The Debt Between Us

Chapter4

Aubrey

I woke up the next morning feeling happy. Maybe because I saw my parents in my dream, and we all looked happy.

I smiled as I got out of bed and headed downstairs to make breakfast. I made some pancakes with espresso by Sabrina Carpenter playing through the speakers.

I'm done with the pancakes and sit on the counter while I eat. I decided to go through i********:. The first post I come across is of Owen and his wife who he cheated on me with. I can see her baby bump.

I must admit they do look good, “asshole” I say as I scroll past their posts. I keep scrolling and liking some posts as I scroll through some of my favorite celebrities.

After breakfast, I cleared out the kitchen and just sat in the sitting room watching reruns of the TV show Friends.

I laugh and feel at peace. Just as I am enjoying my show, I hear my phone ringing. It was an unknown caller. I picked up the call and put it to my ear.

“Aubrey” is an unknown caller.

“Yes? Who is this?”

“It's Lucas.”

“Oh!…how can I help you?”

“I need you to get dressed and be ready by 6 PM. We have an event to attend.”

“Do we really have to go out today?” I asked, not at all in the mood to leave the house.

“Yes. Be ready by six.”

“Sure.”

He ends the call. And just like that, he ruins my mood to continue watching TV.

I headed upstairs to look through my closet and put Lucy on call. I tell her about the event, and in 30 minutes she appeared at my doorstep with a makeup artist and a hairstylist… leave it for Lucy to be so extra, but I love her anyway.

We spent almost an hour looking for the perfect dress. After going through the whole closet, I finally settled for a strapless black gown. We started with fixing my hair, then moved on to doing my makeup. I looked so beautiful, and Lucy kept on taking pictures and videos of me.

By 6 PM, I was ready.

Lucas sent a text; I’m at the door.

Lucy offered to let him in. I looked at myself one more time before going downstairs. I'm wearing a black handless gown that cups my breast perfectly and exposes the right amount of cleavage. The length of the gown is floor length with a slit in the front that stops mid-thigh. I'm wearing silver heels and pairing them with my silver accessories, my necklace resting just above my cleavage and the perfect earrings. I put on my gloves that stop at elbow length. I felt like a Disney princess. I quickly grabbed my clutch and headed downstairs.

As I head downstairs, I can see Lucas staring directly at me. “You look good” that's all he says.

“Thanks”. I wasn't going to compliment him even though he looked perfect. His suit fit him so well, and the open button at the top of the collar of the dress shirt, and the exposed skin just added something to his vibe.

“Can we go?” he says, looking at me.

“Yeah.”

“Pictures first!” Lucy says, whipping out her camera.

“Come on - closer,” she urged with a grin.

He puts his hand on my waist and pulls me close.

His hand on my waist does something to my body, but I don't let it show. After posing and smiling for Lucy, we got on our way.

The car ride was very quiet.

I tried calming my nerves as we pulled up to the venue.

I could see the paparazzi and the red carpet. I never got used to people flashing lights in my face. I never followed my parents to any event because I never liked the scenery.

Lucas steps down and just like that, I can see the photographers coming in our direction. He comes over to my end and opens the car door for me and helps me out of the car.

I try to smile for the camera and not show how anxious I am right now. He holds me by the waist and guides me to the red carpet.

“Mr Blackwood, who are you with?” I hear one of the reporters say.

He ignores them and pulls me close to him, and we pose for the camera.

“Is she one of your flings?” another reporter says.

He ignores them again and leads me inside.

As if he senses my tension, he grabs my hand and rubs it soothingly. I’m a bit surprised, but it helps calm my nerves.

“And who do we have here?” The voice belongs to a man who appears to be in his mid 40’s.

“This is Aubrey Reed, my plus one,” Lucas replied.

He stretches his hand toward me and I give him a handshake.

“How does a beautiful woman like you come to know Mr Blackwood?”

“We are friends,” I replied, giving him a warm smile.

“That's great, I hope you both have a wonderful evening,” he says, walking away.

“You did great,” Lucas says, looking at me.

“Thanks,” I say, giving him a small smile.

He found us a place to sit and we just sat and enjoyed the event. He introduced me to some business partners. I bumped into a few of my father’s old business partners, and they were really happy to see me. It warmed my heart.

Lucas asked me for a dance but I declined. I could see that it pissed him off a bit and that gave me a bit of joy.

On the ride back, he broke the silence.

“So…does your rule include us not being friends?” he asked, looking at me.

“No, it doesn't.”

“Then why did you refuse to dance with me?”

“I'm not a good dancer” I lied. My parents have made me take dance classes ever since I was a child. The reason I refused to dance with him is that it is something that I don't go around doing with people I have no feelings for.

“Look…this contract is for 4 years. "We could at least be friends to be able to understand each other.” He says, looking at me.

“Okay. If that's what you want.”

He drops me off at my house. As soon as I get upstairs, I take off my clothes and make-up and lay in bed. The event was not so bad. I'm looking forward to more of this.