Fate in Captivity

Chapter 22- Introducing Him-Her

(Aubrey) 

The event successfully ended and I invited him for a meal, grandma already told me that she wanted to introduce him to her. I don't complain, I just think that it is really a requirement that my grandma should know him aside from my parents. I also heard that grandma called Julius' mom, as in his biological one. I was excited, I did not know that the person I saw that night is just his stepmom, I have no idea what happened to their family but I know that I should introduce myself to his mother directly. We are walking downstairs towards the café,  I let Aly and the other employees go home, I just let other managers to handle the store for today because of this emergency event happened. I saw Janna walking out of the building and I was about to call her when Julius held my hand, I looked at him and he was grinning while looking away from me. I removed my hand and he kept on reaching for it, I just scoffed in disbelief when he put my hand with his on the pocket of the clothes he is wearing. I did not notice that he was only wearing casual clothes and not for work, looks like something really happened and I don't know if I should ask or not. 

"What are you doing?" I asked to him and he only looked at me innocently. 

"What do you mean?" he asked and I just rolled my eyes. 

"Oh, there they are." I just heard Julius exclaimed and he started waving his two hands on them. I saw his mom laughs at him and grandma looked back, I just smiled at them. 

We walked towards them and his mom smiled sweetly at me, then I noticed her eyes went down to our hands. I just realized that my hand is still inside his pocket, so I quickly remove and pulled it out. We sat beside my grandma and he sat beside his mom. 

"I have been wanting to meet you, Aubrey." his mom said and I just smiled. 

"Me too, sorry if I did not know about it." I answered and his mom looked at me confused. 

"Uhh, that thing happened with your family." I continued and she nodded. 

"It is alright, it is not something to brag about. I am just happy that my son is honest with you." his mom answered. 

"Of course mom! I am always honest with everyone." Julius suddenly intervenes and exclaimed those words. 

"He is right, that is why he told me that he is happy last night." grandma said and I looked at her. 

"What do you mean?" I asked and they both chuckles. 

"Something happened, you don't need to know." grandma answered. 

"She is right, Aubrey. It is our little secret." Julius answered. 

"What? How could you leave me out of the conversation?" I just exclaimed in disbelief. 

"Right son, I kept on calling you last night. Aren't you at your apartment?" their laughter stopped when his mom asked those. She is right, I also wanted to know about what happened to him. 

"We could just talk about it later, mom." he mumbled but enough for me to hear it. 

"What? Did something happened?" grandma asked and he looked at me then let out a deep sigh. 

"I did not know what exactly happened but this morning I see myself lying on the bed at our house." Julius started telling the story. 

"What? Are you drunk and just go to that house?" his mom asked to him and he shook his head. 

"Of course not, why would I go back to that house, mom." he answered. 

"Then what happened?" his mom mumbled. 

"I don't know then I just discovered that Ken's mother locked me out and stopping me to go to the event." he continued. 

"What?! That witch locked you?!" his mom yelled and I saw people nearby was looking at us. 

"Mom, calm down, I am alright as you can see." he said and trying to calm her down. 

But if it Ken's mother was the person behind why he is late today, then maybe this huge changed with the schedule of the event is also related. I just can't believe it to the extent that I just scoffed and it continue with small laughs. My gut feel is always right, Ken is really kind but it was pretentious, he was forcing himself to act like the image his own mom was making for him, image that is a perfect and likeable to all people he would encounter. And maybe, this could be their way of getting my vote, they wanted the company and they wanted something that is not for them in the first place. 

"How could they do that?" I just asked. 

"Don't worry about that, I can handle myself." Julius said and smiled at me. 

"No, you cannot handle yourself." I firmly said to him and his smile vanished. 

"What? I am not a kid, you should--"

"I told you, you cannot handle yourself." I said to him and I saw his mom and grandma stared at us. 

"Aubrey, what are you saying?" he asked and I just breathe in and breathe out to calm myself down. 

"Should I step up? Should I tell them that I won't choose anyone but you?" I continuously said to him. And I just lately realized that words that came out from my mouth. I just shut my lips quickly and I can see their faces lit up especially Julius' face. Shoot! You really should not say things when you are angry or just irritated about anything. 

"What did you say? I am probably the dumbest human on Earth and I cannot understand what you are talking about." Julius said and I can still see his signature grin.

"I really raised you well." I just heard grandma said and I awkwardly looked at them. 

"What I mean is of course, I don't have any choice but him, I was arranged with him, not with Ken." I said and trying to give them an excuse that would let me escape out of this deep humiliation I got. Seems familiar but I got my second most embarrassing moment again with Julius. Just when would he let me live my life in peace? 

