerated elegance and asked in a faux British accent, "How are you doing, darling?"
Kalina's face lit up with a heartfelt smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm good," she replied warmly, her smile lingering as she watched her youngest sister's theatrical display. "And how was the gathering?"
"Ugh, stressful," Ophelia sighed dramatically, immediately dropping the accent. She slumped forward, resting her forehead on the table. "Full of fakes and phonies. I'm so tired of going to those things, but I can't stop—it's important for my line of work. Everyone wants to talk about themselves, and no one actually cares about art. They just want to be seen caring about art."
Kalina nodded empathetically, her expression softening with understanding. "I commend you for withstanding most of their bullshit. Trust me, if it were me, I would have caused chaos multiple times." She shook her head ruefully as she lifted her teacup to her lips. "Probably within the first hour."
In a swift motion, Ophelia's hand shot out and snatched the cup mid-air. She gulped down the entire contents in one go, leaving Kalina's hand suspended awkwardly in empty space.
There was a beat of silence.
Ophelia's eyes widened as she realized what she'd just done. She quickly returned the empty cup to Kalina's eye level, her expression sheepish. "Sorry!" she said in an exaggeratedly cheesy tone, offering her most innocent smile.
Kalina blinked at the empty cup, then at her sister, her expression caught between amusement and exasperation. She set the cup down with deliberate care and waved over a passing waitress. "Excuse me, could we get some more tea, please? And perhaps some bread and pastries?"
The waitress nodded with a professional smile and departed. As soon as she was out of earshot, Ophelia straightened up, her expression turning serious.
"Okay, so why am I really here?" she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Is this about my lateness this morning? Because I'm sorry, I really am. I slept late yesterday—there was this new exhibition proposal I was reviewing until 2 AM—and you know how I am about my sleep. Julia didn't bother waking me up because she values her life."
"I wasn't angry about your lateness," Kalina reassured her, reaching across the table to pat Ophelia's hand. "Come on, Lia, I'm not some stiff, corporate tyrant. And who am I to judge punctuality when I don't even set a good example? I once showed up to a meeting in my pajamas."
"That was ONE time, and you claimed it was 'athleisure,'" Ophelia pointed out with a grin.
"It was very expensive athleisure," Kalina defended.
"Thank God you know yourself," Ophelia mumbled under her breath, relief washing over her features.
Kalina's eyes narrowed playfully. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"
"What?" Ophelia asked, her expression the picture of innocence, eyes wide and blinking.
"I swear I heard you say something," Kalina said, pointing an accusatory finger across the table. "Something that sounded suspiciously like relief that I'm not more competent."
Ophelia raised both hands in a gesture of pure innocence, her face angelic. "I have no idea what you're talking about, dear sister. Must be your imagination."
Their order arrived, breaking the playful momentum. The waitress carefully set down a fresh pot of tea, delicate porcelain cups, and a tiered stand laden with an assortment of breads, scones, and petit fours. As the aromatic steam from the tea curled between them, Kalina's expression shifted to something more sincere.
"This is actually a thank-you lunch," Kalina said, her tone genuine and warm. "For everything you've done these past few weeks. And I have two gifts for you."
Ophelia's eyes immediately lit up with unbridled curiosity, her exhaustion seemingly forgotten. "Gifts? What for? What are they?" She leaned forward eagerly, nearly knocking over her teacup. "Is it that painting I liked from the Louvre exhibition? The one with the water lilies? Or maybe tickets to that exclusive Rothko retrospective next month? Oh! Or connections to that Italian art collector you mentioned—"
"Once we finish our meal, I'll tell you," Kalina interrupted smoothly, a teasing glint dancing in her eyes. She selected a scone and began spreading clotted cream on it with deliberate, agonizing slowness, purposefully ignoring Ophelia's eager questions.
"Come on, Kali!" Ophelia whined, deploying her most effective weapon—puppy-dog eyes that would melt the hardest heart. Her bottom lip jutted out in an exaggerated pout. "You can't just dangle gifts in front of me and expect me to wait! That's cruel and unusual punishment. I could report you to the sister ethics committee."
"There's no such thing as a sister ethics committee," Kalina said, taking a bite of her scone.
"There should be! Especially for cases like this!"
