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Pulling up in her car, Melody stepped out and walked up to the large Sharp manor. Looking around she noticed a few more rose bushes and shook her head as she laughed. Looks like Alexandre struck again.

Pulling her phone out, she sent a message to Liam. It was the standard drill now, no more just barging in. Not that she really cared if Aloysius was stressed by her comings and goings but she didn’t want to walk in on anything. Not that she wasn’t a bit curious about Liam since the beginning but that was another thing.

I’m here, may I come in or are you ready to head out to look at things? I have a few places in mind then some others if none of them have something you like.

That sent, she tapped the tip of her heel on the ground as she waited. There were a lot of things to look at and while she was out she would be keeping an eye out on that target of hers to see if things ended up leading to something scandalous. It wasn’t likely but keeping an eye out for all the possibilities was something she did well when it came to things like this.

Reaching up, she brushed a loose strand of hair out of her face and really took in the fact that Liam would officially be family here soon as long as her brother didn’t ******** things up somehow. It was as unlikely as the other thing but still, she had to keep an eye out for anything. Though she figured at least in part that Liam would still stick around even if her brother stumbled back into some of his old habits.

It bothered her though, that they would put up with all his bullshit and see something in him but she couldn’t argue with the fact that they’d done something to keep Liam safe while she’d had to have her a** saved more than once in all this.

“Oh~ I see you decided to wear some of the clothes I picked out. They look good on you.” It was a miracle to see them not in sneakers for once too so she marked that off as another victory in her effort to clean them up a bit.

“Of course, I’d help you with this, it’s important to you.” Smiling, she turned back to her car and started moving. “I have a few ideas already but I’m sure we can find something that’ll be nice for you both.”

The one thing she knew would have to be taken into account was how a ring might affect him playing any instruments. She knew she didn’t like the feeling of a ring or bracelet when she dabbled on the piano. Singing didn’t really matter much but that little clack jewelers made against a mic also bothered her. All the small little sounds that took away from her talent and distracted her, something that both their parents had drilled into her and her brother.

“Something blue I would say too, at least for him. You always seem to fit warmer tones though which I like.” They were also a warmer person so there was that as well.

“That’s good because as my accountant, you’ll get to meet some of the lawyers I intend to work with to get some things managed. I know you’ll do well, you actually study and work hard on things.” Smiling as she got in her car, she kicked her heels off on the floorboard and got her seatbelt on.

Waiting until they got in as well, she scrunched her face up a bit as she considered gemstones. “Maybe sapphire, since it's both of our birthstones but could be something else too, or even those crushed gemstone rings. Something that is smooth I think though, nothing that sticks up or catching on things. I don’t think he would care much for something with a diamond but I’m sure a jeweler would know more.”

Setting her phone up into the cradle on her dash, she tapped at it and got the list of stores pulled up on Google Maps. All of them had a nice selection of things and a few even had artisans who helped custom design things. It would be expensive if it came to that for Liam, though she wouldn’t mind helping if he needed it.

“Ready for our little adventure? I might look for a new set of earrings or a necklace maybe during the process, something for when I work at the Evans family home.” Something that might add to her intrigue and get one of the available bachelors to take the bait.

“It’s sort of like those but a bit different, I had looked into the idea awhile back for another thing.” Pulling out of the driveway, she started on the journey to the first shop on the list. Working from closest to farthest then looping back for lunch or dinner by then at a new place that opened up.

“That could go nicely, green can be a cool tone color as well sometimes. That reminds me, he has earrings now, doesn’t he… So odd. I noticed them the other day but I guess they get hidden behind all that hair of his. I have no idea how he does it, I can’t stand it when my hair goes past my shoulders.” Thinking of it, she tucked some of her hair behind her ear to keep it off her face.

“Oh, well, I know a few of these boutiques because of things I overheard working or when I go out to those socials. Jewelry goes hand in hand with fashion and that’s a large topic that comes up at those things. A few of these shops I was just curious about because they make less traditionally designed rings and I figured that would work as well. I like the idea of a custom ring though I expect to try bankrupting whichever Evans I get to marry, but if he survives that then he’ll do just fine.”

Laughing a bit as she joked, it wasn’t that same cruel and cold smile as she had sometimes. This one was more genuine because the idea that she would be getting into that family with all its power and secrets felt amazing.

