Fate in Captivity

Chapter 11- The First Effort

(Aubrey)

I am sitting here at my office, having a deep reflection on what should I do in this wretched fate we have. I don’t know how I should cut the ties in between, when it was already tied and entangled to each other- there is no way I could fix it even if I want to do it in a snap. I looked back on the conversation I had with Aly, should I really consider her idea? But isn’t that too harsh? Do what he did to me? if that’s the case then I should start accepting his ‘kindness’ and reject him at the end? What if it would backfire on me? like instead of hurting him, what if I let myself hurt at the end? But that was a huge overthinking I have here, I don’t know if I still could let myself decide on what step I should take on the future.

I looked at the clock and realized that it is already lunch time, but I suddenly got no appetite. I just wanted to lock myself inside this office and let the time passed until it is already got off work time. I put down my head on the table and I heard the door suddenly opened. Without even looking who entered, I just talked to them.

“Just have your lunch, Aly.” I said without moving any inch.

“Let us have our lunch, Aubrey.” A familiar voice talked to me and I looked at that person, it freaking Julius with his signature smile. I just stare at him and trying to process who is the person standing in front of me.

“Aubrey?” he called me again.

“Okay, let’s eat.” I plainly answered and stood up. I grabbed my bag and walked ahead of him, I realized that no one is coming with me, so I looked back and he is only staring at me.

“What? Aren’t we going to eat?” I asked and he snapped.

“Yeah, alright!” he cheerfully answered and walked towards me with a huge smile on his face. We went out and I saw Aly who was smiling at me like I am doing the best thing in my life. I just scoffed and walked towards the elevator with him, my employees are looking at us but I guess I don’t have to care with their opinions and issues that may arise.

“Where do you want to eat?” he asked me and started browsing through his mobile phone.

“Fast food.” I plainly answered and he did not react on me.

“Should I reserve Japanese restaurant?” he asked like he did not hear my answer.

“No, thanks.” I answered.

“Then Chinese one?” he asked once again, the same time the elevator tings, we are now at the ground floor.

“Fast food or you’ll have a fast death.” I firmly said to him and went out of the elevator.

I walked ahead and as what I have expected, my people we not looking at me, instead they were looking at the tall and jerky person walking behind me. I don’t care even a little bit but why am I getting irritated that many women employees were swooning over him? I am containing myself, stopping to create scenes that would have me regret it for my whole life but I don’t know why my feet has their own minds and walking slowly, to have the same pace as his. We are not stopping but women are one by one leaving as soon as they saw me walking with him, at the same time and at the same posture.

“What are you doing?” he asked to me and I just looked at him in confused.

“What do you mean?” I answered.

“Why are you clinging your arms on mine?” he said and I snapped, I looked at our arms and it was indeed locked together. I quickly released my arms and made a safe distance from him. Is that the reason why women are leaving earlier? God! That was so embarrassing!

“Admit it.” he suddenly said to me.

“What now?” I plainly asked.

“You are jealous, that is why you want to prove.” He said to me with his signature grinned.

“Oh no, I just don’t want crowd. So, if you want to test your popularity better do it without me.” I quickly answered and entered the fast-food restaurant I decided to eat in.

I entered the place and straightly walked towards the kiosk to put my order in, I was about to finish when Julius pushed me aside and start browsing the foods offered in here. Right, I think this would be his first time trying this kind of food, because for rich people like him always eat at fancy restaurant billing to minimum for ten thousand grand. I know it seems exaggerated, just how much they ate in that time, maybe morning, lunch or dinner but it turns out the food was adequate just the price is unbelievable expensive.

“What did you ordered?” he asked and he looked at me, his distance was very close to my face, I was shocked and walked backwards.

“Just combo meal.” I awkwardly answered to him.

“Alright, then buy me the same as yours.” He said and I just nodded. I just chose the same food as mine and we got our receipt. We walked towards the counter and they rang it, we paid and we chose our table.

“This is new world for me.” he said and I just chuckles.

“Well, this is not for me. I always eat in this place when I was young, their chicken is too good to die for.” I said to him, just boasting my simple childhood.

“Really? Then, I can’t wait to try it on.” He said and the number we got was called. I looked at him and he is only looking at me innocently. I nodded my head towards the counter and he pointed to himself like he was shocked or something, and I just smiled.

He got the receipt in my hand and walked towards the employee to get our food. The female employee gave him a tray with food on it and he was walking towards me slowly and very surely. I just chuckle on what reaction he got on his face while trying to balance everything and avoid spilling.