Kalina just smiled serenely, taking another deliberately slow bite. "Your legendary cuteness won't work this time, Lia. You'll just have to practice this ancient art called 'patience.'"
"Patience is overrated," Ophelia grumbled, reaching for a pastry with perhaps more force than necessary. "And you're enjoying this way too much."
"I really am," Kalina admitted cheerfully.
Between bites, Kalina kept up a steady stream of compliments and gratitude. "Really, though, I don't know what I would have done without you these past weeks. Taking my place in those meetings with the board, handling the Rylan account negotiations, representing us at the gallery openings I couldn't be bothered to attend—you've been incredible. Beyond incredible, actually."
"Flattery will get you nowhere," Ophelia pouted, though her cheeks flushed with pleasure at the praise. "Just tell me about the gifts already! I'm dying here. Literally dying. You'll have to explain to Mother why I perished from curiosity at a perfectly lovely café."
"How dramatic," Kalina observed. "I wonder where you get that from."
"Definitely not from my completely understated, not-at-all-manipulative older sister," Ophelia said sweetly.
But Kalina remained steadfast, focusing on her meal with exaggerated contentment. She sipped her tea slowly, made appreciative sounds at each pastry, and offered only cryptic smiles in response to Ophelia's increasingly creative attempts at coercion. The more Ophelia cajoled, pleaded, and bargained, the more Kalina seemed to savor each bite, her enjoyment clearly amplified by her sister's suffering.
"You're evil, you know that?" Ophelia finally declared, giving up and attacking her own bread with vengeful bites. "Absolutely, thoroughly evil. I'm going to tell Mother you're torturing me."
"All part of being the big sister," Kalina chuckled, looking enormously pleased with herself. "It's practically in the job description. Now eat up. The sooner we finish, the sooner you get your surprises."
Ophelia huffed dramatically but complied, her curiosity only intensifying with each passing minute. She tried to eat quickly, then realized Kalina was eating even slower in response, so she forced herself to match her sister's leisurely pace, though it physically pained her.
After a few minutes of companionable silence, Kalina set down her teacup with a soft clink. "Oh, and one more thing—cancel your evening plans tonight."
Ophelia looked up, mid-bite. "Why?"
"We're having a sleepover at Logan's place," Kalina announced casually, as if this were the most normal thing in the world. "You, me, Mireille, and Logan. Like old times."
"A sleepover? On a weeknight?" Ophelia's eyebrows rose. "Logan must be thrilled about that."
"He'll survive," Kalina said with a dismissive wave. "Besides, if you want to know how I know your Maxi and all the other juicy details about him, you'll be there." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "I might even have some stories about what he was like in school. His habits, his preferences, his—"
"I'll be there!" Ophelia squealed, then immediately slapped a hand over her mouth, remembering they were in public. She continued in a loud whisper, "I'll absolutely be there. Clear schedule. Nothing could keep me away."
But then she paused, her excitement dimming slightly. "Wait. You're a terrible storyteller, though. Remember when you tried to explain that business deal and everyone fell asleep? Including the person who made the deal?"
Kalina glared at her sister with mock offense. "I am perfectly adequate at storytelling, thank you very much."
"You once described a three-hour movie in two sentences and somehow made it sound boring."
"The movie was boring."
"It was an action thriller!"
Kalina waved her hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. That's why Logan and Mireille will be doing most of the storytelling. I can't be bothered to exert that much energy anyway. As I know I'll be completely drained come evening after all the meetings and proposal work."
"Oh, thank heaven," Ophelia breathed out in genuine relief. "No offense, Kali, but Mireille tells stories like she's narrating a romance novel, and Logan adds all the funny details. It's perfect."
"None taken," Kalina said dryly. "I'm well aware of my limitations."
Ophelia nodded enthusiastically, already imagining the evening ahead. "True, and they'll actually make it interesting."
Kalina eyed her sister, pausing mid-bite, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk storing nuts.
Ophelia, oblivious to her sister's stare, continued speaking animatedly. "Actually, speaking of L—how are things going with Sophia? She's practically been ignoring everyone lately, even me, and I'm supposed to be her friend!" Ophelia's voice took on an aggrieved tone as she warmed to her complaint.
"Ever since she went to Paris to fulfill her dream of being a fashion stylist, she barely replies to my texts. I sent her like fifteen messages and got back three words: 'Busy. Talk later.' That was two weeks ago!"