"I am so happy that you have someone like her in your life, you need person like her." his mom said and I aggressively shook my hand in opposition. 

"No, no, you are flattering me, ma'am." I said to her and she held my hand. 

"I would prefer if you call me mom." she said and I was shocked. I did not know that her mother would be this sweet and kind. 

"Alright, mom." I answered. 

"Whoa! What a great scene I have here." Julius said and looked at me and his mom. 

"Shut up, mom what do you want to do later?" I asked to his mom and I saw him pouting his lips. 

"Me? I am not sure." she answered. 

"Do you love to shop?" I asked and she shook her head. 

"No, I prefer to be in the house at all times." she answered and I stopped for a moment to think. 

"Then, let us meet the other ladies." grandma said and I looked at her. 

"Why would we have to meet those ladies? And with Julius?" I exclaimed and she laughs. 

"I told you I opened a new art gallery and the ladies a while ago decided to check it out." she explained. 

"Art gallery? Are you the owner of the Artsy Gallery?" his mom asked. 

"Whoa, you heard it?" grandma asked. 

"I was that anonymous painter there." she confessed and we did no react for some seconds. 

"Oh, did I not tell you that my mom is a painter? She holds exhibits around the world." Julius explained and it made my jaw drop. 

"That was really great, mom. I want to see your works." I said to her. I just realized that I should stop myself only to be amused and not giving her some compliments. 

"What? No, it was just the same with other people. Nothing is special." she humbly answered and I just chuckles. 

"Nothing is special? No! You have to see her works, it was ethereal." Julius started boasting his mother, and if I have the same, of course I would also boasts it not only to the people we have here but also to the other customers here at the café. 

"Right! We have to go to the gallery! I can't wait." I said to her and stood up. 

"Going somewhere?" someone talked to us and when I looked back it's Ken, with his mother, I think. She is the one who attended that dinner and also the one who gave the tour at their company. I really think that she is Julius' mother after I also saw how she cared for him, now I already know that it was only for her huge show. 

"Liana, what brings you here?" I was surprised when grandma suddenly positively called her name and gave her a smile. 

"I just heard about the event and I attended it." she answered. She is there? I don't think, I see her at the venue. 

"Really? I did not see you, you should come with my table." grandma answered. 

"Oh come on, I already saw how those ladies flocked at you just to get your attention." the woman answered. 

"Really? I just thought they are just being friendly." grandma again said and the woman looked at Julius and his mom. 

"You must be going to the gallery, Alyana, I believe I should come too." the Liana woman said to his mom.

"What? No, I am not coming--"

"Yeah, we are. But I don't know if you are welcome there." Julius said to the woman and she just chuckles. 

"Don't be feel so strong, Julius, now that your mom is here." Ken said. 

"Oh, I just don't feel it. It's just that I am really strong, I could kick your ass without me moving any inch." Julius said and I scoffed. Now they are looking at me. 

"I did not know that you are her granddaughter, Aubrey." she said to me and I just smiled. 

"Right, and I did not know that you are only his stepmother." I answered and she was muted. 

"Aubrey! How could--"

"It's alright, son. Of course, I would not introduce myself as the mistress, though." she arrogantly answered to me and I just smiled. 

"You are right, whose woman like to introduce herself as the mistress? That was so embarrassing even just to think about it." I answered to her and grandma started laughing out loud. That is right, she burst out laughing and even holding her tummy while cracking. 

"Aubrey! You are so humorous. Oh my God, kid. I love you!" Grandma exclaimed while still cracking up. 

"Thanks, grandma, and I love you too." I said and smiled at her. 

"Aubrey, that was out of the line." I heard Julius whispered to me and I grabbed his hand, openly that they would witness everything. 

"Mom, I believe we have an appointment for today. Let's go." I said and smiled to his mom. I also see Julius smiled and held my hand tightly than I was holding it. 

"Ma'am, if you wanted to attend the gallery, please do it. It is open for everyone." I said to Ken's mom and we left. 

I don't have time to be kind with people who are rotten inside. I know I may be rude talking to an adult like that but if I did not know or just expected their motives, they would made fool out of me. They would deceive and even treated me like a mere thing, to be passed around and boasts to everyone. And if I did not discovered that they are just doing it for money, I would feel like I sold myself to a devil, and I cannot attain myself serving them and even following their orders like a servant, kneeling and crawling just for my company to grow strong in the future until the merge happened. 

People have their own dignity, it must not be taken lightly by everyone. You must not be taken for granted, you have your worth and you must know when you should have yourself be under or when you should have yourself lifted and stood from above. It does not hurt to be rude sometimes, as long you know that you are in the right decision and you must not pretend just for them to like you. 

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