“That was so scary!” he exclaimed as soon as he put the tray on our table and I am still laughing at him.

“You looked so funny, you should have seen your face!” I said to him and he just stare at me. I stopped laughing as I realized that I should not have this kind of emotion when I am with him.

“We should eat.” I said to him emotionless, and I quickly get my food.

“Is this really delicious?” he asked while looking at the fried chicken he got.

“Yeah, don’t judge the food by its looks.” I warned at him and he just nodded.

“Where should we go after this?” he asked while deboning his food.

“What? I should go back to my office. I have work.” I answered to him.

“Come on! Just skip a day, you would be fine.” He said to me like he is hypnotizing me to ignore my own duties.

“I can’t.” I answered to him and he is looking at me like a lost puppy at the street.

“Just this once.” He said to me and his voice was pleading for me to agree.

“Then, tell me your plan.” I said and crossed my arms.

“To get married with you.” He nonchalantly answered.

“Shut up, it was our parents’ plans not ours.” I said and his flirty line was just thrown down in a snap.

“No, it was not.” He said which made me confused, is this his another jerky comment or his arrogant personality was coming up next?

“Then, if it’s not?” I asked, a very brave question I should say.

“I suggested it to them.” he confessed.

“What? Why did you do that? Are you out of your mind?” I continuously asked to him. I don’t get it, if he is the one who decided for it, then why me? there are other rich girls who can actually help their business and not just a small one like ours.

“I was curious about you, what are you doing now? The life you are having, just suddenly came across in my mind.” he explained.

“You are insane. You got mad and you did a huge mistake.” I said to him.

“But this is not a mistake, it was indeed delicious!” he suddenly exclaimed and I looked at him, he already finished his meal and his lips were full of spices, yeah, I can see it, it was quite spicy.

“I know.” I just said and finished my food also. After some minutes, we got full and we decided to leave.

“I take you on a tour.” He suddenly offered.

“What tour?” I asked.

“Our company, you haven’t seen it, right? I am sure mom and dad would be delighted to see you again.” He said and grabbed my hand.

“What? I would meet your parents when I am looking like a maggot?” I exclaimed to him and he looked at me, from my head until my feet.

“Where is that freaking maggot? I can only see butterflies.” He said and smiled after. This guy really knows how to use his words, in a flirty way.

“Shut up, I won’t go and meet your parents looking like this.” I firmly said to him but he is still grabbing my wrist.

“You would be fine! I am telling you.” He said and smiled at me, I just let out a deep sigh and looked at him.

“Alright, then let me change just my top.” I said to him and I entered the store, I need to have a new one.

“Change here?!” he suddenly yelled and everyone looked at him.

“What a jerk.” I just mumbled to myself and continue walking without looking back on him. This time, I don’t want to let the people know that I am with him. I just walked straight towards the clothes section and choose a top that I think would go well with my pants. After some minutes, I just changed my clothes and I saw him waiting for me outside the fitting room sitting on the couch, while fidgeting on his phone. I cleared my throat and he looked at me.

“That looks fine, let’s just go.” He plainly said to me and I sudden felt disappointment, his tone is not the reaction I am expecting to, but why in the hell am I expecting something from him?

I just get another style and change my clothes again, I am hearing him complaining why I am going back inside the fitting room and trying another clothes. Well, that guy really don’t know the feeling of being a woman. I finished once again and went out of the fitting room, this time he now looks bored and staring blankly.

“Let’s go.” I plainly said, just to get his attention. He looked at me and he did not say anything, he was speechless, I just grinned at the back of my mind, this is the reaction I am aiming for, I just thought.

“No, change it.” he suddenly said to me and I looked at him.

“This seems alright, though, right?” I said and asked the saleslady, she smiled and aggressively nodded at me.

“See?” I said and looked at him.

“You looked gorgeous than before, change it.” he suddenly claimed and I just scoffed.

“Let’s go, before I change my mind.” I said and walked outside the store.

He seems walking with me, yeah that thing is for sure, but why he looked like a bodyguard? He kept on looking out for boys and even men I walked past by, he sometimes covers me while walking and turning his back on me. Did I really make a huge mistake in this?

“What in the hell are you doing earlier?” I asked as soon as we reached the parking.

“People kept on looking at you, I don’t like it.” he openly answered and I stopped walking.

“Aren’t you too honest with me these days?” I said to him and he looked back on me.

“Because I said a huge lie to you on that day.” He answered to me seriously.

---