Kalina swallowed her bite and set down her pastry, her expression darkening. "Logan is getting it even worse than you. They're supposed to be in a relationship, and she's treating him like an acquaintance she met once at a boring party." She made a disgusted sound.
"I think she's practically been ignoring everyone ever since she got that scholarship. I really don't understand her behavior. Logan deserves so much better than this."
"Now I'm regretting introducing them to each other," Ophelia said miserably, slumping back in her chair. "Seeing Logan suffer in silence, always checking his phone, always making excuses for her... it breaks my heart. I thought I was helping."
"Hey," Kalina's voice softened. "It's okay, Lia. It's up to Logan now to make his own choices. You just wanted a better life for Sophia, right? That's why you introduced her to him in the first place."
"Yes," Ophelia said quietly, tracing the rim of her teacup with one finger. "I mean, she kept rejecting my offers to help her—and yours too, remember? You offered to fund her entire first collection, and she turned you down flat. She came from such a love-lacking home. She's practically been ignored and abandoned by her family while they shower her step-sister with everything—attention, money, opportunities, affection. It's like Sophia doesn't even exist to them."
Ophelia's expression grew more animated as she explained. "So when I saw that both Logan and Sophia had feelings for each other—real, genuine feelings—I thought maybe I could help by playing matchmaker. At least she wouldn't reject help from her lover, right? I thought love would open the door that friendship couldn't."
Kalina raised one eyebrow, her expression turning wry. "So, technically, you're the one behind Logan's current misery?"
"If you put it that way, it sounds terrible!" Ophelia protested. "But I really feel like she's not playing Logan like you and Mireille think. There has to be an explanation. Maybe she's overwhelmed, or scared, or—"
"Ophelia," Kalina interrupted gently, "you don't really know how cunning manipulative people can be. Trust me, I do."
There was a weighted pause.
Ophelia slowly set down her teacup, a knowing look spreading across her face. She folded her arms across her chest, her expression turning pointed. "As you are one yourself?"
Kalina choked on her tea, the liquid going down the wrong pipe. She coughed, sputtering, her eyes watering. "What? No!" she managed between coughs. "I have never manipulated a lover like this!"
"True," Ophelia said, her lips curving into a smirk that was pure mischief. "Because you've never had one."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Kalina set down her teacup very carefully, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"
"You heard me," Ophelia said, her smirk widening. "Never had a boyfriend, never had a girlfriend, never had anything resembling a romantic relationship. You're romantically challenged, dear sister."
"I—" Kalina started, then stopped. "That's because romantic relationships demand a lot of energy, and I don't have that to spare. Do you know how exhausting it would be? The texting, the dates, the emotional labor, the—"
"The actual human connection and companionship?" Ophelia supplied helpfully.
"Exactly! It's exhausting just thinking about it."
Ophelia burst into laughter, the sound bright and uninhibited.
Kalina's expression turned mock-threatening as she leaned forward. "It's only because we are in a public setting that you are still in one piece, my dear little sister," she said in a low, dangerous voice that didn't quite hide her amusement. "Otherwise, I would have to remind you about respecting your elders."
Ophelia clutched her chest dramatically, gasping. "Oh no, I'm so scared! The middle sister is threatening me!" Then she completely dissolved into giggles, unable to maintain the act.
Despite herself, Kalina's stern expression cracked, and soon both sisters were laughing together, drawing curious glances from nearby tables.
"You're impossible," Kalina said when she finally caught her breath.
"I learned from the best," Ophelia countered, reaching across the table to steal one of Kalina's pastries.
"Hey!"
"Consider it payment for the emotional trauma of waiting for my gifts," Ophelia said, taking a triumphant bite. "Speaking of which—are we done eating yet? Can you tell me now? Please? I've been so good and patient!"
Kalina glanced at the nearly empty tiered stand, then at her sister's eager expression. She pretended to consider it, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"Kali, I swear—"
"Fine, fine," Kalina relented with a warm smile. "I suppose you've waited long enough. And honestly, I'm impressed you made it this long without actually exploding from curiosity."
Ophelia sat up ramrod straight, her full attention locked on her sister, practically vibrating with anticipation. "Finally! Okay, tell me. What are they? Don't leave anything out. Full details. Complete transparency."