“I think your hair looks a bit cute like this, sort of fluffy and wild in a way?” It was how her hair was sometimes mid-styling, something she did every morning to make sure she looked presentable for the day ahead of her.

“Our grandfather, he had long hair when he was young I think. There were pictures of him at the house but I don’t remember him too much. But even my hair takes time to manage but I could never imagine how long that takes to deal with.” Melody shook her head as she turned down one of the side streets to avoid the traffic and reach the first store a bit quicker.

The mention of a sort of walkie-talkie-like earring set seemed rather handy, it also made a bit of sense on how her brother had been able to figure things out that she knew he wasn’t at a place to learn. “I’m glad for that then, I think I can agree with him on that. You can’t really just teleport out of there like we can, you have to actually get to a mirror to get somewhere. So being able to get a message out to someone is really important.” She knew it would only go to Aloysius in that case but still, that was better than no one.

Watching the street signs as she searched for the right one to turn at, she laughed at Liam’s comment. “How else would I know that they can handle my tastes? I do have expensive tastes Liam even if my brother might not. But either way, I’m looking for some potential ideas, the whole setup will probably be more similar to an arranged marriage but I’m fine with that.” It would work out for the best for her and if whoever she was with was similar enough then things would be fine.

“I was little when he got sick, to be honest, I don’t remember what happened or much about him…” Most of her time had been with her mother or brother growing up until things had split up. Her opinion was that Aloysius was like their father but how much of that was her words and memories or her mother's? More and more she’d been thinking that over as of late because of Liam but she wouldn’t tell them that, either of them.

“I didn’t think I’d get caught out in the rain like that either but I guess he’s gotten us both out of things.” Sighing she looked at the GPS and then found a place to park near the first shop. Luckily it wouldn’t be too far of a walk either. Reaching back to the back seat, she grabbed her purse and things as she smiled.

“I’d love that but you need…. A bit of a crash course on some things before then. If you’re up for that? It’ll be fun and you might meet some other people who need some accounting advice. You’ll definitely learn a lot of things about a lot of people and that’s my favorite part.” Melody pulled her phone from the dock on the dash and tucked it in her purse.

“Ready for the first store?”

“I guess..” Waving the topic off, she stepped out onto the road carefully before wandering around the car to the sidewalk where Liam was waiting. Checking the map, she looked at the route and nodded to herself before tucking her phone away. “We can walk to the first few in a row, they’re only maybe a block or two apart for the first four stores.”

Starting off towards the first one, she started by bapping the taller blond with her purse. “Lesson one, stand up straighter, head up, and look more confident.” Walking in the way she was describing, Melody had that elegance in her steps and had an air of someone who knew her worth.

“Making connections means keeping and knowing secrets too, no more blabbing off to people like you did to Lorcan. Though that case made sense since he was a doctor but nobody needs to know why Aloysius doesn’t come to these things outside of the reason that he’s volunteering his time to help the less fortunate. I’ve had to keep eyes off him for years… do you know how tiring it was without knowing the why or how?”

Grumbling slightly as she spoke, she took quick and purposeful steps towards the first store before pulling the door open to beckon him inside. “Of course, you’re in good hands, you have the better Sharp helping you.” Smiling as she motioned them inside, she took a look at the glass cases of gemstones and rings. There were a lot of selections here, both traditional and non-traditional stones could be set into almost any type of metal.

"True but each store specializes in different stones and settings so there's enough variety. Pricing is about the same everywhere but don't expect it to be cheap." Cautioning slightly before she smiled and laughed a bit at how awkward they looked at first after taking her advice. It would take some getting used to for them but she figured they'd keep trying.

"That's true it did work and that does seem to back him into a corner enough to get his stubborn a** to agree." Not saying that she wasn't stubborn or that Liam wasn't stubborn either but it was so frustrating sometimes. At least Liam had some sense and listened to her. Even when she backed her brother into a corner it never ended with the results she wanted and it always left her in a worse mood.

"Good, let's go enjoy all these gorgeous gems then. Maybe I'll find something nice for myself by the end of the day and you'll have an idea what to get for my brother as well." It would be fun either way and she'd get to see them panic a bit at the pricing probably. Something that didn't even phase her and never really had.