Chapter one
Amelia's POV
"Amelia, what do you think about my new idea?"
"Huh? Me?" I asked confused looking behind to be sure that I wasn't mistaken.
"Yes you Amelia." She replied. This is the first time that she is talking to me since the gala and it was natural for me to be shocked.
"As much as I hate to admit it, everyone holds you in high estimation, even the boss. It's as if they see you as a wonder woman or something. So I need to know what you think about my new idea and if it's good enough for me to show the boss." She has never been insecure about her work before, I guess there is a first time for everything but I never expected her to come to me for advice. She despises me.
"Uhm…I think it's good. I don't know what the boss would think because I am not in her mind." I answered carefully hoping she would roll her eyes and walk out as usual but she drew her seat closer to me.
"No criticism?" Wow since when did she like being criticized? I stared blankly at her as she sighed, moving closer to me as though we were gossiping.
"Well, your designs have never been rejected by the boss. It has always been picked by the firm's top clients unlike mine which have been rejected four times in a row." That was a huge secret that she let out and I don't know what to say so I cleared my throat instead. She had always carried herself as though she were the best designer here. I never knew that her latest designs have been rejected for four consecutive times. I thought she was coming up with a better design all these while just as she had said over yesterday's lunch.
"Look I admit it, I wanted to win the best designer at the gala and when you won it, I was jealous of you but I just realized that I was just being childish but it was expected, I mean, you have the perfect family, you are a very good fashion designer, your life is a perfect one compared to mine. I have to struggle for everything I need." She apologized with her eyes looking everywhere except my face.
"Well, it's okay. I don't have anything against you." I said and she pulled me into a tight hug. I never mentioned we were back to being friends did I?
"Thanks for forgiving me." She blurted out when she decided to let me go. "Is it okay if we talk about my designs over lunch tomorrow and how to enhance it? I know they suck, you just don't want to say it. I need to do this because if I don't provide a good design by Monday , I will have to say goodbye to this firm." She added. Initially, I wanted to say that I have a lot of things on my hands but I figured that it would be good to breathe in fresh air so I nodded and that led to another tight hugging session.
"Thank you so much, I will see you tomorrow, it's time to pick Darren up." She beamed and I nodded. I didn't want to ask her about Darren because it might lead to another killer hug.
"Wow! I didn't know that you and that sneaky butch were back to being best of friends." I looked up to the owner of the voice.
"No, it's not like that Ellie."
"Then what is it like?"
"She just wanted to apologize for what happened at the gala and how she has been acting lately." I said rubbing my forehead hoping that she would let the matter die down but Elie being who she is, continued her questioning.
"And you forgave her after everything she did to you? And you're back to being friends again? Isn't one bad experience enough for you Amelia Stanton?"
"She apologized and I accepted. She was the one hugging me, not the other way round. Besides, I have a lot more things to think about than Ann Strong."
"How is he doing?" Ellie asked with genuine concern written all over her face.
"Well, when I checked this morning, he was in a state that is a little bit worse than yesterday." I breathed out.
"Ooh my poor friend." She said, pulling me into a bear hug.
"I'm so tired Ellie, the medical bills are piling up and the loan…" I stopped. I didn't need to complete the statement. Ellie knew me very well and what was going on in my family. Everyone thinks that I live a perfect life. Only Ellie knows that it's only a facade, that my life was ten million times far from being perfect.
"I just wish I could help but handling Sonia and the twins…"
"It's okay, I understand. You wouldn't hold back if you could help me in any way." I said cutting her short.
My phone rang out loud disrupting the silence. I sighed when I saw the name. I just hope it isn't just another bad news because I am not sure I can live with it.
"Hello mom." I said, trying to sound as cheerful as I could.
"Mel, come to the hospital now, it's your brother…"The rest of what she said I didn't know but in no time, I was on my feet running like it was the race of my life. I heard Ellie calling me repeatedly but I didn't care to stop. I had to be there for my parents. I entered my red Ferrari and zoomed off to the hospital knowing that Ellie would follow me in her car.
I didn't notice that I wasn't putting on any footwear until Elie placed a pair of shoes in front of me and nudged me. I nodded at her and she smiled in return squeezing my arm a little.
The doctor came into view and I stood by my mother's side.
"We can't keep managing the poison. It has spread all over his body. I'm afraid that if nothing is done in the next ten hours, we might lose him." And that was all he said for me to know that I had no choice.
