She uploaded the works and captioned it, "arts of the day," and tagged Aron's official account, it started getting likes and comments immediately, she read a few of the comments which were nice, and then she saw that some of the commenters were shipping her and Aron, she wanted to reply them that the ship isn't even close to the waters not to talk of sailing, she couldn't be with Aron, not now, and even she didn't know, she kind of felt she can't get into him even in the future, he was nice and all but she couldn't imagine herself being with him.
She closed her laptop and laid on her bed, looking at the roof, she didn't have any thoughts, just laid there.
"Nicole? Can we talk? Can you come downstairs for a bit?"
Nicole heard he mom ask, she got off the bed and wore her slippers.
"Mom, I am coming,"
She said wondering what her parents wanted to talk to her about, maybe Natalie is back already, she hurried downstairs but only met her mom and dad, no sight of Natalie.
"Mom, what's this about?"
"Dear, sit down,"
"Hi, Dad, it's good to see you home,"
She said greeting her dad who smiled, she has gotten used to her dad being nice to her and he even made jokes with her now, where before she hated when they were around, now she loves their presence, they help take her mind off sad things, when she was alone in the house, all she can think about are sad and depressing stuff.
"You look extra pretty today, girl,"
Her dad said in return which made her smile, her second genuine smile today the first had been with Aron.
"And you say he is not your type? Girl wake up,"
The voice in her head whispered, she shut it up and concentrated on her parents who are debating silently on who will tell her whatever they wanted her to know.
"Just say it, I promise I won't shout or be angry,"
She said after watching them for a while.
"Well, we don't want it to seem that we are forcing our opinions on you,"
Her mom said.
"Huh, okay, what's this about?"
"It's about the properties your ex-husband left for you,"
Her dad revealed, she wanted to react immediately and tell them to back off what's hers, only a few months ago her reaction would have been an outburst but a lot has changed, both she and her parents have changed a lot so she held it in and asked what they meant instead.
"What do you mean by that?"
"It's absolutely not what you are thinking, Lia, we don't want it, we just want to talk to you about it,"
"I know, I didn't think you want it for yourself, so what do you want to tell me about?"
"So your mom and I were talking while we were away and we thought it would be good if you open up the gallery and the hotel, hear me out okay,"
"Yes dad, carry on,"
"Good, so we thought it would be nice if you opened the both of them, you can decide to sell off the mansion if you don't want to live in it but the hotel, it's good business and you will be providing employment for a lot of people if you open even at the gallery too, the buildings staying idol and not yielding anything isn't nice at all and I am sure Rafael would have wanted you to do something with it which is why he gave them to you,"
Her father said, she saw sense in what her parents were trying to say, especially the part where her dad said it would provide job opportunities to people, the hotel was so huge that she would have to simply over a hundred workers to get the place running smoothly, and at least ten people at the gallery, the problem was she wasn't ready for the responsibility it will take to do that.
"Yes, that's what we thought and we wanted to let you know, it's okay if you don't want to do it, we are not trying to impose on you,"
Her mother added.
"Thank you, mom and dad, I understand what you mean,"
"Oh, good, we were scared you won't like it if we talk about it,"
"No, it's cool and I am going to think of it mom, dad, thank you for your concern and for understanding me,"
She said, she knew her parents were saying the right thing but she also knew that she wasn't ready yet, she didn't think she will ever be ready, yes she was scared, what if she decides to open up those places and it flops? She wasn't good with business, of course along with the properties, Rafael had given her a lot of money too which she hadn't touched, what more if she sells the mansion like her parents suggested the money gotten from it can be put into the business too, it was all playing right in her head but her fears were more, she would give it a lot of thoughts, just like she didn't want to rush things with Aron, she wasn't going to rush into making decisions about the hotel and gallery either, she would take her time, maybe, just maybe Rafael might decide to take it all back if she waited long enough, she decided to give it at least a month, if by the end of the new month which was starting in a couple of days, Rafael doesn't show up and take them back then she would open it and make it work.
"Alright dear, that's what we wanted to talk about, your response is fair enough,"
Her mom said she smiled at her parents, got off the chair, and wished them good night before retiring to her room, one month, after one month she would do something...